Laserfiche WebLink
<br />A-4 <br /> <br />Wright-McLaughlin Engineers <br /> <br />Page 4 <br /> <br />October 27, 1972 <br /> <br />The mere fact that a wa-ter course runs throu"h the <br />boundariEls of a governmental entity does not impose a duty <br />upon the entity to keep the stream in a safe condition or <br />free from obstructions. Kelley Tsland Litne and Transport <br />Company Vs. Cleveland, 47 FedSu]::p 53ci". Even if a govern- <br />mental entity undertakes improvements along -the channel of <br />a natural stream, it is not held to a dui:y to adjacent <br />landowners, except to see that their land is not subjected <br />to a grea.ter burden or hazard from floods than that to which <br />the land would have been exposed had the stream been left <br />in its natural state. City ~:ld (~ount:L~t-' Denv~r vs. Pil<?" <br />102 Colo 326, 79 P(2d) 270. <br /> <br />Persons or entities who wish 1:0 alter natural drainage <br />conditions must do so in such a way tt,ut lower landowners <br />are not injured: <br /> <br />"The modified civil la,w rule '\~hich has been <br />adopted by Colorado has been sUIl1l11arized a13 follows: <br />Natural drainage conditions may be altered by an <br />upper proprietor provided the water is note sent <br />down in manner or quanti1:y teo do more harm thun <br />fomerly. City of Boulder vs. Boulder and White <br />Rock Ditch and Reservoir'CO::-;-"'i3'"C;olo 426, 21"515' <br />553. See also City and Courity of Denver vs. <br />Stanler Aviation Corporat:IOD~, 143'"Colo l8:r;-352 <br />Na29 ; Ambrosio vs. Per-l-r!lack Construction Co., <br />143 Colo 49, 351 P2d 803i-Dei:;evtZ"'vs. New'Brantner <br />Extension Ditch Co., 78 Colo- 396, ,. 241 l' 1111. ',,--' <br />Hankins vs. Borland, 163 Colo 575" 580, 431 1'20. <br />1007. <br /> <br />An entity which obstructs the flm;, of a natural Vlater <br />course and thus causes injury to adjacent lan.downers is <br />liable. :Parker vs. Atchison, 58 Kan 29, 48 Pac 631. It is <br />also c1eaic that where an entity creates a new channel for a <br />natural stream negligently, and t.hus causes injury to a land- <br />owner, th(~ entity is liable. Denver v;,;. Mercha,nts Biscuit <br />Co., 61 Cola 238, 157 Pac 842.-------,.-- , <br />