16 U.S.C. § 410fff–8 — Water rights

(a) Effect on water rights: Nothing in this subchapter does either of two things. First, it does not count as an express or implied "reservation" of water for any purpose — meaning this law, by itself, does not automatically set aside or guarantee any amount of water for the Park or Conservation Area. Second, it does not change any water rights that already existed before October 21, 1999, including water rights the United States itself already held at that time. In short, whatever the water-rights situation was before this law took effect, this law leaves it exactly as it was. (b) Additional water rights: If the Secretary later determines that a new water right actually is needed to carry out this subchapter's purposes — for example, to support the Park's or Conservation Area's resources — that new right cannot simply be declared. It must instead be obtained the same way any other new water right in Colorado is obtained: by following the procedural and substantive requirements set out in Colorado's own water law.