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<br /> <br />["06J <br /> <br />ARE.-\.OF.ORIGI:" PROTECTIO'" <br /> <br />tion for W~ter resources is the Owens Valley in California.' To supply <br />its burgeomng \\'ater requirements in the early part ot' this century. the <br />City oi Los Angeles bought much of the agricultural land and accom- <br />panying water rights in the Owens Valley east of the Sierra Nevada <br />~Iountains, A major aqueduct was constructed to transport this water <br />to Los .-\ngeles, The effect was to virtually eliminate what had been a <br />thri,'ing agricultural economy, Although Los Angeles paid for the <br />water rights ~nd much of the ~griculturalland. it dId not have to pro, <br />vide any compens~t1on for the other COStS associated with the loss of <br />this eco <br /> <br />In Colorado <br />er reelected <br /> <br />_ ent presentation by a West Slope county com- <br />many of the concerns that charge this issue: <br /> <br />The fact or the mauer is. that when water is divened to the Easr- <br />~rn Slope. I[ is lost forever to Western Colorado counties. Without <br />some form of subswntial mitigation. the only consequences are <br />neg,::ltl\'e ones from the \Vesrern Slope perspecnve. <br />Bue when Water goes down the Wesrern Slope--even if its ul~ <br />nmate destination is California-the benerits. both present and po~ <br />[emial. are considerable indeed: esthetically. th~re are the simple <br />ph:asures uf a babbling brook: recreatlonally. [he water supports <br />fisheries. WIldlife:. vegetation. boarmg. c.:1mping. snowrnaking, and <br />other 'ilcnvil\e~. Growth-wise. so long as there \5 water in the <br />streambed. the possibility exists for future slOrage-whether for <br />municipaL induslrlal. recre:llional. or energy use. All things ap- <br />pear possible [0 \Vcistern Coloradoans while \Varer remains 10 the <br />5Ire3mbed. but when it is removed .:lcross the peaks. [he op[ion~ <br />dWindle rapidly,O <br /> <br />Perspectives on are~.of.origin protection can shift rapidly de- <br />pending on the area being considered. In Colorado, some of those <br />who oppose area.of-origin protectIon for the West Slope are strongly <br />in favor of protecting Colorado.s share of Colorado River water as <br />against lower basin states. What is an area of origin. and under what <br />circumstances should such are~s receive special consideration when <br />transbasm diversions of water are undertaken" As the following dis- <br />cussion ind,eates. the approaches that have been taken vary <br />enormously, <br /> <br />. _ . 1M Culorado Il"d JtJoo'n"-' A,.._ _ . <br />S<'e. ,'. O!. \1;h:Dclnndl. Rrlwlul:lIl: ~-IJCroO!(UlrumrC !mpacrs. (.UTJtparrl1f '. -- -'. <br />:~~"'Ic'r."" :'.'I.,'o.\: \\'\I~R L RF\" }'1.: (IQ~~). <br /> <br />THE \1....\ n::M :)t:J..I(.I,MS (H~OI .311a E.. COClo"'" <br /> <br />529 <br /> <br /> <br />v <br /> <br />.,~. ,~.~: <br /> <br />,;~: <br /> <br />, FIlii ,'';.'''1l11> ,lr~ rr,""kd III R. .....H).: \L'. <br />-"'I" Ill... \ E'lI>lIH I :..J~~) . ""'Of'tr..bop.. G~ _____ <br />.,.-, W. 5id/! Star:,.. 10th Annu..\1 \'0' ;:alt:f <br />r:l. Pn::'<:n~:wO(l i:'~' D~\'d ~k~t(. (IU Lst . . . _. ". _'___ <br />Color3do{Au~.1.19':l~I. '~~~~~~"_'-~'~.~-,-'-':::'--. '. , <br /> <br />. ....~..-==--01;;~~_-_..~~ <br />- - --":::-',,:,-.,-.~ -r..... _0 ._.-:._~__. . <br />............-"-"~.-..:--- <br />