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Oijl~5f " the technical subcommittees were unable to deal with each of these many problems. The preliminary report of September 27, 1960 is attached as an appendix to this report. Research papers presented by the representatives of federal agencies and the participating states to the Ground Water Section of the Western Resources Conference have been very helpful to the Committee and the consultants. These papers give the experiences of our sister states. . Another approach is to consider one specific problem at a time. One such specific problem is that of recharge. Some stat es provide for recharge districts whose primary function is to recharge ground water aquifers. The state of California has adopted legislation enabling the people within a proposed area to create ground water re- charge districts. Orange County, California levies an eight mill ad valorem tax plus a fluctuating replenishment charge. Amendments to the irrigation district acts and the water conservancy act could give existing and new districts power to conduct recharge operation. ./ In order to facilitate recharge of ground water aquifers it is recommended that ground water recharge be recognized by law as a beneficial use in application of any unused flood, and unappropriated water from the state I s streams. It is the opinion of the consultants that an appropriation for ground water storage and recharge could be secured under existing law as a beneficial use. Possible litigation should be avoided by the adoption of a proper law so providing. .' The Henrylyn Irrigation District in southern Weld County in cooperation with Colorado State University and the State Engineer, has engaged in recharge experiments that will be of great value to the state. Again, the Irrigation District Acts of 1950 and 1921 as amended do not specifically include ground water recharge as an authorized pur- pose of the district. It may be an implied purpose, but legislation should be adopted to make court decisions unnecessary. '. In order to facilitate ground water recharge programs the irri- gation district laws should be amended to empower the irrigation district to assess benefits of recharge of the aq'~ifer against the overlying sur- face owners benefited by the recharge. This would enable the irrigation district to work out a more equitable distribution of its water as well as its financial burdens, consistent with the general theory that each acre of land within an irrigation district should be benefited pro rata. . - 7 -