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In Colorado, like other western states, water rights and water laws direct land use and development. In 1972, the Colorado legislature passed a new law allowing for water augmentation plans. Plans for augmentation may be used in integrating ground and surface waters and in maximizing the beneficial use of all waters of the state. The plans must avoid injury, the state engineer shall consider the depletions from an applicants use or proposed use of water, in quantity and in time, the amount and timing of augmentation water which would be provided by the applicant and the existence, if any, of injury to any owner of or person entitled to use water under a vested water right. In other words, a growing community can borrow water for a beneficial use as long as they put it back before the person who owns the right to the water needs it. The Crystal Lakes Development Company developed the first water augmentation plan for parcels less than 35 acres in the state. The 1974 plan limited water for beneficial use to in-house domestic use with yard irrigation prohibited by restrictive covenants. The water consumed by the community was calculated by the number and type of sewage systems used. The use of evapotranspiration was limited by the decree to 72 units and those were considered 100% diversions. Soil absorption system were considered a 10% diversion of water. The Crystal Lakes Water & Sewer Association manages 1 cluster soil absorption system that serves 25 homes on small lots and 1 large system for the lodge, restaurant and offices. The association manages 300 holding tanks, 7 community vault toilets and RV dump stations. All holding tanks are pumped by the association using their truck. The wastewater is taken to 1 of 3 community soil absorption systems.