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<br />t...A..1 <br /> <br />evidence on tne part of tne Forum to deal with loss of water <br /> <br />(.() <br />o <br />l\.) <br /> <br />to the upper basin states for the benefit of lower basin <br /> <br />users. For example, under tne current plans, the evaporative <br /> <br />losses from a project that diverted saline spring waters <br /> <br /> <br />from a stream would be considered a consumptive use in the <br /> <br />state where the springs were located even though the principal <br /> <br />beneficiaries would be the states of the lower basin. <br /> <br />Since <br /> <br />many of the salinity control projects are located within the <br /> <br />River District, our water users could be unduely harmed unless <br /> <br />a method is developed to allocate water lost by the salinity <br /> <br />control program to both the upper and lower basin states. <br /> <br />SECOND. The River District supports and encourages, <br />innovative programs to put to use brackish 0.1" saline water <br /> <br />diverted away from streams for the purpose of salinity <br /> <br />control. However, we ask that you take steps to determine <br /> <br />the impacts and mitigate the affects these programs have on <br /> <br />the water rights of local users. For example, the River <br /> <br />District envisions a project that could collect saline <br /> <br />spring water along the Colorado River and deliver it to the <br /> <br />oil shale industry for their use. If a call was placed on <br /> <br /> <br />. the river by downstream users with senior water rights, Colorado <br /> <br />law would require putting the saline water back into the stream <br /> <br />unless some type of mitigation, probably storage, is included as <br /> <br />a part of the salinity program to protect the rights of these <br /> <br />users. <br /> <br />In other words, the salinity control programs must be <br /> <br />designed and implemented to protect water rights guaranteed to <br /> <br />water users by state laws. <br /> <br />13 <br />