Opinion ID: 2621332
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Pioneer Irrigation Districts v. Danielson

Text: The next major case on this subject was Pioneer Irrigation Districts v. Danielson, 658 P.2d 842 (Colo.1983). Pioneer Irrigation owned surface rights on the North Fork of the Republican River, which was located within the Northern High Plains Designated Ground Water Basin. Pioneer Irr., 658 P.2d at 844. Several years after designation of the Northern High Plains Basin, Pioneer Irrigation became concerned that pumping within the basin was affecting the Republican River's surface flow. Id. It therefore asked the State Engineer to shut down those wells it believed were interfering with its surface water rights; when the State Engineer failed to take action Pioneer Irrigation filed a lawsuit in the water court. Id. The water court dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Id. We found that once again, the primary issue was whether Pioneer Irrigation was seeking to curtail wells pumping designated ground water or ground water subject to the 1969 Act. Id. at 846. Citing Vickroy, we held that the Commission must make this initial determination. Id.; see also Ground Water Comm'n v. Shanks, 658 P.2d 847, 848 (Colo. 1983) (explaining that both Vickroy and Pioneer Irrigation Districts held that the Commission has initial and exclusive jurisdiction to determine if ground water diversions in a designated ground water basin involve the taking of designated ground water.). If the Commission found that only the pumping of designated ground water were involved, it had jurisdiction over the matter; if, however, the Commission found that the pumping of ground water subject to the 1969 Act were at issue, jurisdiction vested in the water court. Pioneer Irr., 658 P.2d at 846.