Upper Black Squirrel Creek Ground Water Management District v. Goss v. Colorado Ground Water Commission. The Supreme Court holds that ground water management districts have authority to enforce permits and priorities of wells under the modified system of prior appropriation governing designated ground water. The Colorado Ground Water Commission decides in the first instance whether there is water available for appropriation for a new well when issuing the well permit. The local management district then has the authority to determine disputes between permitted well owners involving allegations of injury and requests for issuance of well curtailment orders.
Judgment is affirmed.
These opinions are not final. They may be modified, changed or withdrawn in accordance with Rules 40 and 49 of the Colorado Appellate Rules. Changes to or modifications of these opinions resulting from any action taken by the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court are not incorporated here.