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Findings of Fact,Conclusions of Law,Ruling of the Referee and Decree of the Water Court <br /> Thomas F.and Ginger L.Latham <br /> 23CW3022 <br /> Page 8 <br /> RULING OF THE REFEREE <br /> 23. The Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law as set forth above are incorporated herein by <br /> reference and are hereby modified as necessary to constitute part of the Ruling and Judgment and <br /> Decree. <br /> 24. The application for an underground water right for the DeBeque Gravel Pit, First <br /> Enlargement as set forth in the Findings Re: First Claim For Relief, above, is hereby granted. An <br /> absolute water right in the amount of 12.64 acre feet per year for evaporation is hereby awarded <br /> the DeBeque Gravel Pit, First Enlargement. <br /> 25. The application for approval of the plan for augmentation set forth in the Findings Re: <br /> Second Claim for Relief, above, is hereby approved. The structure and water right to be <br /> augmented, as described in Findings Re: First Claim for Relief, above, may divert, store and use <br /> water in accordance with this Ruling of Referee and may be operated in accordance with this <br /> Ruling of Referee. Applicants shall have the right to divert water out of priority from and at the <br /> DeBeque Gravel Pit, First Enlargement, so long as adequate water is available and provided to <br /> augment depletions from such diversions, as set forth in the plan for augmentation described <br /> above. <br /> 26. The application for approval of change of water rights set forth in the Findings Re: Second <br /> Claim for Relief, above, is hereby granted. The water rights represented by the 3.0 shares owned <br /> by the Lathams in the Larkin Irrigation Company and dedicated to the plan for augmentation <br /> approved herein are hereby changed to permit the additional use of evaporation from the DeBeque <br /> Gravel Pit, First Enlargement by augmentation and replacement. <br /> 27. The priority date awarded to the water right decreed herein as the DeBeque Gravel Pit, <br /> First Enlargement is April 6, 2012. The Application was filed in 2023 and the water right awarded <br /> herein to the DeBeque Gravel Pit, First Enlargement shall be administered as having been awarded <br /> on an application filed in 2023. <br /> 28. The Court shall retain jurisdiction w ith respect to the approval of the plan for augmentation <br /> for five years from the date this Ruling of Referee is confirmed and made the judgment and decree <br /> of the Court. In setting forth this period,the Court finds that such period is necessary to assure that <br /> no injury shall occur to vested rights of others by the operation of the plan for augmentation. <br /> 29. The Applicants shall install measuring devices, provide accounting, and supply <br /> calculations regarding the timing of depletions as required by the Division Engineer for the <br /> operation of this plan. The Applicants shall also file an annual report with the Division Engineer <br /> by November 15 of each year summarizing diversions and replacements made under this plan. <br />