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<br />. . <br />OiJ.3J94 <br /> <br />PAGE 5 <br /> <br />AGAIN, THERE ARE SPECIFIC IDEAS ON THE TABLE ABOUT HOH THIS QUESTION <br />OF EQUITY MIGHT BE ANSHERED. ONE IS TO REQUIRE ALL DIVERTERS TO <br />COMPENSATE THE BASIN OF ORIGIN IN SOME APPROPRIATE HAY, PERHAPS BY <br />FUNDING COMPENSATORY STORAGE, GUARANTEEING MINIMUM STREAM FLOHS OR <br />USING SOME OTHER INNOVATIVE APPROACH. THE PRACTICAL EFFECT HOULD <br />NOT BE TO STOP DIVERSIONS BUT TO ENSURE THAT SMALL COMMUNITIES AND <br />RURAL AREAS CAN PROTECT THEIR LEGITIMATE INTERESTS. <br /> <br />FOUR, WE NEED TO REVIEW OUR CURRENT INSTREAM FLOW PROGRAM TO SEE IF <br />IT IS ADEQUATE TO PROTECT CERTAIN CLEARLY BENEFICIAL USES OF WATER <br />NAMELY. RECREATIONAL USES. WE HAVE HAD THE INSTREAM PROGRAM FOR <br />A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW, AND I BEl! EVE IT IS TIME TO REVI EH IT TO <br />DETERMINE IF, IN FACT. IT HAS EFFECTIVELY PROTECTED THE VIABILITY OF <br />MANY OF OUR RIVERS AND STREAMS. <br /> <br />SO FAR. THE COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD HAS USED THE STATUTE <br />TO PROTECT AQUATIC HABITAT AND YEAR-ROUND FISHERIES. SHOULD WE BE <br />DOING MORE? SHOULD HE, FOR INSTANCE, ALSO PROTECT THE MINIMUM FLOWS <br />NEEDED FOR RECREATION? THESE ARE IMPORTANT TO THE REGIONAL AND <br />STATE ECONOMY. SHOULD ENTREPRENEURS BE ALLOWED TO PURCHASE WATER <br />RIGHTS TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FLOHS FOR WHITEHATER RAFTING? THESE ARE <br />THE KINDS OF QUESTIONS I THINK WE NEED TO ASK ABOUT OUR, INSTREAM <br />FLOW PROGRAM. <br />