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<br />"v.. <br /> <br />statement <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />A preliminary, but substantial investigation <br />of S. 2246 and H.R. 8177 introduced in the first <br />session of the 87th congress of the United States <br />reveals that the legislation contained in those <br />bills fails to enunciate principles which are com- <br />patible with the sound development of a national <br />water policy dedicated to the goal of achieving the <br />optimum beneficial use of this renewable resource. <br />Without attempting to prescribe specific language <br />changes in the bills to achieve such principles, the <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board submits that this, <br />or any other legislation dealing with national water <br />policies, should incorporate the following principles: <br /> <br />1. Just as the water policy of the State of <br />Colorado is enunciated in its Constitution, so also <br />should there be, as a foundation of any national <br />legislation on the subject of water resources, a <br />national water enunciation. As a keystone of such <br />policy there should be recognition that water is a <br />renewable natural resource which should be used for <br />every possible beneficial purpose. However, in case of <br />conflict among various uses, the priority of uses, in <br />d~ending order of importance, should be as follows: <br />" <br />domestic use, production of necessary food, mechanical <br />uses, generation of energy, navigation and recreation. <br /> <br />2. From time to time Congress has given <br />recognition to the property rights of appropriators <br />from the public water supplies in the arid western <br />states and the authority of the states themselves <br />to establish and administer those water rights. The <br />recognition previously given should be continued as <br />a basic part of any national water policy. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />3. Since the development of a great many of <br />the resources of the nation are more or less related <br />to the usage of water, a bill regarding National Water <br />policy should not be diluted or made uncertain by <br />reference to "land", or to anyone or more of the <br />other resources of the nation since it must be assumed <br />that a due regard for all resources affected by water <br />must be taken into account in the operation of a <br />national water resources policy. Therefore, all <br />reference to "related land use" should be eliminated <br />from such legislation. <br />