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District Court, Water Div. 5, Colorado <br />Case No. 06CW77; The Town of Carbondale <br />Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, Ruling of Referee, & Judgment and Decree of the Court <br />Page 6 of 10 <br />as limited and conditioned in this Decree, are for reasonable recreation <br />experiences in and on the water. <br />2. Minimum Flows: The proposed appropriation of water meets the standards <br />applied specifically to recreational in- channel diversion because the <br />proposed Structures will be used in a reasonably efficient manner to control <br />the amount of water that is reasonable and appropriate to accomplish <br />without waste the intended recreational in- channel diversion. C.R.S. § 37- <br />92- 103(4) and (10.3) (2005). The different flow rates represent the <br />minimum flows to provide for competitive events, an attraction for users <br />before and after this event, as well as minimum flows to provide for other <br />uses before and after the main boating season. The ability to attract word - <br />class competitions, elite boaters, and a larger number of total boaters and <br />tourists for the competitive events and during the height of the boating <br />season depends upon the availability of flows between May 15th and July <br />14th at a minimum of 1,600 cfs for no more than ten days, 1,300 cfs for no <br />more than fifteen days, and 1,100 cfs for no more than twenty days. The <br />Court also finds that the varying decreased flow rates below 1,100 cfs, <br />between 230 and 970 cfs, as listed in paragraph E, above, are the minimum <br />flows to provide a variety of other reasonable recreation experiences before <br />and after the height of the boating season. <br />Can and Will: The waters claimed by the Town of Carbondale can be and will be <br />diverted, or otherwise captured, possessed, and controlled and will be beneficially <br />used. C.R.S. § 37- 92- 305(9)(b) (2005). The project can and will be completed <br />with diligence and within a reasonable time. C.R.S. § 37- 92- 305(9)(b) (2005). <br />The Structures for the Carbondale Gateway Boating Park are in the planning <br />process. As part of this finding, the Court concludes that water is available in <br />sufficient quantities and on sufficiently frequent occasions to complete the <br />conditional appropriations with diligence and within a reasonable time. It is the <br />CWCB's position that pursuant to C.R.S. § 37 -92- 103(10.3) (2005), a RICD water <br />right should be for the minimum stream flow as it is diverted, captured, controlled, <br />and placed to beneficial use between specific points defined by physical control <br />structures and should not be made absolute for only one structure. Because the <br />Town of Carbondale has agreed to a single point of administration for the <br />Carbondale Gateway Boating Park, the CWCB has agreed that it is not necessary <br />to resolve that issue in this case. The CWCB and the Town of Carbondale have <br />further agreed that this decree does not constitute precedent on this issue and does <br />not waive the CWCB's position in any other cases. <br />K. Statutory RICD Provisions: Pursuant to C.R.S. § 37- 92- 102(6) (2005), the CWCB <br />held a timely public hearing regarding the Town of Carbondale's application and <br />considered the five statutory factors found in C.R.S. § 37- 92- 102(6)(b)(I) -(V) <br />(2005) and made a final recommendation to the Court on those factors. The Court <br />has duly considered the recommendation of the CWCB to this Court filed on <br />September 1, 2008. Colorado Water Conservation Board v. Upper Gunnison <br />River Water Conservancy District, 109 P.3d 585 (Colo. 2005). Based on the <br />