§ 37-45-102 — Legislative declaration

(1) It is hereby declared that to provide
for the conservation of the water resources of the state of Colorado and for the
greatest beneficial use of water within this state, the organization of water
conservancy districts and the construction of works as defined in this article by
such districts are a public use and will:

(a) Be essentially for the public benefit and advantage of the people of the
state of Colorado;

(b) Indirectly benefit all industries of the state;

(c) Indirectly benefit the state of Colorado in the increase of its taxable
property valuation;

(d) Directly benefit municipalities by providing adequate supplies of water
for domestic use;

(e) Directly benefit lands to be irrigated from works to be constructed;

(f) Directly benefit lands now under irrigation by stabilizing the flow of water
in streams and by increasing flow and return flow of water to such streams;

(g) Promote the comfort, safety, and welfare of the people of the state of
Colorado.

(2) It is therefore declared to be the policy of the state of Colorado:

(a) To control, make use of, and apply to beneficial use all unappropriated
waters originating in this state to a direct and supplemental use of such waters for
domestic, manufacturing, irrigation, power, and other beneficial uses;

(b) To obtain from water originating in Colorado the highest duty for
domestic uses and irrigation of lands in Colorado within the terms of interstate
compacts;

(c) To cooperate with the United States under the federal reclamation laws
and other agencies of the United States government for the construction and
financing of works in the state of Colorado as defined in this article, and for the
operation and maintenance thereof;

(d) To promote the greater prosperity and general welfare of the people of
the state of Colorado by encouraging the organization of water conservancy
districts as provided in this article.

(3) It is further declared that:

(a) The development, use, and conservation of water within this state is
inextricably tied to the development and construction of works as defined in this
article;

(b) The development and construction of such works shall be deemed to be
the development, use, and conservation of water; and

(c) Such works are deemed to be a public use essential for the public benefit
of the people of this state.

Legislative History

Source: L. 37: p. 1309, � 1. CSA: C. 173B, � 15. CRS 53: � 149-6-1. C.R.S. 1963: � 150-5-1. L. 92: (3) added, p. 2291, � 1, effective April 2.