WATER RIGHTS 0\ IXTHRSTATE STKIL-VMS. 



RHSl'LTS OH LWKSTIGATION. 



By It. 1*. Teele, Editorial A>isif<taut. 

 THE PLATTE RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES. 



The law i)rescribino- the work to be done by this Office originally 

 provided for the investigation of the " laws of the States and Terri- 

 tories as affecting irrigation and the rights of appropriators." Under 

 this provision studies of the laws of several of the States have 

 been made." In 1903 this law was changed by adding to the above 

 clause. '' and of riparian proprietors." In response to many requests 

 from the people interested in the control and use of water of the 

 streams flowing east from the Rocky Mountains, a study of the laws 

 aft'ecting the distribution of the water of the Platte liiver and its 

 tributaries was begun in 1903. 



These streams present two questions which have not been exten- 

 sively dealt with in former reports: (1) AVhat is the relation between 

 rights acquired by ^ appropriation " and riparian rights on the same 

 stream? and (2) What is the relation between rights to water from 

 the same stream in diit'erent States? Since only rights acquired by 

 appropriation are recognized in Colorado and Wyoming, and the 

 rights of riparian proprietors are recognized only in Nebraska, on 

 these particular streams these questions merge into one: AVhat are 

 the relations of rights to water from the Platte River and its tribu- 

 taries in different States? This report is a discussion of that (pies- 

 tion. 



The accompanying map (PL I) shows that the course of the South 

 Platte lies in the States of Colorado and Nebraska; that of the North 

 Platte lies in Colorado. AA>oming, and Nebraska; while the main 

 stream is in Nebraska. A study of the relations between the rights 

 to these streams, therefoi-e. involves the study of the laws and de- 

 cisions regarding water rights in Colorado, Wyoming, and Ncbinska. 



" U. 8. iH'pt. Af,'!-.. (,)rti((> i>f Kxiici-iniciit St:iti<iiis T'.uls. .".S. CO. \u\. lOo, ;iii<l IL'4. 



