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<br />OOl~OG <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The average contribution of the Gunnison to the Upper Colorado River was <br />1,706,500 acre-feet annually for the study period, with a range of from <br />660,000 acre-feet to 3,200,000 acre-feet. With development of potential <br />projects within the Basin (excluding industrial development, which is out- <br />side the scope of this report), net crop use for comparable conditions, <br />on the potential total of about 323,800 acres, would increase to 433,100 <br />acre-feet and other uses to 222,400 acre-feet annually. The average con- <br />tribution of the Gunnison River to the Upper Colorado River with this <br />potential development and under hydrologic conditions comparable to the <br />1943-60 study period, would have been 1,519,400 acre-feet annually. <br /> <br />Water Rights <br /> <br />(This statement was prepared by the Colorado Water Conservation Board for <br />inclusion in this report). <br /> <br />Appropriation of water in the State of California is authorized <br />by the State Constitution and by certain statutes adopted pur- <br />suant to the Constitution. The unappropriated water of any <br />natural stream of the state is subject to appropriation for <br />beneficial use under the doctrine of the first in time is first <br />in right to the continued use of the water. <br /> <br />. . <br /> <br />The procedure for acquiring a water right is for the prospective <br />"appropriator to commence surveys for or construction of necessary <br />water use facilities as the first step in establishing the appro- <br />priation. Thereafter the appropriator should file a statement of <br />a claim for the use of water in the office of the State Engineer. <br />The appropriation is completed when the water is applied to a <br />beneficial use. The appropriator may then have the water right <br />established by an adjudication proceeding in the proper District <br />Court. The District Court then enters a decree for the water <br />right. <br /> <br />The State Engineer has administrative control of the public <br />waters of the state. It is his duty, along with his duly recog- <br />nized subordinates) to administer the distribution of water in <br />accordance with decrees. He also has the duty to see that the <br />waters of the state are preserved for the use and benefit of the <br />citizens and inhabitants of the state and are not wasted. <br /> <br />The Gunnison River, tributary to the Colorado River, is located <br />entirely within the State of Colorado. The construction of new <br />water use facilities providing for expanded use of water of the <br />Gunnison River presents no problem as large quantities of unappro- <br />priated water discharge to the Colorado River. The construction <br />of the Curecanti Dam and the storage of water will provide the <br />opportunity for water replacement. TI1e establishc,ent of additional <br />water rights on the tributary streams is contingent on availability <br />of unused runoff. <br /> <br />- IS - <br />