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<br /> <br /> <br />OLORADO <br />WATER IN <br />200 WORDS <br />OR LESS <br /> <br />Colorado water law is complex. with <br />its own Imv,cnforccmcnt anJ COllrt <br />system. The laws, which hegan in <br />) 9th,ccntury mining camps. come <br />down (0 six words: "first in. time. first <br />in right." The first person who ronk <br />water from a particular stream or aquifer <br />and put it to "hcneficialusc" (mining, <br />irrigati(lfi, inl.lustry. municipal) received <br />an appropriation for a certain amount <br />of \\-'mer each year. 111e second per~on <br />to do the same thing also got an appro.. <br />priarion. but it is "junior" to the first <br />appropriation. \'(Iater can he lIsed only <br />aftL'f the ()\\.11cr {l the seni(lT appnlpri;ltk)fl <br />gets all the water he or she is entitled <br />to. And so it goes-from most senior <br />to must junior appropriation. <br /> <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Ul <br /> <br />Qilllll% <br /> <br />These property rights are in place on <br />e\'ery river and stream in Colorado <br />and can he inherited, nought and <br />sold. Every year people's rights to use <br />\..'ater "in priority" (in the on.ler of <br />most senior to mo~t junior right) is <br />strictly enforced hy the C"l"md,,' <br />Division of \Vater Resources. Most <br />river basins arc over#appropriated- <br />there arc more water rights than there <br />is water to supply them. n'lis means <br />little or no new water is availahle for <br />use in rriority during dry summer <br />months, and new junior rights cannot <br />"htain a rdiahle year-round supply. <br /> <br />Bd01C The Riu Grande Rarer. (Courrt.'s)' Bllrl'al~ <br />of Lmd Ma1Ul~eml"'H). (.\10Tl." (."Tt'dil5, hll..-k l"fK....r) <br /> <br />Q. Do I have the rlghtto <br />use water flowing through <br />my land? <br /> <br />A. Not always. In <br />Colorado. water rights are <br />not tied to the land and <br />may be bought and sold <br />separately. <br /> <br />Q. Con I get 0 well to <br />supply water for my rural <br />house7 <br /> <br />A. In most Instances. yes. <br />Note: If the well Is used <br />for outside purposes like <br />lawn waterln,g. you may <br />need to Join an <br />augmentation plan. <br /> <br />Q. An IrrlgotJon dllch <br />crosses my land. Who <br />maIntains 117 <br /> <br />A. The ditch company Is <br />resr.onslble for <br />malnta nlng IL In turn. <br />you must allow the owner <br />access to the ditch for <br />maintenance. <br />