WSP09830

• File Number: 8131.600
• Description: Southeastern Colorado Water conservancy District - SECWCD
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 1/1/1972
• Title: Annual Report 1971 - The Future of The Arkansas Valley is Its Water - The Future of Its Water is the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

HISTORY

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The Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy
District was created under Colorado State Statutes on
April 19, 1958, by District Court in Pueblo, Colorado.
It embraces approximately 280,600 irrigable acres in
26,150 square miles of Southeastern Colorado with a
p'?J;lulation of approximately 400,000, and re~re5ents
CIlles from small rural unincorporated municipali-
ties, to Cities in excess of 150,000 people, and als.D
from very small farms to large ranching operations.

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DISTRICT POWER AND AUTHORITY

Colorado Revised Slalutes 1963, Article 5, passed
by the Colorado General Assembly in 1937, sets forth
the specific duties, powers ;.lnd authorities of Water
Conservancy Districts in the State of Colorado. In-
cluded are:

ISO.S-I-Declaration (1). It is hereby
declared that to provide for the conservation of
watef resources of the State of Colorado, and for
the greatest beneficial u.se of water within this
State, the organization of Water Conservancy Dis-
tricts, and the construction of works as herein
defined by such Districts are a public use and
will:

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(2) Be essentially for the Public benefit
and advantage of the people of the State of Colo-
rado.

(3) Indirectly benefit all indnstries of the
State.

(4) Indirectly benefit the State of Colorado
in the increase of its taxable property valuation.

(5) Directly benefit municipalities by pro-
viding adequate supplies of water for domestic
use.

(6) Directly benefit lands to be irrigated
from works to be constructed.
(7) Directly benefit lands under irriga-
gation by stabilizing the flow of water in streams
and by increasing flow and return flow of waters
to such streams.
(8) (a) Promote the comfort, safety and
welfare of the people of the State of Colorado,
and it is therefore declared to be the policy of
the State of Colorado:
(b) To control, make use of and apply
to benefiCial use all unappropriated waters or-
iginating in this State to a direct and supple-
mental use of such waters for domestic, manu-
facturing, irrigation, power and other benefi-
cial uses.

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(c) To obtain from water originating in
Colorado the highest duty for domestic Uses
and irrigation of lands in Colorado within the
terms of interstate compacts.

(d) To cooperate with the United States
under the federal reclamation laws and other
agencies of the United States government for
the construction and financing of works in the
State of Colorado as herein defined and for the
operation and maintenance thereof.

(e) To promote the greater prosperity
and general welfare of the people of the State
of Colorado by encouraging the organization
of water conservancy districts as provided in
this article.

ISO-S.13-General Powers-The Board shall
have power on behalf of said district:

(1) To have perpetual succession.

(2) (a) To take by appropriation, grant
purchase, bequests, devise or lease, and to hold
and enjoy water, water works, water rights and
sources of water supply and any and all real
and personal property of any kind within or
without the district necessary or convenient to
the full exercise of its powers.

(b) To sell, lease, encumber, alien or
otherwise dispose of water, water works, water
rights and sources of supply of water for use
within the District.

(c) To acquire, construc.t or operate,
control and use any and all works, facilities and
means necessary or convenient to the exercise
of its power, both within and without the dis-
trict for the purpose of providing for the use of
such' water within the district. To do and
perform all things necessary or convenient to
the full exercise of the powers herein granted.

(3) To have and to exercise the power of
eminent domain and dominant eminent domain
and in the manner provided by the law for the
c;undemnation of private property for public use
to take any properly necessary to the exercise of
the powers herein granted; provided, such district
shall not have or exercise the power of eminent
domain over or by means thereof to acquire the
title to or beneficial use of vested water rights for
transmountain diversions, and in connection there-
with such district shall not have the power to
carry or transport water in transmountain diver-
sion, the title to which has been acquired by
any municipality by virtue of eminent domain
proceedings against any such vested rights.

(5) To contract with the government of
the United States or any agency thereof for the

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