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<br />WATER RIGHfS <br /> <br />Building a water storage dam does not insure that an <br />owner will have the right to store water. The owner obtains <br />a water right through the Water Court system. On the other <br />hand, having a water right does not allow the owner to <br />construct a dam. Construction of a dam must be approved <br />separately. <br /> <br />There are seven Water (Irrigation) Divisions within the <br />state based upon the seven major drainage systems or <br />watersheds. They are: 1) the South Platte River, 2) the <br />Arkansas River, 3) the Rio Grande, 4) the Gunnison River and <br />Lower Dolores River, 5) the Colorado River, 6) the Yampa and <br />White Rivers, and 7) the San Juan, Animas, La Plata, and <br />Upper Dolores River (see Figure 2 and Table 4). Each of the <br />divisions has a Water Court (see Table 4) which grants water <br />rights and makes judgments on water cases. Separate from <br />the Water Court is a Division office which administers water <br />rights. The Divisions are further divided into former water <br />districts. Maps showing the boundaries of the divisions and <br />districts are available from the State Engineer's Office, Water <br />Commissioners administer water rights within their districts <br />and report to the Division Engineer, A reservoir will be <br />permitted to store water if the State Engineer has determined <br />that it is safe to do so and that water is legally available. <br /> <br />FINANCING <br /> <br />There are several agencies which have programs that can <br />help finance the construction of dams. The money available <br />from these programs varies with the agencies budget <br />limitations from year to year. Money is generally available as <br />low interest loans or grants depending on the purpose of the <br />dam. Several of the agencies and their programs are outlined <br />in Table 5. <br /> <br />7 <br />