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Show SPECIAL STATUTORY ADJUDICATION PROCEDURES 481 the referee,223 a ruling is made by the referee (unless he determines to rerefer the matter to the water judge), subject to review by the water judge. Copies of the referee's ruling are then filed with the division engineer and the water clerk of the division.224 Applications that are granted by the referee shall be stayed by the water judge upon a showing of material damage pending review of the referee's ruling by the water judge.225 Rulings of the referee which are protested within a specified time shall be confirmed, modified, reversed, or reversed and remanded by the water judge. Matters which have been rereferred to the water judge by the referee shall be fully disposed of by the water judge who may make such provisions as he deems appropriate. Rulings of the referee which have not been protested shall be confirmed in the judgment and decree of the water judge except that the water judge may reverse, or reverse and remand, any such ruling which he deems contrary to law.226 After the hearings on all matters have been concluded, the water judge shall enter a judgment and decree indicating, among other things, the amount and priority of the water right or conditional water right.227 The division engineer and the State Engineer then regulate the distribution of water according to the determination of the judgment and decree.228 In the distribution of water, the division and the state engineer shall be governed by the priorities for water rights and conditional water rights established by adjudication decrees entered in proceed- ings concluded or pending on the effective date of this [act] and by the priorities for water rights and conditional water rights determined pursuant to the provisions of this [act]. All such priorities shall take precedence in their appropriate order over other diversions of waters of the state.229 this provision allows the water judge, in his discretion, to augment these means of noti- fication by using AM and FM radio, TV stations and cable television. Colo. Laws 1971, ch. 371. 223Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 148-21-18(4) (Supp. 1969). The water judge is directed to appoint such referees as he deems necessary, from a list of not less than three qualified persons submitted by the Executive Director of Natural Resources; but the functions of the referee under this act may be performed by the water judge. Id. § § 148-21-10(4) and (5). 224Id. § 148-21-19(1). 22iId. § 148-21-20(11). 226Id. § 148-21-20(5). 221 Id. § 148-21-20(7). 228Id. § 148-21-20(8). A division engineer is appointed for each of the seven divisions by the State Engineer with the approval of the Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources. Id. § 148-21-9(l)(a). i29Id. § 148-21-17(3)(a). Section 148-21-35 includes more detailed provisions regarding the distribution of water, including administration of any plan for augmentation, discussed later. |