(1) (a) There is hereby created in the office of the governor the position of director of water project permitting.

(b) The organizational location of the director is at the discretion of the governor. In order to reduce the costs associated with creating the water project permitting position, nothing in this section precludes the person named to the position established under paragraph (a) of this subsection (1) from holding other titles or performing other functions within the governor's office. The director shall implement the duties and powers conferred by this section within existing resources.

(2) The director shall annually provide an update regarding the director's activities to a joint hearing of the general assembly's committees with jurisdiction over natural resources.

(3) The director shall assist in the coordination of permitting by federal, state, and local governments of:

(a) Raw water diversion, storage, or delivery projects, including associated hydroelectric facilities and both consumptive and nonconsumptive uses of water; and

(b) Water projects that are either:

(I) Assessed a water quality certification fee pursuant to section 25-8-502 (1.2), C.R.S.; or

(II) Eligible for financing from the Colorado water conservation board construction fund created in section 37-60-121 (1)(a), C.R.S.

(4) Nothing in this section either grants any jurisdiction to the director over any federal, state, or local government, or curtails the jurisdiction of any federal, state, or local government to fulfill its statutory responsibilities.

(5) This section is repealed, effective September 1, 2019.