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o ~-l "l:l" 'l"""f The average contribution of t.he Gunnison to the Upper Colorado River was 1,706,500 acre-feet annually for the study period, with a range of from 660,000 acre-feet to 3,200,000 acre-feet. With development of potential projects within the Basin (excluding industrial development, which is out- side the scope of this report), net crop use for comparable conditions, on the potential total of about 323,800 acres, would increase to 433,100 3cre-feet and other uses to 222,400 acre-feet annu?lly. The average con- tribution of the Gunnison River to the Upper Colorado River with this potential development and under hydrologic conditions comparable to the 1943-60 study period, would have been 1,519,400 acre-feet annually. Water Rights (This statement was prepared by the Colorado Water CDnservation Board for inclusion in t.his report). Appropriation of water in the State or Colorado is authorized by the State Constitution and by certain statutes adopted pur- suant to the Constitution, The unappropriated water of any natural stream of the ~tate is subject to appropriation for beneficial use under tneaoctrine of the first in time is first in right to the continued use of the water. The procedure for acquiring a water right is for the prospective appropriator to commence surveys for or construction of necessary water use facilities as the first step in establishing the appro- priation. Thereafter the appropriator should file a statement of a claim for the use o't water in the office of J::he State Engineer. The appropriation is completed when the'. water is sP1l1i.ed to._a beneficial use. The appropriator may then have the water right established by an adjudication proceeding in the proper nistrict Court. The District Court then enters a decree for the water right. The State Engineer has administrative waters of the ~tate. It is his duty, nized subordinates, tD administer the accordance with decrees. He also has waters of the state are preserved for citizens and inhabitants of the state control of the public along with his duly recog- d~stribution of water in the duty to see that the the use and benefit of the and are not wasted. The Gunnison River, tributary to the Colorado River, is located entirely within the State of Colorado. The construction of new water use facilities providing for expanded use of water of the Gunnison River presents no problem as large quantities of unappro- priated water discharge to the Colorado River. The construction of the Curecanti Dam and the storage of water will provide the opportunity for water replacement. The establIshment of additional water rights on the tributary streams is contingent on availability of unused runoff. - 15 -