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The results of the study will be used by the Colorado Division of lb'atcr Resources and State Engineer (SEO) to develop curtailment ntles for use in water right administration should curtailments become necessary. Such rules (after water court and Colorado Supreme Court review) would give water users more certainty for planning purposes. Before the SF.O protnulgates such curtailment rules, several actions arc advisable: I) Thorough legal research; 2j 1Vatcr right information and hydrologic information artd modeling of curtailment options that cats inform the rule-making process by giving the SEO an idea of the different impacts, the severity of impacts, and different approaches to the rules; 3) VS'ater user imolverment. This request for funding addresses the second need. As noted, modeling and other information can girre the SL:O an idea of the severity ofirnpacts from cifferent curtailment rule approaches, assisting the SEO in choosing between viable approaches. It can help focus legal research, indicating which legal questions have the greatest impact. Finally, it can inform water user involvement, perhaps quieting fears about disproportionate or severe impacts on dit~ferent users. Accordingly, a modeling study is proposed to examine the £oltowing variables: 1. Amount of curtailment required (Information from Colorado River Water Availability Study will be used); li. Definition of "present perfected rights" under the Compact and the locatiotm and type of use of those rigtms; fit. 1•l'hich stnretures may be subject to curtailment rules; IV. «`hich curtailment approach might he used. Suggested approaches to be evaluated include: A. Strict priority administration; L3. Administration by sub-basins; C'. Anticipatory curtailncnt; or D. Preference of particular uses. [t should be noted that neither the; listing nor the study of a particular schcrnc for compact curtailment indicates an}' acceptance of the legality or wisdom of that approach by the state of Colorado.