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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />: . <br /> <br />The limited role of state government in fostering the <br />development of the State's water resources is further <br />illustrated by the fact that the State provided almost no <br />funding for water project construction until the late 1970s. <br />nor for comprehensive planning for the use and development of <br /> <br /> <br />Colorado's water resources, yet the State was able to foster <br /> <br /> <br />significant development without contributing financially. <br /> <br /> <br />Furthermore. what few state planning activities were carried <br /> <br /> <br />out through the Colorado Water Conservation Board pursuant to <br /> <br /> <br />section 37-60-115, CRS, were, and are, necessarily constrained <br /> <br /> <br />by the fact that the use and allocation of the State's water <br /> <br /> <br />resources are not controlled by state government. Thus, the <br /> <br /> <br />notion of a "state water plan." master blueprint, to direct <br /> <br /> <br />water resources development is inapplicable in Colorado since <br /> <br /> <br />state government is largely without the authority to implement <br /> <br /> <br />such a plan. In short. while state government does have some <br /> <br /> <br />ability to influence water resources development. it does not <br /> <br /> <br />have the authority to make the final decisions as to where, <br /> <br /> <br />when. how. and for whose benefit development will occur. Its <br /> <br /> <br />guidance of federal activity has, of course, been substantial <br /> <br /> <br />and the results tangible. <br /> <br /> <br />The Historical Policy for Development <br /> <br /> <br />Although the historical role of state government in the <br /> <br /> <br />development of Colorado's water resources has been a limited <br /> <br /> <br />one. the State has had an explicit pOlicy (or plan or strategy- <br /> <br /> <br />-call it what you may) for water resources development since <br /> <br />-3- <br />