Opinion ID: 1274732
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Ground Water Management Act

Text: The Act regulates the appropriation and administration of designated ground water. [3] See generally North Kiowa-Bijou Management Dist. v. Ground Water Comm'n, 180 Colo. 313, 505 P.2d 377 (1973). Designated ground water is subject to the prior appropriation doctrine in a modified manner. § 37-90-102(1), 15 C.R.S. (1990). In Jaeger v. Colorado Ground Water Comm'n, 746 P.2d 515 (Colo.1987), we said that the modified doctrine under the Act was intended to accommodate the important differences between surface water and designated ground water. Id. at 520 (citing Danielson v. Kerbs Ag., Inc., 646 P.2d 363, 370 (1982)). In Jaeger we acknowledged the need for different policies to protect designated ground water since underground aquifers containing designated ground water are `not subject to the same ready recharge enjoyed by surface streams and tributary ground water.' Id. (quoting Kerbs, 646 P.2d at 370). The Act creates a permitting system for the allocation and use of ground waters within designated ground water basins. The Commission is empowered to act on conditional and final well permit applications, changes of water rights to designated ground water, sections 37-90-107, -108, 15 C.R.S. (1990), and to supervise and control the exercise and administration of all rights acquired to the use of designated ground water. § 37-90111(1)(a), 15 C.R.S. (1990). Upon notice and hearing, the Commission has authority to establish the boundaries of designated ground water basins and subdivisions thereof based on geographic description. § 37-90-106(1)(a), 15 C.R.S. (1990). The State Engineer serves as a non-voting member of the Commission and may be delegated to perform any function of the Commission except the designation of basins and districts and the fixing of water rights priorities. § 37-90-104(6), 15 C.R.S. (1990). The Act provides that ground water management districts can be created once a basin is designated, if the taxpaying electors in a designated basin so choose. §§ 37-90-118 to -120, 15 C.R.S. (1990). Administration and enforcement functions are placed with the Ground Water Commission, section 37-90-111, 15 C.R.S. (1990); the State Engineer, section 37-90-110, 15 C.R.S. (1990); and locally-formed ground water management districts, sections 37-90-122 to -134, 15 C.R.S. (1990). Management districts have the power to assist in the enforcement of Commission rules and may adopt their own rules subject to the Commission's review. §§ 37-90-130, -131, 15 C.R.S. (1990).