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<br />TISDEL, HOCKERSMITH, MUELLER & <br />McINTOSH, P.C. <br />ATTORNEYS AT LAW <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: MONTROSE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />FROM: Andrew A. Mueller, Tisdel, Hockersmith, Mueller & McIntosh, P.C. <br />DATE: July 28, 2003 <br />RE: Water Rights and Water Impacts Caused by Halderson Pit <br />This Memorandum is provided as an outline of comments presented to the Board at <br />the public hearing on the date of this memorandum. <br />I. INTRODUCTION <br />The BOCC can only grant a special use permit if an application presented to <br />the Board satisfies all relevant criteria contained within the Montrose County <br />Zoning Resolution. With respect to issues related to water, the right thereto, the <br />effect thereon and the ownership thereof, the present Application does not come <br />close to satisfying the relevant criteria. The failures in the present application can <br />be classified into three general categories: 1 . Harm to existing, surrounding <br />agricultural and other vested water rights; 2. Inadequacy of evidence of existing <br />usable water rights for new INDUSTRIAL uses; and 3. Lack of right to use or <br />change UVWUA water rights for the proposed use. <br />II. APPLICABLE LEGAL STANDARDS FOR ANALYSIS OF WATER ISSUES: <br />MC2R feelion IV.A.S(h)~ [General Agricultural District] Design Guide/ines <br />for Deve%pment Which Affects Agricu/tura/Lands: Before issuing a bui/ding permit <br />orspecia/ use for ony /and use change adjoining or a/fecting agricu/tura//ands, <br />assurance must be estab/fished that adequate provisions are inc/uded which <br />minimize ore/iminate impact on agricu/tura/ /ands, inc/uding comp/lance with the <br />fo/%wing guide/ines• <br />... (4) Where irrigation ditches cross or adjoin the /and proposed to be <br />deve/opea; adequate provisions sha// be made to insure that the use of such ditches <br />inc/uding the maintenance thereof, can continue uninterrupted. Ditch rights of way <br />sha// not be interfered with and a maintenance easement of at /east twenty-five <br />(25) feet from the edges of the ditch banks sha/l be preserved. No one fha// <br />finpede any iiii9etion ts+ttem in ens way, int/ndie9 bnt not //inited to <br />irrigotien water, watte (return or toi/) water ttrWStWret~ dit~het, eta. <br />(emphasis supplied). <br />