Purgatoire River Water Conservancy District v. Kuiper

This proceeding relates to the administration of certain water rights by reason of the construction and operation of the Trinidad Project. We reverse.

The Trinidad Project consists of an on-stream dam and a 114,000 acre foot reservoir (TRINIDAD RESERVOIR) on the Purgatoire River approximately four miles upstream from the City of Trinidad. This is a multi-use flood control, reclamation and recreation project authorized by Congress in 19581 under the Flood Control Act of 1944.2 The corps of *203engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation had engaged in planning the project since 1937. The dam was…