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<br />tlJ23H <br /> <br />Draft <br />10/26/89 <br /> <br />STATEMENT ON COLORADO WILDERNESS DESIGNATIONji <br /> <br />...---. <br /> <br />Governor Roy Romer <br />October 28. 1989 <br /> <br />I support the designation of additional wilderness areas in <br /> <br />Colorado. Colorado has eighteen wilderness study or further <br />~ ~ ~ <br /> <br />v-- <br /> <br />planning areas under temporary protection until Congress acts <br />- - <br />:::=. :::; <br /> <br />(/' <br /> <br />on the question of whether these areas should be designated as <br /> <br />wilderness. It is time to conclude this process. <br /> <br />Wilderness designation is stalemated over the question of <br /> <br />water rights. We need to separate the issue of water rights <br /> <br />for the currently proposed wilderness areas located in <br /> <br />headwaters from the issue of whether there should be water <br /> <br />rights for potential future wilderness areas situated <br /> <br />downstream. In the former case. wilderness water rights will <br /> <br />have no adverse effects because of the location of the proposed <br /> <br />headwater wilderness areas. In the latter case. however. <br /> <br />wilderness water rights could adversely affect the development <br /> <br />of Colorado's compact entitlements and the economic benefits <br /> <br />derived therefrom. <br /> <br />In light of these circumstances. I support the following <br /> <br />concepts and believe they should be included in any wilderness <br /> <br />bill: <br /> <br />(1) For the proposed new headwater wilderness areas. I <br /> <br />support express federal reserved water rights. These <br /> <br />rights should be adjudicated in state courts pursuant <br /> <br />1146E* <br />