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Administration of the prior appropriation doctrine varies in the Western States that recognize the doctrine. Colorado has some unique factors in its appropriation system. The central figure in most State administrative systems is a designated public official or board--usually a State Engineer. This official collects necessary information, develops and maintains diversion records, enforces the priority system, and is given general administrative control over the use and distribution of water. The usual means to identify the extent of an appropriator's right is by a permit issued by the State Engineer that specifies the date of appropriation, the location of the diver- sion, amount and timing of the diversion, and the use to which the water is to be put. The permi t system is used in a 11 Western States except Colorado (Gould 1979). The pri or appropri at ion doctri ne of water ri ghts has been in place in Colorado since statehood. The Colorado Constitution, adopted in 1876, states: Sect ion 5. Water of streams pub 1 i c property. The water of every natural stream, not heretofore appropriated, within the state of Co 1 orado, is hereby dec 1 a red to be the property of the pub 1 i c, and the same is dedicated to the use of the people of the state, subject to appropriation as hereinafter provided. Sect ion 6. Di vert i ng unappropri ated water - pri ori ty preferred uses. The right to divert the unappropriated waters of any natural stream to beneficial uses shall never be denied. Priority of appro- priation shall give the better right as between those using the water for the same purpose; but when the waters of any natural stream are not sufficient for the service of all those desiring the use of the same, those using the water for domestic purposes shall have the preference over those claiming for any other purpose, and those using the water for agricultural purposes shall have preference over those us i ng the same for manufacturi ng purposes. (Co 10. Const. Art. XVI). In an 1882 decision by the Colorado Supreme Court, the doctrine of ripar- ian rights--an appropriation system predominant in the Eastern states--was completely rejected, and the court held that the appropriation doctrine was the law in Colorado even prior to adoption of the Colorado Constitution [Coffin v. Left Hand Ditch Co., 6 Colo. 443 (1882)). The doctrine of prior appropriation has evolved slowly through the development and application of case law as decreed by the Colorado appellate courts, in an attempt to meet the needs for a comprehensive workable system for administering water. In 1969, the Colorado Legislature adopted the Water Rights Determination and Administration Act, which codified many previous court decisions for regulation and administration of the State's surface waters (1969 Colo. Sess. Laws Ch. Codified as CRS 9 37-92-101 through 602 (1973 and Cum. Supp. 1985). This administrative water rights system is a key element of any State instream flow program opportunity. 11