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,," ..~ i , I ~, , ~ I 37 percent of the total State land area, has 69 percent of the State's surface water yield; and that part of the Statee:st of the Continental Divide, with 63 percent of the total area, has the remaining 31 percent of the State's surface water resources. Municipalities use only a small part of the surface water available in Colorado. Munici- pal demand, ~ven in the South Platte Basin where it is highest, is small compared to the average supply. The average flow of Clear Creek, a tributary of the South Platte River, is nearly equal to the water demand of all municipalities in the South Platte Basin in Colorado, It is estimated that municipal con- sumptive use of water is less than 2 percent of the total consumptive use of water withdrawn in the State, but because the water needs of irrigated and potentially irrigable lands in parts of the State exceed the available surface water supply, there is keen competition for the right to use the surface-water resources of the State. Rivers in Colorado Long rivers, flowing east to the Missouri River, southeast to the Mississippi, southward to the Gulf of Mexico and southwestward to the Gulf of California, have their sources in Colorado's high Rockies and cross the fertile lands of neighboring States. Colorado furnishes from mountain areas located on both sides of the Continental Divide of the Rockies a large measure of the water used on agricultural lands in 18 States. The rivers of Colorado start high in the mountains, and the snowpack as it melts in the late spring and summer feeds, the streams with water of excellent quality. The right to use surface water is governed under State law under the doctrine of prior use-sometimes stated as first in use is first in right. Also, interstate compacts regulate the division of water among various States, as most of Colorado's rivers flow into other States. Water east of the Continental Divide generally has all been appropriated for use. The Colorado River and its tributaries-west of the Divide- form the only undeveloped surface water re- sources in Colorado, and extensive development is planned and scheduled. l , 1 ~ I I I . , 28 Arkansas River. The Arkansas River h, beginning near Leadville, flows southerl Salida and then easterly through Canon Pueblo, La Junta, Lamar, and other sou Colorado towns. Colorado River. The Colorado River h; source in the Rocky Mountain National and Grand Lake area. Its Colorado tribul the Yampa, the White, the Gunnison Dolores, and San Juan transport water dl from the entire area of Western Col mountains through Utah, New Mexico. zona, and Nevada to southern Calif Mexico, and finally to the Gulf of Calib North Platte River. The North Platte has its source in the North Park area of Central Colorado, flows across the bOt into Wyoming, and thence into Nebrask South Platte River. The South Platte. tributaries drain in the northeastern qua Colorado and the main stream carries wat Nebraska near julesburg, Colo. Republican River. The Republican Riv its tributaries furnish the drainage syst the northeastern plains area of Colorad then discharge into Kansas. Rio Grande Basin. The Rio Grande r the eastern slopes of the San Juan Mo. in south central Colorado. It flows ea: then southward, and enters New Mexic( 3S miles southeast of the city of Alamos. Ground Water Ground water is one of Colorado's im natural resources and its use is in( because of population and industrial at cultural growth, Ground water OCl Colorado under a variety of geolo! hydrologic conditions; some are very cc ted and a thorough understanding c conditions is a prerequisite to prope management. Fifty-five percent of the 244 communi! systems in Colorado are supplied ex( by ground water, but only about 18 IX the total population of the State is repl In addition, most of the individual fac. 39 communities having no communit systefll are supplied by ground wat individual small-capacity wells. Th