The state will start work on a new "Colorado Water Plan" to figure out how to secure enough water supplies across the state to meet urban and rural demands, according to an executive order from Gov. John Hickenlooper. The governor on Wednesday directed the Colorado Water Conservation Board to start work on the draft plan.

Water-guzzling Kentucky bluegrass and other nonnative turf can no longer be mandated by homeowners association covenants under a bill that passed the General Assembly and is awaiting a signature by Gov. John Hickenlooper. If Senate Bill 183 is signed into law, as expected, it also would stop HOAs from punishing homeowners whose lawns die during times of drought and water restrictions.

A number of water bills introduced by Sen. Mary Hodge have been signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper.

State senators who hoped to buy a firefighting air force for Colorado were left Friday with nothing but paper airplanes. A Senate panel voted to advance Senate Bill 245, which creates the Colorado Firefighting Air Corps, but senators withheld the money to buy aircraft.

Through lessons learned this year, Colorado is better prepared for continued drought and future rounds of dry weather, Gov. John Hickenlooper told water providers, experts, producers and others who attended a drought conference in Denver this week.

While some are becoming impatient with scenario planning for future state water needs, it’s still the best way to head off troubles down the road, the governor’s water adviser said this week.

Weld County commissioners have asked Colorado Attorney General John Suthers to reconsider his staff's conclusion that Gov. John Hickenlooper doesn't have the legal authority to allow South Platte River Basin farmers to pump water from an underground aquifer onto their drying-out fields.