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-, J _I . . With reference to these items a short discussion of the Colorado law is appropriate. Colorado from the beginning has espoused the doctrine of prior appropriation of water. The Colorado River Compact was executed on the theory of equitable division of the water and in order to protect the slower developing interior where the water originates, from the faster de- veloping Pacific Coast area, (which furnishes no water to this River) and to protect the interior from the doctrine of prior appropriation. The Colorado River Compact contemplated use of some of the water from the River in Colorado outside the River Basin. Transmountain diversions have been made from the basin to Eastern Colorado by agreement and on the theory that such water was surplus over the needs of Western Colorado and would otherwise be forfeited to the L~'er Basin users. There has always been a doubt as to how much, if any, of Colorado's share was not needed for the development of the natural basin. The Bureau of Reclamation has undertaken this study, and the people have relied upon the Bureau to complete the study. The work of the Bureau has been of inestimable value to the arid \vest, but its lfOrk is far from complete. Western Colorado has urged the early completion of the study in Colorado in order that the development might proceed in an orderly manner. For more than ten years last past, however, the Bureau has expended more than twice as much of the public money in seeking to discover projects to divert the water out of the natural basin than it has expended to dis- cover how much, if any, water is available for export without damage to the natural basin. Western Colorado has vigorously and without much effect protested this program. We have urged the completion of the in- basin study. Some years ago the arid west was divided into regions for study and development. Colorado was placed in two regions: Region IV and Region VII. The areas divide at the crest of the continental divide. The Colorado Water Conservation Board advised against the division of the State between two regions. The results have been worse than we feared. We have competition instead of co-operation. We have confusion instead of co-ordination. ~ In an effort to correct this situation the Colorado Legislature in 1943 enacted an amenctment to the Water Conservation District Act and on page 636, Chapter 192 of the 1943 Colorado Session Laws appears this language: "Provided, however, that any \lorks or facilities planned and designed for the exportation of water from the natural basin of the Colo- rado River and its tributaries in Colorado, by any district created under this Act, shall be subject to the provisions of the Colorado River Com- pact and the Boulder Canyon Project Act, as amended; that any such works or facilities shall be designed, constructed and operated in such a manner that the present appropriations of water, and in addition thereto prospective uses of water for irrigation and other beneficial consump- tive-use purposes, including consumptive uses for domestic, mining and industrial purposes, within the natural basin of the Colorado River in the State of Colorado, from Hhich water is exported, will not be impaired nor increased in cost at the expense of the water users v~thin the said natural basin; and that the facilities and other means for the accom- plishment of said purpose shall be incorporated in, and made a part of, any project plans for the exportation of water from said natural basin in Colorado". This language incorporates the policy of the State of Colorado in the use of the waters of the Colorado Hiver within the State. f [ I' -6- 2300