45-1718. Water rights
Nothing contained in this article shall be construed as affecting or be intended to
affect or to in any way interfere with the laws of the state or the United States
relating to the control, appropriation, use or distribution of water used in Arizona, or
to any contract or vested right acquired therefor, and the powers and duties herein set
forth shall be limited and restricted to only that quantity of water which may be
available for use in the state of Arizona, after the satisfaction of all existing
contracts between the secretary of the interior and users in the state of Arizona for the
delivery of water of the main stream of the Colorado river, and shall not extend to any
such contracts, any amendments or supplements thereto, or to any federal statute enacted
before the effective date of this article pertaining to any federal reclamation project
within the state of Arizona constructed and using water of the main stream of the
Colorado river before the effective date of this article.
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