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T. Gagin: That depends on the time of the year, but it's less than the maximum <br /> during the peak season in May, June for snow. <br /> Sen. Matsunaka: What is the maximum on that river? <br /> T. Gagin: I'm not sure of the exact number, I think it's like eight or nine <br /> hundred. <br /> Sen. Matsunaka: Thank you. <br /> Mme. Chair: Thank you. Our next witness then is Chris Paulson. He's allegiances <br /> are unknown. Representative Paulson. <br /> Chris Paulson: Thanks, Madam Chair. My allegiances are to the truth. <br /> Mme. Chair: We know that, [unintelligible]. That's true of all legislators. <br /> C. Paulson: Madam Chairman, Chris Paulson. I'm representing the Colorado <br /> Water Partnership. And I'm here advocating this bill or a bill of this <br /> type. The question was asked earlier whether the current system is <br /> broken. The answer is it's very broken because there is no standard <br /> currently about these flow. applications. Now I'm speaking against <br /> self- interest here because I'm a water lawyer. If we do nothing this <br /> session, and you notice all of these weighty public policy issues come <br /> at the end of the session. You're well - familiar with it. This is the <br /> flood gate that will open and allow every municipality to build a <br /> structure first and then file for all the remaining water in the river. <br /> What is the criteria when you're talking about 200 kayakers who want <br /> a park some place and play. That was the testimony. What is the <br /> _ _ criteria? Is it 500 cfs? Is it 1000? The one thing we know is that if <br /> we do nothing and you have an escalation of water wars along both the <br /> Front Range and the West Slope, having each succeeding community <br /> rush to get the next adjudication, pretty soon you will have de facto <br /> removed the ability to exchange water. <br /> One of the things the Water Partnership is doing right now is trying to <br /> have a dialog with the West Slope. And I'm delighted to see there's <br /> folks here from Northwest COG. Part of that dialog is about how do <br /> you supply the 300 thousand acre -feet that are going to be needed <br /> along the Front Range just from Douglas County to the Wyoming line <br /> in the next 20 years. And the watchword from the West Slope <br /> members of the dialog is make sure you use every bit of water you <br /> have on the east slope first. If you do nothing in terms of having a <br /> public policy about which criteria you use to file on these recreational <br /> flows, you will destroy the ability for many communities to use and <br /> reuse their water. This flies totally in the face of what many of you <br /> April 12, 2001 <br /> Page 23 <br />