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<br />3 <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />Waters oriqinatinq in Colorado flow into and through <br /> <br />eiqhteen other states. By interstate compacts and United <br /> <br />States Supreme Court decisions, these waters are so divided <br /> <br />that the State of Colorado receives less than fifty percent <br /> <br />of the waters originating- within Colorado's boundaries. As a <br /> <br />general rule, the people of Colorado are firmly united when it <br /> <br />comes to dealiftq with other states, but great varieties of opiri- <br /> <br />ion normally exist on intrastate mattere. Both intrastate and <br /> <br />interstate relations fall within the jurisdiction of the Water <br /> <br />Conservation Board. <br /> <br />Without exception, spirited controversies have ex- <br /> <br />isted or still exist concerning our major water resource <br /> <br />projects. These differences may exist efttirely within the <br /> <br />state, entirely without, or lOIIetiJQeS both ways. If the vital <br /> <br />water resources of this state are to be properly utilized, it <br /> <br />is obvious that the state water board mUlt take the roles of <br /> <br />coordinator, arbitrator, planner and promoter. The state <br /> <br />board has not always been eminently successful in these roles, <br /> <br />but past experiences have demonstrated that important projects <br /> <br />would drift indefinitely upon the sea of contention without <br /> <br />positive action by the state government. <br /> <br />Colorado is a semi-arid state. The averaqe annual <br /> <br />rainfall in parts of the state is less than six inches. The <br /> <br />amount of water available for consumption within the state in <br />