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<br />--The water of every natural stream, not heretofore
<br />appropriated, within the State of Colorado, is
<br />hereby declared to be the property of the public,
<br />and the same is dedicated to the use of the people
<br />of the state, subject to appropriation as hereln-
<br />after provided." '
<br />
<br />Section ~ of the same article provides that:
<br />
<br />"The right to divert the unappropriated waters of
<br />any natural stream to beneficial uses shall never
<br />be denied."
<br />
<br />Thus, while the Co~atitution expressly protects the
<br />
<br />right to divert, no provision of the Constitution specifically
<br />requires actual diversion from the atream bed as a prerequisite
<br />
<br />to a valid appropriation. However, the Court is keenly aware
<br />
<br />that some cases have been decided where an actual diversion
<br />
<br />from the natural channel was required. City and County of
<br />Denver v. Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, 130
<br />Colo. 375 (1954): Colorado River Water Conservation District
<br />
<br />v. Rocky Mountain Power Company, 158 Colo. 331 (196!); Lamont
<br />
<br />v. Riverside Irrigation District, 179 Colo. 134 (1972). In
<br />
<br />l/orthern Colorado, supra, the Court stated that:
<br />
<br />"The first essential of an appropriation is the
<br />actual diversion of the water wlth intent to apply
<br />to a beneficial use. .. Water can be actually
<br />diverted only by taking it from the stream."
<br />
<br />Id. at 385.
<br />
<br />XIV.
<br />
<br />Although the cases cited above support the objectors'
<br />assertion that a valid appropriation must be accompanied by
<br />
<br />actual diversion, there Are several Colorado cases which have
<br />
<br />made statements to the contrary. For example, the Court in
<br />
<br />Larimer County Reservoir Co. v. Luthe, supra, expressly rejected
<br />the argument that the constitutional recognition of the right
<br />to 'appropriate water by diversion meant that other means of
<br />appropriation were excluded. The Court said:
<br />
<br />-The word 'divert' must be interpreted in connection
<br />with the word 'appropriation' and with other words
<br />in that instrument (the Constitution) referring to
<br />the subject of irrigation. We think there may be a
<br />constitutional appropriation of water without its
<br />,.being at the instant taken from the bed of the stream.",
<br />
<br />Id; at 616.
<br />
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