WSP03437

• File Number: 8126.300
• Description: Arkansas River Coordinating Committee - Correspondence
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 9/8/1995
• Author: CWCB
• Title: State Water Officials Pledge Continued Support Of Arkansas River Water Users
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: News Article/Press Release

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should purchase rights to a permanent, renewable supply. After the debt is

repaid, such water should be available for lease or purchase in the following

order of preference: (1) by well owners within the Arkansas River basin for

augmentation purposes and (2) for other beneficial purposes.

. The General Assembly should consider creating a regional entity that includes

representatives of both surface and ground water interests in proportion to the use

of water within the basin to act in trust on behalf of the people of Colorado to

manage any such rights in accordance with the principles outlined above and to

manage any such other water supplies and related facilities that it may acquire for

the benefit of the citizens of the Arkansas River basin.

. The state should not lease water which may become available on the spot market

to repay prior obligations which would place it in competition with efforts of well

owners to replace their subsequent depletions.

. The State Engineer should appoint an advisory committee consisting of members

of the trust committee and others who represent both surface and ground water

users in the basin to provide advice concerning approval of replacement plans and

other matters related to rules governing measurement, diversion and use of

tributary ground water in the basin.

. The State Engineer and Attorney General should seek authorization and funding

for additional staff and operating costs associated with full implementation and

enforcement of a ground water regulation program within the basin.

. A new, valley-wide entity to address augmentation needs in the basin is not

needed; the state should look to existing augmentation groups and any new

entities created by valley water users to meet future well augmentation

requirements that address the problems of depletions to usable stateline flows and

prevent injury to senior Colorado surface rights.

. In purchasing and changing the use of existing irrigation supplies, the following

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