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<br />0031J7 <br />tion for water resources is the Owens Valley in California.' To supply <br />its burgeoning water requirements in the early part of this century, the <br />City of Los Angeles bought much of the agricultural land and accom- <br />panying water rights in the Owens Valley east of the Sierra Nevada <br />Mountains. A major aqueduct was constructed to transport this water <br />to Los Angeles. The effect was to virtually eliminate what had been a <br />thriving agricultural economy. Although Los Angeles paid for the <br />water rights and much of the agricultural land, it did not have to pro- <br />vide any compensation for the other costs associated with the loss of <br />this economy. <br /> <br />In Colorado, a recent presentation by a West Slope county com- <br />missioner reflected many of the concerns that charge this issue: <br /> <br />The fact of the matter is, that when water is diverted to the East- <br />ern Slope, it is lost forever to Western Colorado counties. Without <br />some form of substantial mitigation, the only consequences are <br />negative ones from the Western Slope perspective. <br />But when water goes down the Western Slope--even if its ul- <br />timate destination is California-the benefits, both present and po- <br />tential, are considerable indeed: esthetically, there are the simple <br />pleasures of a babbling brook; recreationally, the water supports <br />fisheries, wildlife, vegetation, boating, camping, snowmaking, and <br />other activities. Growth-wise, so long as there is water in the <br />streambed, the possibility exists for future storage-whether for <br />municipal, industrial, recreational, or energy use. All things ap- <br />pear possible to Western Coloradoans while water remains in the <br />streambed, but when it is removed across the peaks, the options <br />dwindle rapidly.6 <br /> <br />Perspectives on area-of-origin protection can shift rapidly de- <br />pending on the area being considered. In Colorado, some of those <br />who oppose area-of-origin protection for the West Slope are strongly <br />in favor of protecting Colorado's share of Colorado River water as <br />against lower basin states. What is an area of origin, and under what <br />circumstances should such areas receive special consideration when <br />transbasin diversions of water are undertaken? As the following dis- <br />cussion indicates, the approaches that have been taken vary <br />enormously. <br /> <br />See, e.g., MacDonnell. Regulaling Socioeconomic Impacts: Comparillg the Colorado and Wyoming Ap- <br />proaches, 20 LAND & WATER L. REV. 193 (1985). <br />5. Full accounts are provided In R. NADEI\U, THE WATER SEEKERS (1950) and E. COOPER. <br />AQUEDUCT EMPIRE (1968). <br />6. Presentation by David MOil, The Wesl Side Story, 10th Annual Water Workshop. Gunnison, <br />Colorado (Aug. 1, 1985). <br />