9476

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9476
• Author: Colorado Foundation for Water Education.
• Title: Citizen's Guide to Colorado Water Law.
• USFW Year: 2003.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

Table of Contents
Under Colorada water law, envur~runental a
recreatior~ial needs are acl<nauvlcdged as a
beneficial use of wafer Recreational in-char
nel diversions provide cour°ses jar kayakers
and instream flow requirements benefit fsF
and fsherman.The Sandhill Crane's habitat
(above) in Nebraska is prctected in part bl
interstate agreements governing water in tl
Cnidh Plnt'ta River
Preface ............................................. ...........1
History of Colorado Water Law: Adaptation & Change .......... ...........4
Colorado General Assembly ........................... ...........4
Native American and Hispanic Water Uses ................ ...........4
Colorado's Early Territorial and State Law ................. ...........5
The Colorado Doctrine ............................... ...........5
Basics of Colorado Water Law ............................ ...........6
The Prior Appropriation System ........................ ...........6
Tributary Groundwater ............................... ...........6
Beneficial Use ...................................... ...........7
Domestic Preference ................................. ...........7
Water Waste and Return Flows ......................... ...........8
Efficiency of Water Diversions .......................... ...........8
Conjunctive Use .................................... ...........8
Abandonment of Water Rights ......................... ...........9
Over-Appropriation ................................. ...........9
Deep Groundwater ................................... ...........10
Different Types of Groundwater ........................ ...........10
Designated Groundwater ............................ ...........10
Nontributary Groundwater ........................... ...........10
Geothermal Resources .............................. ...........10
Not Nontributary Dem~er Basin Groundwater ............. ...........10
Colorado Ground Water Commission ................... ...........10
Groundwater Use Rights ............................. ...........11
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In some cases water rights that have been traditionally used for agriculture are being transferred
to wban use. The water right that provided irrigation for these mountain pastures near
Kremmling, Colorado now provides water for the Denver area.
Z I C^ L O R A D^ F^ U N D A T I ^ N F D R W A T E R E D U C A T I ^ N