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The Rio Grande Water Conservation District, the Southwesl:ern Water Canservation <br />District, the Ci1:y and County of Denver, acting by and through its F3oard of Wate,r <br />Commissioners, the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, the Upper Yampa <br />Water Conservancy District, the Town of Oak Creek, the Town of 'Yampa, the Colorado Farm <br />Bureau, and thc City of Aurora, acting by and through its Utility Eliterprise, by their respective <br />attorneys, move the Court pursuant to C.A.R. 29 for leave to file a brief as amici curiae. This <br />appeal arises out of a water court's final decree awarding the Upper Gunnison River Water <br />Conservancy I)istrict conditional water rights for large flows on a stretch of the Gunnison River <br />for recreational boating purposes under the Recreational In-Channel Diversion ("RICD") statute, <br />Colo. Sess. Laws 2001, Ch. 305, codified at §§ 37-92-102(5) &(6), 37-92-103(4), (7) &(I0.3), <br />37-92-305(13) through (16), 10 C.R.S. (2003). Amici believe that their participation in this <br />matter can aid the Court in its consideration of the issues in this ca.se by illumin.ating important <br />matters of public policy and legal precedent impacting the future utilization and distribution of <br />water within t]ie State of Colorado by these parties and all similarly situated entities. <br />The Ri o Grande Water Conservation District ("Rio Grande; District") was created <br />pursuant to state statute in 1968 based on a legislative declaration that "the conservation of the <br />water of the Rio Grande and its tributaries for beneficial use and the constructian of reservoirs, <br />ditches, and works for such purposes are of vital importance to the growth and development of <br />the entire are,,. and the welfare of all its inhabitants ...." § 37-48-101, -102, 10 C.R.S. (2003). <br />The General ikssembly further declared that to promote the health and general welfare of the <br />state of Colorado, an appropriate agency for the conservation, use, and development of the water <br />resources of the Rio Grande and its tributaries should be established "and given such powers as <br />2