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<br />Chapter 2 <br /> <br />Resources Applied to <br />Ground Water Data Collection <br />and Enforcement <br /> <br />The Colorado State Engineer is committed to increasing resources available to <br />improve regulatory control of ground water diversions in the Arkansas River basins in <br />Colorado in order to comply with the Arkansas River Compact. The State Engineer <br />recognizes the critical link resources play in bringing about compliance with existing and new <br />regulations of ground water diversions and will actively support acquiring the tools necessary <br />to bring well pumping into compliance with the Arkansas River Compact and the prior <br />appropriation system. <br /> <br />Initially, slaffing to enforce the Rules and Regulations Governing the Use, Control, <br />and Protection of Surface and Ground Water Rights Located in the Arkansas River and its <br />TribUlaries (1973 Use Rules) involved no increase or specific dedication of staff resources. <br />This responsibility was delegated to the Division Engineer in Water Division 2 and existing <br />personnel. <br /> <br />In the winter of 1989-90, approximately $5,000 was allocated for additional vehicle <br />mileage expense to enable existing persorulel to locate approximately 800 wells within the <br />Arkansas River basin for subsequent regulatory compliance and monitoring. This program <br />continued at the same funding level during Fiscal Year 1990-91 (July '90 through June '91) <br />with an added emphasis during the 1991 irrigation season toward field monitoring for <br />compliance with the 1973 Use Rules. Additionally, through reassignment of duties, the <br />Division of Water Resources committed one half-time employee to ground water <br />administration duties and hired a sununer intern. In Fiscal Year 1991-92, an employee <br />position was transferred from the Denver office to Pueblo, with reassignment to ground <br />water administration supervisory responsibilities within the Arkansas River basin on a half- <br />time basis. <br /> <br />Staffing levels for the Fiscal Year 1992-93 program were unchanged. However, <br />funding for vehicle mileage and operating costs to support and develop the program increased <br />to $18,000. <br /> <br />In Fiscal Year 1993-94, a significant increase in commitment to the Arkansas River <br />basin ground water administration program occurred through reallocation of persorulel within <br />the Division of Water Resources. One full-time position was transferred from another <br /> <br />3 <br />