|
<br />:1
<br />
<br />1'\1':<( 5"
<br />u.,~" ",t
<br />
<br />37
<br />
<br />needs and then lease-back to a.~ricultllre until needed is possible.
<br />Alternate points of diversion are allowed, in ,certain cases which permit
<br />.
<br />
<br />greater ~se of groundwater.
<br />The present system has evolved spontaneousl~ out, of necessity. for
<br />increasing the utility of the limited amount of water available. It. has
<br />, ,
<br />. ,1
<br />not been th~ result of deliberate, comprehensive basin-wide governmental
<br />
<br />,
<br />planning. Afer all, state government has no statutory power to impose a
<br />comprehenSive water use plan upon the multitude of, individual water
<br />right owners. The administrative role of government 'basically is to
<br />'. ,
<br />
<br />assure th$t withdrawals conform with priority of rights; ,. flowever, th.ere
<br />',. \, ' .,. j' .
<br />" '
<br />are incentives that government can offer (such as low, interest,loans),
<br />. '! ' .
<br />
<br />which ~an influence private d~cisions toward ,harmony ,with perc!!ived
<br />public in~erests.
<br />
<br />,
<br />This' chapter highlights the current ma~agement str~tegies ' and
<br />innovations which characterize the South Platte River. ~sin. The
<br />
<br />j .
<br />research 1ieam finds that water right owners are, e~.ger! to adopt, changes
<br />.'
<br />
<br />, ,
<br />
<br />in management practices which will improve ~ater avatlabHity if the
<br />risk is low. That.'iswhy changes are made in small jncrements andwjth
<br />great cautHon. The major constraint to change iS,lack of assurance. that
<br />existing ~ter rights will not be adversely affected. Reliable
<br />informatio!l to provide such assurance is a cri tical ,need.
<br />The m/lnagement advances wh ich have been, madear,e relatively local-
<br />
<br />, , . , '.', --
<br />ized becau~e water right oWners intui,tively knew that the resul t woul d ,
<br />be good. Voluntary, integrated water ,management on a local basis is
<br />really the character of current South Platte basin water management.
<br />The researC:h teain bel ieves that this character can profitably be
<br />
<br />I
<br />
<br />,:"',,';">'
<br />
<br />"
<br />
<br />
<br />"
<br />'_:"
<br />
<br />';;'-'
<br />
<br />~,,IL~~>....._, :..0..",
<br />
|