WSP01080 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

cannot under Colorado law secure any right to the use of any water allotted by compact or decree to another st<lte. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES The Department of Natural Resources, headed by an executive director. was created in order to place under one head thme state agencies involved in the natural re- sources of the ~tate. The general purpose of the Depart- ment is to administer the nalural resources policy of the state and to encourage the full development and utiliza- tion of the state's natural resources to the benefit of all citizens of Colorado. A brief descrIption of the duties of the stnte agen- cies follows: / I. The Slale Soil Conservalion Board provides COI1- slructive methods of lnnd use which wLlI result in the conservation and preservation of natural re- Solll"\,:es. the Lontrol of wind <Ind water erosion and reduction of dnmage resulting frum tloods. Thc Board IS the designated state agem:y in approving feaSIble projecls for del"iled sllldy by' Ihe Soil Con~crvatioJl Service on projects submitted under Public Law 566. TIley assist the St<lte Suil COI1- servation Districts in their forrn:.Iliun. mall<Jgement and operations related to soil conservation. 2. The Colorado Water Conservation Board was created by the General Assembly III 1937 to aid in the protection and develupment of the w:Jters of the state for the benefit of its present and future inhabitants. The Board has the power to: (I) Fos- ter and encourage and to assist in the financing llf, without making the sti.Jle responsible therefor, vJrious types of districts. mutual cumpanies <Jlld other agencies formed by federal or state laws; (2) gather infllflllation and to formulale pltJns and cooperate with the federal government and others regarding plans and proj("l.:ls: (3) f urrnulalc and prepare drafts or fcdcr::;l Lind s:atc legisbtion: (4) investigate plans and activities uf the federal gov- ernment and other states which might affect inter- state waters of Colorado; (5) confer and appear before agencies and officers of the federal govern- ment or other states in order to protect Colorado's interests in the interstate waters of Coloradu; (6) acquire real properly for flood prevention or flood control with respect to federally authorized proj- ects for such, including casements fOI al.:cess there- III to, and to lease sllch property to the federal or state government or subdivisions thereof for the construction. operation ::mJ mainten,Hlcc of flood control or prevention facilities; and (7) incidental powers to promote the cOlIserv:Jtion of the waters of the slate in order 10 secure the greatest utiliza- tion of such waters and the utnh)st prevention of floods.36 The Board IS authorized to make a continuous study of the water resources and present and po- tential uses thereof for best development of waters for beneficial use. and (0 make written reports of lhe studies. TIle state has assented to the Federal Water Resources Planning Act. and the Buard has the power to conduct a state water planning pro. gram, whil..:h is presently under way. 3. TIle Division of Water Resources, Office of State Engineer. has the general supervisory and adminis- trative control of the public waters of the state. There has been presented in the foregoing para- graphs a summary of Colorado's state water laws and a general desL:ription of the duties of the various branches of the Water Resources Division in administering these laws. Pursuant to proviSIons uf the law. the DiviSIOn exercises su'pervisory con- trol over design. conslruelion ;,md mainlCIlJIli.:e uf all dams over 10 feet in height anu control over storage behInd such dams. as well as :Ibout 35.000 ur more small stuck water shHage reservoirs; main- tains the official depository of plans and specifi- c:.Jtions covering the construction or storage reser- voir dams; and also maintains the official recurds of stream diversions for beneficial uses. 4. The Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Department was created to provide a working systcm fur estab- lishment, management and allglllt'nt:Jtllln Jnd regu- latiun of game and fish populatiuns :.Jill! park and recreatIon fadlities III the state. The activities of the Department are directed by J Commiss.ioll whIch is (()/llPl)Se\.J of an appointed l'ommissiuner from each of the eight districts of the state and two members :Jt large. The governor is :In ex-offido member. ll1e Commiss!on deter- mll1es the polides by which the Department oper- ntes; prumulgates Icgulatiolls for hunting and fishing; regulates buating procedures 3nd safety regulations; acquires land for wildlife. parks and recreation management; ::JUthorizes the Depart- ment's annual budget fur submi'\sion to the Legis- lature; recommends to the Legisl<lture any changes or revisions needed in the statutes to improve Game, Fish and Parks opelations; and instructs the