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<br />amendments to the present law" by Inter-state Agreements or by decisd.cins
<br />of the Supreme yourt of the United States. Colorado now has seven (~)
<br />Inter-state Compacts,covering the use of the waters of the major 'stream
<br />systems of the State. Inter-state uses' of the waters of all others are
<br />controlled DY three decisions of the Supreme Ccurt of the United States. '
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<br />The present organization of the Division of lister Resources ~con-
<br />sists of the State Engineer, a principal Deputy State ,Engineer, three
<br />Special Deputies, Seven Division Engineers, one hundred fourteen Water
<br />Commissioners and Deputies, a Chief HYdrographer and five hydTograph~rs,
<br />two stenographers alid an accountant. '
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<br />The office maintains, in oooperation with the Uni,ted States Geo-
<br />10gicalSurve.y and other Federal Agencies, three hundred eigbt stream-
<br />gaging station" throughout the State, practically all of which are
<br />equipped with automatic recording devices. In this connectiOn, the
<br />hydrographic branch of the offics makes' many thousands' of measurements
<br />each, year of strsam discharges and voluminous coillputations showing the
<br />daily flows thereof. It is also required to, calibrate from time to
<br />time the measuring devices in thousands of ditches throughout the State,
<br />In this oonnection, the State Engineer is au ihorized by law to nquire
<br />that all canals and ditches, or any other facilities used for diverting
<br />water out of the public streams, maintain proper 'hsadgates and measuring
<br />devices and also automatic recorders, if Jieed be, ,and for failure to ,do
<br />so, he is authorized to 'prevent diversions of water by such agencies. '
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<br />/ An important 1Jilprovement'in admini'strat1ve prol,edure in recent
<br />years has result'ed largely from the use' of the Parshall measuring fl\lllle
<br />which now has wide recognition and use as the most practical and accurate
<br />device for the measurement of,water, especially under conditions with
<br />which the water officials are confronted. The advent of the automatic
<br />recorder and, more recently, means for transmitting currently, re90rds,
<br />thsrefrom, to the administrative off'iciaJe and th'e management of canals',
<br />ditcPes and t'eservoirs, has greatly improvedthe"adlllinistration of: our
<br />water supplies' and has eliminated many former' controversies between
<br />water, users and the water officials. ' '.
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<br />/ U}lcler the Act of 1879, ,a reservoir was accorded the right to st,ore
<br />any unappropriated water'not then needad for,tmmediate use for dome~ic
<br />or'irrigation purposes. This provision of law was so administered by the
<br />water officials until the Supreme Court in the case of Park Reservoir VS.
<br />Hinderlide:r in 1935, held that it violated, tlte superior provisions of the
<br />Constitution relating to 'the Doctrine' of: Priori~ of ' Appropriation and
<br />Use.' .
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<br />The law of 1879 and Amendments thereto, authorizing the use of the
<br />natural stream channels for conveying stored water to lower points of
<br />diversion, provide that the State Engineer shall determine the amount of
<br />losses in transit. Due to the many ,variable, conditions which ~ntrol '
<br />such lossei, this requirenient' has raised many diff:icul t problemli of ad-'
<br />m1ni~atiori. / '
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<br />Many ye8t's ago, the Legislature enacted a law creating an Irriga-
<br />tion and a Storage season'. 'This Act was later referred to the People,
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