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Smith ruled as a matter of law that the State Engineer had violated Colorado .) law in promulgating the rules and regulations pertaining to Colorado's obligation under the Rio Grande River Compact. 7 The motion for a new trial was deined on March 10, 1977. SUbsequently, the Attorney General has filed an appeal to this ruling. In the meantime, his office is con- tinuing to regulate the water in the Valley under the concept of "historic /, , ...-j '<::t' ~ ....., o c; 5 Association, the Conejos Water Conservancy District, and the Rio Grande Water Conservancy District.5 (See Operating Criteria, Appendix A) By 1975 the State Engineer felt that it was becoming increasingly diffi- cult to arrive at a suitable agreement given all of the divergent and conflicting interests in the San Luis Valley, so he issued rules and regulations dated August 21, 1975 governing water diversion and water pumping from wells, which he lodged with the water court for the Third Water District in Alamosa, Colorado, having an effective date of January 1, 1976. (See Appendix B) Pursuant to Section 37-92-304 CRS 1973, 75 separate protests were filed with at least 19 attorneys or law firms being involved in the controversy at one time or another.6 In his order dated June 23, 1976, Judge Donald , /, use. II At the same time, the State Engineer obtained a cease and desist order to reduce the diversion of Mogote Ditch in order to supply water to partially fulfill Colorado's delivery commitments under the Rio Grande River Compact. 5The Valley Courier, Vol. 47, No. 34, February 18, 1975, Col. 1 6In the Matter of the Rules and.Requlations of the State Engineer for the Rio Grande and Conejos River Basins and Their Tributaries, Water Court, Third Division, Case No. W-3466. 7See the full text of Judge Smith's Order found in Appendix C.