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<br />7cOLORADO STATE WATER PLAN <br /> <br />PLAN OF STUDY <br /> <br />Introduction <br /> <br />Three major river syst~s, the Colorado, the Rio <br /> <br />Grande and the Arkansas, originate in the Rocky Mountains of <br />I <br />Colorado. Major tributaries of the Missouri River system - the <br /> <br />North Platte, South Platte and Republican Rivers - drain the <br /> <br />north central and northeastern parts of the state. These river <br /> <br />systems are shown on the General MaPK ~ \~~_.. . on the <br /> <br />preceding page. <br /> <br />The total surface water supply available to the State <br /> <br />of Colorado is limited. Conversely, the water needs of the state <br /> <br />are growing continually at an increased rate. Demand in many <br /> <br />areas of the state has surpassed the limit of local surface <br /> <br />supplies. As a consequence, ground water usage has developed to <br /> <br />the extent that this source is being withdrawn in quantities <br /> <br />exceeding recharge in some areas. <br /> <br />If the future water needs of each area of the state <br /> <br />are to be fulfilled insofar as practicable and in an efficient <br /> <br />manner, water resource development and management, both surface <br /> <br />and ground water, must proceed under an orderly and well-conceived <br /> <br />overall plan. <br /> <br />The alternative, in the absence of a plan, <br /> <br />(', (' 7" <br />\'.1 I;, <br /> <br />2. <br />