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tributary and perennial to intermittent to ephemeral stream miles. Water interests and <br />governm ents can then use both creative solutions and the market to restore and protect <br />these reaches. <br /> <br />The second need for Colorado is to develop a real market for instream flow water rights. <br />The CWCB has, for 20 years, been able to acquire senior diversionary r ights for <br />conversion to instream flow. However, it turns out that most water users are not <br />interested in giving their valuable property rights to the government, so few water users <br />have done so. In a state like Montana, where water users can lease previo usly diverted <br />water to state agencies and non - governmental organizations for use instream, there is a <br />robust market for instream flow rights. Colorado needs to think about how to replicate <br />Montana’s success. Opening up the market to additional players, p rovided that other <br />water users are not injured will not only make instream flow restoration easier, but will <br />also give some traditional irrigators alternative sources of income as a result of where <br />they put their water. For example, some ranchers may make more money leasing healthy <br />private fishing water to well - heeled anglers than they do growing hay. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />