(1) The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that:
Aquatic nuisance species have devastating economic, environmental, and social impacts on the aquatic resources and water infrastructure of the state;
Recreational vessels are a significant source of the spread of aquatic nuisance speciesin Colorado;
One of the division's highest priorities should be the prevention, containment, anderadication of aquatic nuisance species in waters of the state in which the species have been detected or are likely to be introduced; and
Therefore, the purposes of enacting this article 10.5 are:
To implement actions to detect, prevent, contain, control, monitor, and, wheneverpossible, eradicate aquatic nuisance species from the waters of the state and to protect human health, safety, and welfare from aquatic nuisance species; and
To foster and encourage, to the greatest extent possible, voluntary compliance withthis article 10.5.
(2) The general assembly further finds, determines, and declares that:
Some of the aquatic resources and water infrastructure within the state are owned ormanaged by the United States bureau of reclamation, the United States Army corps of engineers, the United States forest service, or another agency of the federal government, and not by the division;
A failure to detect, prevent, contain, and, when possible, eradicate aquatic nuisancespecies from any one of these federally managed aquatic resources or water infrastructure facilities would threaten the health and vibrancy of all aquatic resources and water infrastructure facilities within the state; and
Therefore, the purposes for which this article 10.5 is enacted may be achieved only ifthe federal government dedicates sufficient funding and resources to the prevention, containment, and, when possible, eradication of aquatic nuisance species from the aquatic resources and water infrastructure managed by federal agencies within the state.
Source: L. 2008: Entire article added, p. 1583, § 1, effective May 29. L. 2018: Entire section amended, (HB 18-1008), ch. 137, p. 896, § 3, effective August 8.