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U., ::..0 ~ """l lJ ,~ 29 a public hearing to discuss eleven issues.33 Several attorneys in the audience threatened to obtain a temporary restraining order if the meeting continued. The meeting was held anyway and from the State Engineer's pOint of view it was a useful exercise since many of the key issues were discussed and the Valley residents were better informed of the conditions under which the State Engineer must operate. The next year, "eiting 'severa 1 voci ferous and speci a 1 i nteres t groups,' ,,34 the State Engi neer issued proposed Rules and Regulations with an effective date of Janua~y 1, 1976, and logged them on September 18, 1975 with the court pursuant to Section 37-92-501, et al., CRS 1973.35 The proposed rules and regulations were divided into three parts: Part One contained definitions and cita- tions; Part Two covered surface water administration; and Part Three involved underground water administration (see Appendix B). FOllowing are the major provisions of the proposed rules and regula- tions: 1. Water to be delivered pursuant to the commitments contained in the Rio Grande River Compact constitute the most senior commitment in the Rio Grande and Conejos River Basins (Provisions IrA and lIrA of the Proposed Rules and Regulations). 2. The Rio Grande River and the Conejos River are to be treated as separate rivers and each is required to provide the amount of water deter- mined in its respective schedule found in Article III of the Rio Grande River Compact, all in accordance with the doctrine of prior appropriation (lIB and IIC). 33A discussion of some of the issues follows later in this report and a copy of Mr. Kuiper's memorandum and issues is attached as Appendix H. 34The Valley Courier, February 18, 1975, Vol. 47, No. 34, Page 1, Col. 1. 35Case No. W-3466, Water Court, Third Div., supra.