|
OCT -07 -2003 14:43 FROM -DOL NATURAL RESOURCES 3038663558 T -562 P.002/008 F -774
<br />59.4 P 2d 570, Colorado River Water Conservation Dist, v. Colorado Water Conservation fid., (Coto. Page 2
<br />1979)
<br />Musick, Williamson, Schw:n'fz, Leavenworth &
<br />Cupc, P. C,, BOWOer, Loyal E, Lravrnworth,
<br />Boulder, John U. MLtSIL'k, Jr., Boulder, for third
<br />party appellees, Thu City of Aspen, Colo. and The
<br />13d. of County Com'rs of ihr County of hltklTl.
<br />Ruth M. Wright, [3041o1cr, for anncus curiae,
<br />Lvaguu of* Wumvn Voters of Cato., Musick,
<br />Williamson, Schwartz, i,eavl•nworlh k Cope, P.
<br />C., BoLtlder, Alan E. Schwartz, Boulder, for amici
<br />CUM(-, Colo. Open Space Council, Colo. Wildlilt
<br />Federation, Nat'l Wildlife Federation, Colo.
<br />Council of 'TrouT Unlitlihecl, Colo. Audubon
<br />Council, Crystal Vallry Environmenial Prutectiun
<br />Assn.
<br />GROVES, Risucc,
<br />This case involves three applit:ations by Lhc
<br />Colorado Wafer Conservation Board (Colorado
<br />Water Sozircl) for tuinirnwu stream flow rights unary
<br />an act cornnionly referred to as SenaTc gill 97,
<br />((FN 11) enacted by the Gwleral Assvnibly in 1973.
<br />([FN2]) Thy Colorado River Water CtmSeTV36on
<br />DistricT and for SouThwrstrrn Water Conservation
<br />District (the: Disrrk:rs) ohicrud. The water .judge
<br />entered decrees as requested in rhr applications.
<br />'I'he Districts appealed. We affirm.
<br />The first three sections of Senate Bill 97, as they
<br />appear in Colo.Sess.Laws 1973, ch. 442, at 1521
<br />and 1522, read# as follows: QFN31).
<br />"Secrinll I. 148- 21 -3(6), (7), and (10), Colorado
<br />Revisud Staimus 1963 (1969 Sapp.), arc alllended
<br />to rct►d:
<br />"118 -21 -3. Definitions. (6) 'Appropriation'
<br />111calls The cliversion of a certain Portion ol, th&
<br />waters of The state and The appliCarion of The
<br />samtf A CERTAIN PORTION OF THE WATERS
<br />OF THE STATE w a beneficial qso.
<br />[197 Colo. 4721 "(7) 'Bcnrficial u:sc' is the sac of
<br />that ar11oLIM of water that is reasonable and
<br />appropriate under reasonably efficient prac;ti4es to
<br />accomplish witbom waste the purpose for which
<br />The Divvr ion APPROPRIATION is lawfully made
<br />and, wirllout limiting The grrArrality of the
<br />foregoing, .shall include the impoundtnrnt of water
<br />for recreational purPaac -S, including fisllrry Or
<br />wildlife. FOR THE 13ENEFIT AND
<br />ENJOYMENT OF PRESENT AND FUTURE
<br />GL•NLRATIONS. 132N FIC1AL USE' SHALL
<br />ALSO INC:LUDL THE APPROPRIATION BY
<br />THE STATE OF COLORADO IN 111 f,-
<br />MANNER. PRESCRIBED BY LAW Ol; SUCH
<br />MINIMUM FLOWS BETWEEN SPECIFIC.
<br />POINTS OR LL -'VLLS FOR AND ON NATURAL
<br />STREAMS AND LAKES AS ARE REQUIRED
<br />TO PRESERVE THE NATURAL.
<br />ENVIRONMENT TO A REASONABLE
<br />DEGRLE.
<br />"(10) 'Pr,ority' means the senioriry by date of
<br />which a water right is vntitlad to Divert USE or
<br />concitional water right will be entitled To Divert
<br />USE, and the relative seniority o1' a water right or a
<br />conditional water right in relation To other wafer
<br />rights and copdiuonal water rights deriving their
<br />supply Trott► a common source,
<br />"Section 2. 148 -21 -2. Colorado Revisecl Stafutrs
<br />1963 0969 Supp.), is amended BY T11E
<br />ADDITION OF A NEW SUBSECTION to read.
<br />"148 -21 -2. Declaration of policy. (3) further
<br />rceognlziag the need To correlate the activities of
<br />mankind wi41 some reasonable preservation of T1ie
<br />natural rnvironinom, the Cult)rado water
<br />conservation board is hrrehy vt:slt:a with the
<br />at awrity, on bollalf of The proplr of The start of
<br />Colorado, to appropriate in a manner consistent
<br />wilh SCLTions 5 and 6 of ankle 'x572 XV1 of the
<br />stair, consTltutioll To view preceding link plea.�e
<br />click here , or acquire, such watery of natural
<br />streams and lakes as may be required to PTeScrvc
<br />The natural environment w a reasonable degree_
<br />Prior To rhr initiation of any such ztpprupriatiun,
<br />tlic board shall request rccunmlcudatiorls frurnl tltc
<br />division of wildlife and the division of parks alid
<br />outdoor recreation. NoLhing in this article shall be
<br />construed as autboriz,tng any state agcrlcy to
<br />acquire water by eminent dnmuin, or to deprtvc
<br />the people of the siaTc of Colorado of Cltc
<br />beneficial use of those waters available by law and
<br />interstate campUt."
<br />The applications were made under The authority of
<br />these sections. They cmbraccd Three segments of
<br />the Crystal River and its tributary, Avalanche
<br />Cree) , which lie in Gunnison, Pitkin and Garfield
<br />Counties. One segment (No. 1) consists of
<br />Avalanche Creek from its confluence with Yell
<br />Roaring Creek to its confluence with the Crystal
<br />River. A second scgrneut (No. 2) ertcampasses fhc
<br />r,0 2003 West, a Thomson business. No claim to original U.S. Govt. works.
<br />
|