9351

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9351
• Author: Hobbs, G.
• Title: Water For Recreation, Water Quality, and Wetlands".
• USFW Year: 1990.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

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I. BENEFICIAL USE - A FLEXIBLE AND ADAPTABLE PRINCIPLE
Throughout the history of prior appropriation law in
Colorado the concept of "beneficial use" has shown a tremendous
capacity to adapt to new and changing uses of water which become
important to Colorado's economy and to the publicly held values
of its citizenry. Decisions of the Colorado Supreme Court
recognize the following categories and types of use as
"beneficial"
ALLOWABLE WATER USES
1. Agricultural
Coffin v. Left Hand Ditch Co.,
6 Colo. 443, 449 (1882)
Strickler v. Colorado S~rinas,
16 Colo. 61, 71, 26 P. 313, 316-317 (1891)
2. Domestic and Municipal
Denver v._ Sheriff,
105 Colo. 193, 202-204, 96 P.2d 836, 841-842
(1939)
Black v. Taylor,
128 Colo. 449, 264 P.2d 502, 506 (1953)
3. Mining and Manufacturing
Lamborn v. Bell,
18 Colo. 346, 350-351, 32 P. 989, 990-991 (1893)
4. Power
Rocky Mountain Power Co. v. White River Electric
Assn,
151 Colo 45, 49-50, 376 P.2d 158 (1962)
5. Recreation, Fish Culture, Wildlife Habitat, Mined
Land Reclamation, Residential Environment
Three Bells Ranch Associates v. Cache 1a Poudre
Water Users Assn,
758 P.2d 164, 173 (Colo. 1988)