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<br />~~~0 "J <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />Basic Premises <br /> <br />The problem at hand is complex and controversial from many standpoints-- <br />physical (hydraulic interrelationships), legal (protection of vested rights), <br />customs (water-use practices), organizations and individuals (overlapping <br />and competing), administration (multitude of points of diversion), etc. It <br />is desirable, therefore, that a few basic premises which have been establis~ed <br />be stated, <br /> <br />1. That it is in the best interest of the state of Colorado and its <br />water use~s to develop legislation which (a) will promote and allow an <br />increasingly greater beneficial use of the total water supply, (b) will <br />increase the dependability of supplies available to water users, and (c) wi~l <br />alleviate ~onflicts between water users. <br /> <br />2. That shutting off of wells to satisfy senior surface rights is a <br />negative approach which does not allow utilization of a reserve of stored <br />water when it is most needed. Thus, if senior riqhts can be served by other <br />mean2, generalized shutting down of wells in areas such as that under study <br />is not in the best interest of the State of Colorado and its water users. <br /> <br />3. That (a) greater beneficial use, (b) better dependability of supply, <br />and (c) a mitigation of conflicts between water users can be attained through <br />planned integrated management and use of surface water and groundwater in <br />the area of study. Such integrated management not only includes the planned <br />utilization of groundwater, but also the planned manipulation of groundwater <br />storage in conjunction with surface water storage and conveyance facilities. <br /> <br />4. That the science of groundwater hydraulics and hydrology is suffi- <br />ciently advanced--and information on the alluvial aquifer is adequate--to <br />develop reasonably sound and equitable groundwater management plans. This <br />is not to say there is no need for continuing to gather and improve the <br />available information, only that we have sufficient information to improve <br />management over that now being accomplished. <br /> <br />5. That irrigation and plant sciences are sufficiently advanced to <br />allow apprpximation of optimum irrigation requirements for the various com- <br />binations of crops, soils, topography, and climatic conditions encountered <br />in the study area. <br /> <br />6. That each water user is (or should be) primarily concerned with <br />having a dependable and reasonably priced water supply which provides him <br />with an adequate quantity and an adequate quality at the proper times at <br />his point of use, regardless of whether it is furnished to him directly by <br />closing down a junior right-holder or by compensation from an alternate <br />source, such as groundwater. <br /> <br />7. That if it can be shown from a physical standpoint that a greater <br />beneficial. use, a better dependability of supply and an alleviation of con- <br />flicts between water users can be accomplished through planned integrated <br />management without infringing upon vested rights, the legal problems of <br />implementing and operating such a program can be surmounted. <br /> <br />, <br />~ <br />