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BEFORE THE COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD <br />PREHEARING STATEMENT OF COLORADO RIVER WATER CONSERVATION <br />DISTRICT <br />CONCERNING THE APPLICATION FOR WATER RIGHTS FOR A RECREATIONAL IN- <br />CHANNEL DIVERSION OF THE TOWN OF SILVERTHORNE IN SUMMIT COUNTY <br />The Colorado River Water Conservation District (hereinafter "River District") hereby <br />submits its Prehearing Statement for the Hearing on July 20, 2005, before the Colorado Water <br />Conservation Board ("CWCB") regarding the Town of Silverthorne's application for a <br />Recreational In-Channel Diversion water right ("RICD"). <br />1. INTRODUCTION <br />The River District's primary concern in Silverthorne's RICD application is to ensure that <br />the adjudication and administration of the RICD will not interfere with the maximum utilization of <br />waters in the State. See Section 37-92-102(6)(b)(V), C.R.S. and RICD Rules, Section 7(e). <br />Section 37-92-102(6)(b)(V) states that the CWCB must determine whether the "adjudication and <br />administration of the RICD would promote maximum utilization of the waters of the State." The <br />River District is involved in several proposed projects that may help meet future water demands <br />and wants to ensure that the Silverthorne RICD will not interfere with those projects. The River <br />District's concerns are set forth in the written testimony of David Merritt, Chief Engineer for the <br />River District, and are summarized herein. <br />II. PROPOSED PROJECTS TO MEET FUTURE WATER DEMANDS <br />The Upper Colorado River Project Study ("UPCO") Report, dated May 29, 2003, <br />highlighted the fact that by the year 2030, existing supplies would not satisfy future demands in <br />Summit and Grand Counties. See Exhibit B. The River District is currently involved in several <br />projects that could help reduce these expected shortages and these projects could be impacted by <br />the proposed RICD. Descriptions of those projects and the River District's concerns are listed <br />below. <br />A. Old Dillon Reservoir Enlargement <br />The River District, through its Colorado River Water Projects Enterprise ("Enterprise"), <br />entered into an intergovernmental agreement ("IGA") with Summit County to perform feasibility <br />analysis, project design and construction of the Old Dillon Reservoir First Enlargement ("Old <br />Dillon Enlargement"). The rights proposed to be used for the Old Dillon Enlargement above are <br />senior to Silverthorne's claimed RICD; however, changes of water rights or new exchanges may be <br />necessary to maximize the use of the Old Dillon Enlargement. The River District is concerned that <br />Silverthorne's RICD could interfere with the ability of the Old Dillon Enlargement participants to