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RESOLUTION <br />Whereas, the Colorado Water Conservation Board is responsible for the protection <br />and development of the water resources of the State of Colorado and for securing the <br />greatest utilization of those waters; and <br />Whereas, the Colorado Water Conservation Board has authority under 37- 92- 102(3), <br />CRS, to appropriate water for protection of the natural environment to a reasonable degree <br />and under that authority holds decrees assuring minimum stream flows on over 7,200 miles <br />of streams and holds lake levels on over 475 natural lakes; and <br />Whereas, the Colorado Water Conservation Board enforces and protects those decrees <br />with a prudent balance to afford the people of Colorado with both the ability to develop <br />essential water supplies and to enjoy the benefits of instream flows; and <br />Whereas, the Colorado Water Conservation Board reviewed a wilderness bill <br />introduced by Senators Tim Wirth and Hank Brown which disavows any express or implied <br />water rights arising from wilderness designation for headwater areas and which recognizes <br />that existence of instream flow decrees held by the Colorado Water Conservation Board on <br />the Piedra River and its tributaries in designating a downstream Piedra wilderness area; and <br />Whereas, the Colorado Water Conservation Board was a participant in the prior <br />unproductive efforts to resolve the issue of water supplies for proposed wilderness areas; <br />and <br />Whereas, the Colorado Water Conservation Board believes that the ability of the State <br />of Colorado to develop future water supplies under interstate compacts and equitable <br />apportionment decrees is afforded explicit protection under provisions of the proposed act, <br />and will not be jeopardized by wilderness designation in the act as written; and <br />.Whereas, the Colorado Water Conservation Board is satisfied that the apparent <br />removal of the Presidential exemption for water development within designated wilderness <br />areas under the act will not adversely limit the ability of the State of Colorado to develop <br />future water supplies; and <br />Whereas, the Colorado Water Conservation Board applauds the inclusion of clarifying <br />language protecting Colorado's ability to develop water supplies allocated to it according to <br />equitable apportionment decrees on the North Platte River; and <br />