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<br />r .'- Acquisitions <br /> <br />Description of Program Area <br /> <br />The statutes vest the Board with exclusive authority to hold instream flow or natural lake level <br />water rights. In addition to new water right appropriations, the statues also allow the Board to acquire <br />water, water rights or interests in water for instream flow or natural lake level purposes. The Board can <br />acquire water, water rights or interests in water through a variety of contractual tools including grants, <br />purchases, donations, bequests, devises, leases, exchanges or any other type of contractual agreement. <br />Unlike new appropriations, acquired water can be also be used to improve the natural environment. <br /> <br />Water acquisitions are considered by Board and Staff on an "as-offered" basis. At the request of <br />any person or governmental entity, the Board has 120 days to consider what terms and conditions it will <br />accept in a contract for an acquisition. In considering the proposal under ISF Rule 6, the Board will <br />determine whether the proposed acquisition is appropriate to preserve or improve the natural environment <br />and how best to utilize the acquired water. If the Board decides to accept the proposed acquisition, Staff <br />will work with the Attorney General's Office to file the necessary applications with the water court. <br /> <br /> Program Applications Issues and Challenges <br />~ Acquired water rights from willing parties in <br /> amounts totaling 400.36 cfs and 9,342.71 ~ Increase education and outreach. <br /> AF for various streams and lakes through- ~ <br /> out the state. Advocate use of Acquisition Program to <br />~ Facilitated regulatory compliance for water achieve streamflow protection goals in a <br /> development projects (City of Boulder-1990, manner consistent with state water law. <br /> City of Fort Collins-2002, City of Steamboat ~ Identify and prioritize statewide needs for <br /> Springs-2000) <br /> improvement of the natural environment, <br />~ Protection of unique natural environment including river restoration projects. <br /> (Mexican Cut Ponds, Galena Lake, Gunnison ~ Use of Water Acquisition Program to <br /> River) <br />~ Streamflow protection on federal lands facilitate multi-use water projects. <br /> (USFS-Hunter Creek and BLM-Bowman Ditch) ~ Identify funding sources to purchase or <br />~ Flow protection for Endangered Species assist others in purchasing water rights for <br /> (Elkhead Res. Enlargement, Steamboat Lake) instream flow use. <br /> <br />~ Acquired water to improve the natural envi- <br />ronment (Mineral Creek-Carbon Lake Ditch, <br />Blue River-Peabody Ditch) <br />