BOARD0123

• Board Meeting Date: 1/21/2001
• Description: State Affairs Issues
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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8/16/00 INITIATIVE PROPOSAL DATA r11/29/00
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The 'priority' system of water rights in Colorado has done a remarKable job of apportioning a
scarce resource to hundreds of thousands of users who have hundreds of differing use needs.
From the 1860's and the earliest water rights, the priority system has functioned with fine honing
of legal decisions and legislation. The system works and changes should be made with great
care but at this point, some changes appear necessary to save the system.

It is in that context that we are considering an initiative for the 2001 ballot to amend the Colorado
Constitution, in a manner which would strengthen our water rights system and offer protection to it in
this new century . '

INTENT:

ONE:

TWO:

THREE:

FOUR

SA VE COLORADO'S WATER

To protect the quantity and quality of the water in the river basins of the State
for the use of the citizens of those basins:

Except for absolute or conditional water rights existing as of the date
of passage of this initiative, said rights providing for the t73l1sfer of water from the
river basin of origin to another river basin of the State. no absolute or conditional
water right shall be transferred out of the river basin of origin to another river basin
of the State.

No new or absolute or conditional water right providing for the transfer of water
from the river basin of origin to another river basin of the State shall be
approved after the date of passage of this initiative.

No absolute or conditional water right existing as of the d9.te of passage of this
initiative, or any new absolute or conditional water right approved after date of the
passage of this initiative, shall be transferred out of the river basin of origin to a point
outside of1:he State of Colorado, where such transfer would increase the amount of
water due by the State of Colorado under the Compact Agreement for the river basin
of origin.

No absolute or conditional water right, existing as of the date of passage oftbis
initiative, or any new absolute or conditional water right approved after the date
of passage of this initiative, shall be transferred within the basin of origin when
the effect of such transfer shall be determined to adversely affect water quality
within the basin and such effect cannot be mitigated.