Water court judges, for the first time, will be able to consider environmental impacts and water quality along with water quantity as part of the determination on larger permanent transfers in a bill that Gov. Bill Ritter will sign Monday.

"This bill protects the lower Arkansas Valley, but more importantly, it establishes a legal precedent for protecting water quality statewide," Ritter said.

The bill was sponsored by State Rep. Buffie McFadyen, D-Pueblo West, and State Sen. Gail Schwartz, D-Snowmass Village.

The signing will take place at 9:30 a.m. Monday in El Pueblo History Museum in Pueblo.