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• <br />Rule 5. Principles and Findings <br />A. In adopting these rules, the State Engineer has been guided by the <br />recognition that the Rio Grande Basin is a separate entity, that aquifers <br />are geologic entities and that different aquifers possess different hydraulic <br />characteristics even though such aquifers underlie the same river in the <br />same water division, that there exists a shallow unconfined aquifer and- a <br />Confined Aquifer System underlying portions of Water Division 3, that <br />rules applicable to one type of aquifer need not apply to another type, and <br />that the hydrology and geology of the shallow unconfined aquifer and the <br />Confined Aquifer System and their relationship to surface streams in <br />Water Division 3 are unique and among the most complex in the state. <br />B. In adopting these rules, the State Engineer has considered the particular <br />qualities and conditions of the unconfined aquifer and the Confined <br />Aquifer System and has considered the relative priorities and quantities of <br />all water rights and the anticipated times of year when demands will be <br />made by the owners of such rights for waters to supply the same. The <br />State Engineer has also considered Colorado's obligations under the Rio <br />Grande Compact and the manner of administration of water rights <br />necessary for Colorado to comply with its obligations under the Rio <br />Grande Compact. <br />C. The Confined Aquifer is amulti-layered aquifer. Different formations, <br />group of formations, or parts of a formation in the aquifer have different <br />6 <br />