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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />2389 <br /> <br />-7- <br /> <br />Source: U.S. Water Resources Council, 1975 National Water <br />Assessment, Draft Final Report (Washington, D.C., 1975) <br /> <br />Although the scarce and static supply of water in the <br /> <br /> <br />West is already heavily used, numerous demands for additional <br /> <br /> <br />use are constantly being made. Population growth with its <br /> <br /> <br />concomitant municipal, industrial, and food and fiber re- <br /> <br /> <br />quirements account for many of these demands. Also pressing <br /> <br /> <br />is the emphasis being placed on the need to develop the energy <br /> <br /> <br />related natural resources in the western United States. As <br /> <br /> <br />a rule, such development is water-intensive, thus serving to <br /> <br /> <br />pose tremendous additional burdens on the already water-short <br /> <br /> <br />West. <br /> <br />II. Western Water Law <br /> <br />The early miners in the West often needed water for <br /> <br /> <br />mining operations which were located far from natural water <br /> <br /> <br />sources. They built diversionary structures and water trans- <br /> <br /> <br />port devices and thereby established use of water supplies. <br /> <br /> <br />Their "first in time, first in right" use of water was looked <br /> <br /> <br />upon with the same validity as their "first in time, first in <br /> <br /> <br />right" establishment of mining claims. The doctrine of prior <br /> <br /> <br />appropriation grew from this tradition. <br /> <br />The growth and development of the appropriation doctrine <br />received the support and approval of the federal government. <br />