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<br />(I: " r./,,"') <br /> <br />Recently, the Colorado State Legislature enacted two laws havin9 <br />substantial impact on water resource activities within the State. One <br />of these laws created the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development <br />Authority which will have the power to issue revenue bonds as a means of <br />financing the construction of water projects. The other law provides, <br />among its authorities, for the conduct of feasibility studies of poten- <br />tial water development projects in Colorado by the Water Conservation <br />Board. These important laws are illustrative of the concerns regardin9 <br />water resource issues being expressed in Colorado. <br /> <br />Nebraska has abandoned the concept of a State framework plan in favor of <br />a recently legislated State water planning and review process. The <br />process is intended to be issue-oriented with a near-term objective of <br />providing the basis for intelligent legislative and administrative <br />decisions for the efficient and beneficial development, management, and <br />use of the State's water, land, and related resources. <br /> <br />A substantial reorganization of Wyoming's administrative activities <br />dealing with water resource issues has recently been completed. As a <br />result, attention is being directed to an examination of problems, <br />issues, and opportunities to develop their share of North Platte River <br />waters for the beneficial use of Wyoming citizens as time and need <br />dictates. <br /> <br />The Wyomi ng Water Development Commi ssi on is charged with developing <br />a State water pl an using detailed feasibil ity studies for specific <br />components. This plan would include an inventory of the State's water <br />and related lands, an identification of current uses and projections <br />for possible future uses. Prime consideration is to be given to multi- <br />purpose projects designed to provide the most efficient and beneficial <br />use of the resources. <br /> <br />All three States take the position that nothing should be done which <br />precludes their uti 1 ization of their waters. Thus, a cornerstone of <br />this technical effort has been that each State's water resource programs <br />and policies are accorded due and proper attention in the development of <br />information and the formulation of various alternative future levels of <br />water use. <br /> <br />It is an objective of all three States to promote the development of <br />irrigated agriculture. Each recognizes irrigation as a high priority <br />beneficial use of water necessary for the State's economy. Further, <br />Colorado has expressed a general policy opposing the conversion of prime <br />agricultural lands and water suitable for irrigated agriculture to other <br />uses. In addition, Colorado is calling for studies to determine the <br />feasibility of constructing storage on tributaries to the South Platte <br />and urging construction of authorized projects on the mainstem of the <br />South Pl atte. Colorado is also promoting system rehabil itation and <br />other water conservation measures including an examination of ground- <br />water recharge potential. <br /> <br />In Nebraska, the use of water for irrigation has been declared "a <br />natural want" in the State statutes, underscoring the State's support <br />for continuous irrigation development. <br /> <br />37 <br />