WSP01794

• File Number: 8051
• Description: Area of Origin
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 1/1/1986
• Author: McDonnel and Howell
• Title: University of Colorado Law Review - Area-Of-Origin Protection in Transbasin Water Diversions: An Evaluation of Alternative Approaches
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

5~:

V\lVERSITY OF COLORADO LA.IV REVIEW

[Vol. 57

make the necessary ~ppropriations. then obtain a lease from the state
to use the water. and then build the tacilities necessary to move the
wa!er.:3

B. .;llvcarlOll by Curernmel1I Acriol!

Perhaps the most common method of providing protection to the
lrea ot origin is through provisions that directly or indirectly allocate
some portion of the water for future use in the area of origin, The
approaches taken here indude recapture, reservation. and evaluation.

./ 1. Recapture or Permanent Priority

California statutes enacted in 1931 and [933 attempted to provide
protection to the area of origin by making certain state. held water
rights subject to the future requirements of these areas" The 1931
Act has been characterized as providing a "righl vf recapwre against
the users of expon water, conditioning all export water rights by giv-
ing users in the county of origin a right to recapture exported water
any time the waler becomes necessary for the development of the
county, "'0 The 1933 Act. which relates specifically to the Central Val-
ley Project. also crealed an inchoate priority right in the inhabitants of
the area of ongin to obtain water whenever needed that superseded the
priorities t)f existing exporters. ~ I

2. Reservation

..>" second allocation approach involves reserving some share of

IS :"fo more fhan jO,l.)(A) at.:rC'-fe~1 may be leased. Le:lse lerm~ may nor t:.'\:ceed ~O year.!. ld. ~ 85.
':.I':'I(~\. (51.
\q. The [q31 pro..tSlon Sf.aIC'Y ";-.Jo prlomy under c/us po..lfl 5h.:lll be re:lea)ed nor :lSsignment made
.l( any JPl'lic:ltlon th.al WIll . de-pn'tle Ihe county in whIch lhe "".Her co'tlered b~r" rhe apl'licalion
Ung:lndles of .my such water neCe\'1,:lry for !ne d~'tIdopment of the COUnlY," 1931 C.ll. Stat. 1.51.4 (codi.
ti~(1 3~ c.\l. W.~rER CODE ~ 10505 (\Vest PHI & Sutlp. 1985lJ. The 19J) Sl:itute ..l:lles.:
In the: ~On.,tfuctIOn and uper::lIlOn b~' Ihe: deparlm~nl of an... project under fhe pro'tlj\lOnS oi
(he., p.lrf .:): .....Jurshco Of :!.rea... he:rem W:ll~r onglnat~5, or :.In .lre:l ImmediJ.lely adlacenl
lhe:rero ".hieh ..:an cl.ln.~nleml)' ~ ,>urphed With water rhereirom, .shall not be deprived. by
the: departmlo':nt dlret:t!~ ur Indirc":IJ~ "t" The pnur rl!!onl 10 alll)f ,h~ waler rea!.onably re,
QUlret.l l("l :ll.h=qU.ltd~ "urpl~' the ncnctil.:l;11 Il~d" O! Ihe v..:\Ie:r..;hlo':d, ared, Llr any o( Ine m.
.Ij..lb'I;JnI~ ur pruper!~ ,1.....n~N rhcrem.
\o..l.:.: C.t1. 51:!f. 1o.JJ (";f,<.Jlllt'd ;.I., C \1 \\0 \ IUt COllE ~ 11-l.()I) I Vv',m iq7t & Supp. IQg5\).
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:'UI !.ll.,el1('fl";lJ,l "J~\: . ~pe";;rl..ll[~. ,hi' m<::.w, I.::jl If. rn\l1 1\' tho: d~,d"!"m~nc oi th~
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lIon v..al~r requIred !O ,upply the applll':::ln(~ incrca~ nced:'>. ~uch use by 'h~ 3u[honty
'.\1IJid tl('ll JU'1,lli~ J~md.l ,l( thc ;Il'lplu:..Illon