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of the case to be heard in front of the Re feree. The Referee would have the technical experience to evaluate the tes timony and exhibits of various experts without placing this burden on the Water Court Judge who does not have the technical expertise to truly understand some to the complex engineering i ssues involved in the contested cases. I think this would streamline the proce ss and make it more efficient and less confrontational. This action would re quire modification of CRS 37-02-303 and 304. Recommendation No. 3 I would recommend that creation of a South Platte River Water Conservation District be discussed and if found desi rable, the Colorado Legislature establish such an entity by statute at the appropriate time. Colorado cu rrently has four Water Conservation Districts established by specific legisl ation for each. They are the Colorado, Southwestern, Rio Grande, and Republican River Water Conserva tion Districts. The Republican River WCD was established in 2004 to assist the state with compliance with the Republican River compact( Article 50 of Title 37) While establishing a Water Conservation District for the South Platte may be difficult due to the many water providers and conservancy districts in the South Platte , it could provide the entity that could coordinate, fund and assist with resolving the many issues th e South Platte River basin water users are facing such as the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program, the optimum use of the water resources of the ba sin including conjunctive us e of ground and surface water supplies, compliance with the South Platte River Compact, construction of additional storage for existing and future demands, a nd addressing the water supply needs of a growing population along the Front Ra nge while sustaining agriculture. Hopefully, you will see these recommendations tomorrow early but if not I will bring a hard copy to give to you and Dick. Hal