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<br />(j'r'J'13I.i <br />. IJ -t_ <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />.~ . <br /> <br />the San Luis Valley, two municipal and industrial representatives, one from the east <br />slope and one from the west slope, and three ex-officio members. Ex-officio mem- <br />bers include the state engineer designated as ex-officio executive director, the <br />director of the Department of Natural Resources and the director of the Water Con- <br />servation Board. The Commission was given the authority to determine and'admin- <br />ister the designated ground water of the state on a broad and comprehensive base. <br />In order to allow maximum local participation, particularly in the area of management <br />and control, the Legislature provided for the establishment of management districts upon <br />petition of the tax paying electors, approval of the Commission, local hearings, <br />and election. The statute provided that no district could be organized unless all <br />ground water aquifers within the geographic boundaries of the proposed district had <br />been designated as a part of the district and provided for divisions being establish- <br />ed in the district with a governing board made up of one representative from each <br />diVision. Following organization of the district, the board could adopt, after publi- <br />cation and hearing, such control measures as it felt necessary to fulfill its respon,. <br />sibilities under the statute. <br /> <br />Designated ground water is defined as that water which in its natural course <br />would not be available to and required for the fulfillment of decreed surface rights, <br />or ground water in areas not adjacent to a continuously flowing natural stream where- <br />in ground water withdrawals have constituted the principal water usage for at least <br />fifteen years preceding the date of the first hearing on the proposed designation of <br />the basin, and which in both cases is within the geographiC boundaries of a deSig- <br />nated ground water basin. <br /> <br />All water in both of these basins except water in the natural surface streams <br />and their alluvium have been defined as "deSignated ground water" and they are <br />"designated ground water ba sins. " <br /> <br />Colorado's Study Organization <br /> <br />Following the analysis of the High Plains Project and the general contractor's <br />element and task recommendations, the Colorado representatives on Councif (Harris <br />Shennan. Director of the Department of Natural Resources, Milton Mekelburg, Yuma <br />area farmer and businessman, Morgan Smith, Commissioner of the Department of <br />Agriculture and the Colorado liaison for the study, William R. Smith, Acting State <br />Engineer) met and devised a plan of element assignment. <br />, <br /> <br />State coordination of the project is the responsibility of the Colorado Depart- <br />ment of Natural Resources. Mr. Bill Smith will continue to serve as state staff <br />liaison between COlorado, the general contractor and the other states. In addition, <br />Mr. Smith will prOVide overall fiscal management for the Colorado portion of this <br />project. Coordination with university scientists will be handled through the Colo- <br />Water Resource Institute. <br />J <br />The Colorado Department of Agriculture has the responSibility of coordina- <br />ting timely completion of all state work elements and resolving difficulties and de- <br />lays between state and regional work elements. In addition, the Department of <br />Agriculture is responsible for conducting the publiC involvement component of this <br />project. Dr. David Carlson, program administrator for the Department's Resource <br /> <br />5. <br /> <br /> <br />