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Home My WebLink Aboutbocc.res.011.1976 ~ (3) To insure a sufficient quality and quantity of water resources to support the economic viability of the County, including the agricultural and recreational ~ segments of the economy; (4) To develop the water resources of the Rdaring Fork River Basin in a manner which optimizes the goals of orderly growth of the Western Slope, enhances the social welfare of the residents of Pitkin County and preserves the natural beauty of the mountain environment; (5) To encourage flood prevention and protection by flood plain zoning and, secondarily, by structural methods; (6) To maintain and protect the water quality of all of the water resources of pitkin County; (7) To develop, maintain and support minimum flows in the natural streams of the County; and WHEREAS, it is the determination of the Board that the follow- 1 J ing General Statements illuminate, exemplify, and follow from the previously stated Goals and POlicies, and express the Board's judgment and consideration: (1) The Board supports the use of the water resources of the Roaring Fork River Basin in a manner which optimizes the goals of all the residents of the Western Slope and recognizes that such optimization does not necessarily lead to the maximum use of those resources; (2) The Board supports the immediate allocation of waters committed to Western Slope use stored in the Green Mountain and Ruedi Reservoirs, first to municipal and agricultural uses, and only then to industrial use; (3) The Board opposes the construction of any water develop- ment project which would divert water out of the Roaring Fork River Basin for municipal or industrial purposes; J - 2 - ~ I (4) The Board supports the concept of governmental sub- sidies to agriculture, including subsidization of irri- gation by means of the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund, provided that the use of subsidy dollars is optimized for the entire basin; (5) The Board opposes the construction of any water develop- ment project, particularly one constructed under the authority of the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, which would tend to promote or encourage municipal or industrial growth in the Roaring Fork River Basin; (6) The Board supports the protection and enhancement of the natural resources of the Roaring Fork River Basin, particularly fish, wildlife and aesthetic resources, including flora, fauna, geology, and natural streams; (7) The Board supports the rational development of the natural resources of the region and the nation, and supports and encourages the examination and evaluation of alternative resource development plans; and WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the following proposed features of the Basalt project are inconsistent with the interests of the residents of Pitkin County, as set forth in the previously stated Goals and policies and General Statements, and are there- fore unacceptable to the Board: (1) Any Bureau of Reclamation project that would construct a water delivery system for serving domestic, municipal or industrial uses in the Roaring Fork River Basin; (2) Irrigation subsidies for small "residential farms" not producing food or fiber for marketing; and WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the following proposed features of the Basalt project are not inconsistent with the interests of the residents of Pitkin County, as set forth in the I I -3- .3 ~ previously stated Goals and Policies and General Statements, and are therefore acceptable to the Board: '-.J (1) Protection and enhancement of agricultural water rights in the Roaring Fork River Basin, including developing legal constraints to prevent the transfer of such rights from agricultural to municipal and industrial uses; (2) Enlargement and extension of the Home Supply Ditch to divert Roaring Fork River water above Basalt to the Crystal River above Carbondale for the purpose of main- taining minimum streamflows in a critical section of the Crystal River; (3) Sale of Ruedi Reservoir water for municipal purposes, to be used by release of water from Ruedi Reservoir for downstream diversion or exchange; (4) A project that would support the Pitkin County concepts ''1 of "Water Resource Impacts" zoning and land use regula- tion, as set out in the Pitkin County Land Use Code; i~ (5) Reduction of flood hazards and discouraging development in a natural flood plain; (6) Supporting minimum streamflows by the purchase of key senior water rights; (7) Water Conservancy District operating procedures which would ensure control, by the Board, of land use decisions relating to project features or effects within pitkin County; and WHEREAS, certain interested parties have expressed their desire to receive the support of the Board for the Basalt Project; and WHEREAS, the Board is aware that it is unable to bind said district to any course of action inconsistent with the desires of the district; and n ! I . U - 4 - 1 J ~I II I WHEREAS, the Board is unable to support said project uncon- ditionally, without abrogating its responsibilities to promote the best interests of the residents of Pitkin County; and WHEREAS, the Board wishes to assure all interested parties of the Board's willingness to support plans and policies for water resource development which will be beneficial to all residents of the Western Slope, but which will not be detrimental to any resi- I I dents of the Western Slope, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commis- sioners of the County of pitkin that: (1) The Board shall employ its efforts and resources in support of the plans and proposals of the Basalt Water Conservancy District and the Colorado River Water Con- servation District to develop the water resources of the Roaring Fork River Basin for the benefit of all the resi- I dents of the Western Slope, insofar as those plans and policies are consistent with the previously stated Goals and Policies, General Statements and expressions of unacceptable and acceptable project features; (2) The Board shall instruct its agents and employees to furnish whatever assistance to said distric$as might reasonably be required by said districts to enable them to achieve the various ends identified as desirable herein; and (3) The Board shall not oppose the plans and programs of said districts which are consistent herewith; PROVIDED that said Basalt Water Conservancy District and Colo- rado River Water Conservation District immediately seek and suc- cessfully obtain, in the courts of proper jurisdiction and in accordance with C.R.S. 1973 S37-45-l43, C,R.S. 1973 S37-46-l3l, C.R.S. 1973 S37-92-30l, C.R.S. 1973 S37-92-203, C.R.S. 1973 I S13-5l-l0l, and Rule 57, Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure, a - 5 - ---- j I I J " - ~ judicial declaration that: (\ (1) The conditional water rights decrees held by the said districts, inconsistent with anything expressed ~ herein, are abandoned; (2) The authorized purposes of the Basalt Water Conserv- ancy District include development of agricultural water supplies for the lands within the district boundaries, furnishing municipal and industrial water supplies for use within the existing boundaries of cities and towns now existing and located within the district, enhancement of residual streamflows in the Crystal River above Carbondale, in the various streams of the Roaring Fork River Basin above the confluence of Owl Creek and in the Fryingpan River above Basalt and below Ruedi Reservoir and development of land treat- ment of sewage effluent and urban storm wastewater J , runoff, but no other purposes; and that agricultural water allocated by the district may not be changed I J from that use; (3) The construction of any water distribution system by the Basalt Water Conservancy District tending to promote or encourage municipal or industrial growth in the Roaring Fork River Basin is contrary to the interests of the residents of the Basalt Water Con- servancy District and is neither necessary nor con- venient to the exercise of the power of said district and therefore may not be pursued by said district by virtue of C.R.S. 1973 S37-45-ll8. ,- v - 6 - G I Approved and adopted by the Board in regular oZ~4ay of ~ {J (i session on this , 1976. <~ . ..., ..~,~'-~ Dw1.g t . e n, Jr. Chairman ,\ Attest 11 Inr, CQ..hh<:'\ufl ~. 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