§ 35-70-102 — Legislative declaration

The general assembly finds and
declares that the state of Colorado, through wind and water erosion and depletion
of subsurface water resources, has lost for agricultural and livestock uses
approximately six million acres, or one-tenth of the total area of the state; that
these losses range from severe damage to complete destruction of the topsoils of
these areas; that these losses have been caused by improper farm and range
practices, by increasing the rate of withdrawal from underground water reserves
without adequate attention to recharging such reserves, and by failure to conserve
to the full the precious rainfall and snowpacks that could help replenish
underground water reserves, and that the areas of land thus destroyed will increase
until and unless a constructive method of land use providing for the conservation
and preservation of natural resources, including adequate underground water
reserves, the control of wind and water erosion, and the reduction of damage
resulting from floods, is established by law over the entire state. It is to accomplish
this purpose and to ensure the health, prosperity, and welfare of the state of
Colorado and its people that this article is created, and it shall be construed
liberally in order that the purposes expressed in this article may be accomplished.

Legislative History

Source: L. 37: p. 1169, � 1. CSA: C. 149A, � 1. L. 41: p. 688, � 1. CRS 53: � 128-1-1. L. 55: p. 847, � 1. C.R.S. 1963: � 128-1-1.