PUB00128

• Year: 1986
• Title: Rio Grande Water Supply Study Phase I Plan of Study
• CWCB Section: Interstate & Federal
• Author: Leonard Rice Consulting Water Engineers, Inc.
• Description: A plan submitted to the San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District by the CWCB
• Publications - Doc Type: Tech Report

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Task No.4

DESCRIPTION OF WATER RIGHTS ADMINISTRATION IN THE
RIO GRANDE BASIN.

Purpose: An understanding of the administration of water
rights is essential to estimating the legal water availabil ity
at a potential storage site.

Approach:

1. Based on LRCWE's experience in the water rights field,
a brief description of the prior appropriation system of
water rights administration as used in Colorado will be
prepared. This description will include discussions of
augmentation plans and exchanges.
2. The Division Engineer (and possibly water commissioners)
will be interviewed to learn of any pecul iarities of the
Rio Grande Basin (Le. Conejos administered separately
from Rio Grande).
3. The Rio Grande Compact's interaction with state water
rights and the Closed Basin Project imports to the Rio
Grande will be discussed.
4. A task summary memorandum (combined with Task 2) will
be prepared prov id ing information on the administration
of water rights in Colorado and specifically in the Rio
Grande Basin. This discussion will include administration
of groundwater rights vs. surface water rights. This
discussion will be from an engineer's perspective.
5. Legal counsel will be arranged by LRCWE (with approval
of CWCB) to discuss legal implications of water rights
administration in the basin. The Task memorandum will
also be provided for review to the CWCB, SLVWCD, USBR.

Work Product: A task summary memorandum discussing the
administration of water rights in Colorado and the Rio
Grande Basin from an engineering perspective will be prepared.
This memorandum wi11 also discuss the interaction between
the Rio Grande Compact and State water rights and be provided
to the CWCB, SLVWCD, USBR and legal counsel for review.

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~ Leonard Rice Consulting Waler Engineers. Inc.