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<br />Colorado Water Conservation Board
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<br />statutory purposes, Contracting with a federal'agency to'imple-
<br />ment a federal s,tatute that, protects water-related wilderness
<br />resources through the state instreamflow, program, which corre-
<br />lates the activities 'of mankind"with the reasonable preservation
<br />of the natural environment, rather than through a federal
<br />reserved water right, falls well within the scope of the 'Board's
<br />duties under its,enabling legislation,
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<br />1986 AND 1987 STATUTORY AMENDMENTS '
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<br />Besides the Board's duties under its, enabling legislatio~, addi-
<br />tions to section 37~92-102(3) made in 1986 and 1987, during, the
<br />pendency of the Sierra Club wilderness litigation, evince the
<br />General Assembly's intent to integrate federal water right claims
<br />in~o the state instream flow program. If a statute is ambiguous,
<br />the intent of the General Assembly'may be determined by consider-
<br />ing, 'among other things, the object sought to be attained, the
<br />circumstan'ces under which the st'atute was enacted, th,e legis-
<br />lative history, the consequences of a particular cqnstruction,
<br />and the legislative declaration of purpose. Section 2~4-203(a),
<br />(b), (c), (e), and (g); C.R.S. (1980). ' ,
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<br />'In 1986, the General Assembly enacted Senate ,Bill 91, which
<br />included several changes in the law made for the express purpose
<br />of encouraging the' United States to participate in the state in-
<br />stream flow program. tirst, the language authorizing the Board
<br />to acquire water, water rights, and interests in,water rights
<br />,from any person, "including any governmental entity," was added
<br />at that time. Second, the Board was directed, prior to initiat-
<br />ing an appropriation or acquisition, to "request recommendations
<br />from the United States Departme~t of Agriculture and the United
<br />States Departinent,of the Interior." And, third~ a new' paragraph
<br />(e):was added to section 102(3), which stated: ' '
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<br />'All recommendations, including those of the
<br />United States, which are transmitted to the
<br />board for water to be retained in streams
<br />or lakes to preserve the natural' environ-
<br />ment to'a reason4ble degree must be made
<br />'with specificity and in writing in order
<br />that any appropriation, made by the, board ,
<br />may'be integrated into the statewide system
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