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<br />:::J <br />C) <br />:-) <br />~ <br />co <br />t..'1 <br /> <br />. .' . <br />. .' . <br />. . <br /> <br />. . . <br />. . . <br /> <br />Watel'" Di:)tl"'ict CI"'eated <br />in 1941 <br />by CoLol"'ado Legi:)LatuI"'e <br /> <br />Editors note: <br />The 50mhwestem Water Conserllation District (SWCD) was <br />created by the Colorado GenmtlAssemb(y in 1941 (HB-795). <br />The en"bling legislation set in motion" way fOr the people of <br />Colorado, who resided ill the 5,m Juan River and Dolores River <br />basin, to develop, protect, distribute ilnd comerve the natural <br />water resources in JOuthwNtem Colorado. The 31 page bill <br />was approved by the legislature on April 16, 194/. The <br />fOllow/rig quotes are (i-om the origillal 1941 bil!, passed by the <br />Colorado J[,zte leg/siature, <br /> <br />Preamble and Purpose (Section 1): <br />In the opinion of the General Assembly of the S[ate of <br />Colorado, the conservation of the water of the San Juan <br />and Dolores Rivers and their tributaries for storage, <br />irrigation, mining and manufacturing purposes and the <br />construction olreservoirs, ditches and works tor the purpose <br />of irrigation and reclamation of additional lands not yet <br />irrigated, as well as to furnish a supplemental supply of water <br />lor lands now under irrigation, is of vita! imporrance to the <br />growth and developmem of the emire disrric[ and the <br />welfare of an its inhabitants. [The Southwestern Water <br />Conservation District win be] an appropriate agency lor <br />[he conservarion, use and development of the water <br />resources of rhe San Juan and Dolores Rivers and their <br />principal triburaries should be established and given such <br />powers as be necessary to safeguard for Colorado, all waters <br />ro which the srare of Colorado IS equitably entitled. <br /> <br />How the water conservation district <br /> <br />is organized...... <br />The Sourhwesrern Water Conservarion Disrricr shall be <br />managed and conrrolled by a board.of 4irecrors ...... rhe <br />members of said Board shall hold the" olftce for a term of <br />rhree (3) years ...... One member of said Board is to be <br />selecred from each of the respeGive Counties in said water <br />conservation d.istrict...... he shall be appointed by the Board <br />of Councy Commissioners of such councy ...... The Board <br />of Directors shall appoim a secretary and treasurer. <br /> <br />Legislative authority to conduct <br /> <br />business as a water district...... <br />[The SWCDJ board shall likewise hire such other <br />employees, including engineers and attomey.s, as may. be <br />required to properly transact rhe busmess 01 rhe dlStflct, <br />and the Board is aurhorized to provide compensation of <br />the secrerary and treasurer and other appoineees, <br /> <br />Activities, purposes and duties of the <br />District..... . <br />To acquire, operate and hold...... real propercy necessary <br />ro carry our this Act. <br /> <br />To make surveys and conduct investigations to determine <br />rhe best manner of utilizing stream flows with the <br />disrrict...... <br /> <br />To locare ditches, irrigation works and teservoirs to store <br />or utilize warer for irrigation, mining, manufacturing or <br />other purposes ...... <br /> <br />To make filings upon water and iniriate appropriations <br />for the use and benefit of the ulrimate appropriarors ...... <br /> <br />To do and perform all acts and things necessary or <br />advisable to secure and insure an adequate supply of warer, <br />present and futUte, for irrigation, mining, manufacturing <br />and d.omestic purposes with the district ...... <br /> <br />To contract with agencies, officers, bureaus and <br />departments of the Srate of Colorado and the Unired <br />States of America ...... for the initiation or construction <br />of irrigation works, canals, reservoirs, power plams, or <br />retaining ponds...... <br /> <br />To organize special assessment disrricts ....., to establish <br />effecrive agencies to secure funds to construct reservoirs <br />or other irrigation works under various cypes and plans <br />of financing...... <br /> <br />To have and to exercise the power of eminent domain to <br />acquire ditches, reservoirs or other works or lands or rights <br />of way...... <br /> <br />To file upon and hold for the use of rhe public, sufficient <br />water to any natural stream to maintain a constant <br />streamflow necessary to preserve fish...... <br /> <br />The enabling legislation I <br />set in motion a way for the people of I <br />Colorado, who resided in the San I <br />Juan River and Dolores River basin. <br />to develop, protect, distribute and <br />conserve the natural water resources <br />in Southwestern Colorado. <br /> <br />z <br />