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All deadlines that occur after July 12, 2016, even if the deadlines are in existing cases, should be calculated under the amended Water Court Rules and/or amended Rules of Civil Procedure, unless there is a Water Court order to the contrary.

The Water Right Determination and Administration Act of 1969 (the "1969 Act") created seven water divisions based upon the drainage patterns of various rivers in Colorado. Each water division is staffed with a division engineer appointed by the state engineer, a water judge appointed by the Supreme Court, a water referee appointed by the water judge, and a water clerk assigned by the district court.

Water judges are district judges appointed by the Supreme Court and have jurisdiction in the determination of water rights, the use and administration of water, and all other water matters within the water division.

Water matters are generally commenced in a water court by the filing of an application with the water clerk. The water clerk publishes a summary of each application that is filed in the monthly water court “resume” and in a legal notice in one or more newspapers. Interested persons may then file statements of opposition to an application within the time allowed by statute. Because claims in water rights adjudications may affect, in priority or otherwise, any water right claimed or previously adjudicated within each division, owners of affected rights must appear to object and protest as provided in the 1969 Act or be barred from claiming injury to their water rights as a result of claims made in an application. The monthly resume published by each water court can be viewed on that court’s website. Links to the water court websites are set forth in the menu on the left side of this page. 

All water courts operate under a standard case definition approved by the Supreme Court in 1981. This made possible the establishment of water court filings standards, which have been reported annually by water division since July 1, 1981.

Justice Monica Márquez is the Supreme Court's Liaison to the Water Judges (by designation of the Chief Justice). Justice Márquez also chairs the Supreme Court Water Court Committee. The Water Court Committee discusses and proposes changes to the Uniform Local Rules for all State Water Court Divisions. The Supreme Court votes to adopt or reject proposed rule changes. 

For additional information on Colorado's water courts, please review links and information on this page. 

Water Division One Weld County Courthouse
Greeley, CO

Water Division Two

Pueblo County Judicial Building
Pueblo, CO
Water Division Three Alamosa County Courthouse
Alamosa, CO

Water Division Four

Delta County Courthouse
Delta, CO

Gunnison County Courthouse
Gunnison, CO

Montrose County Courthouse
Montrose, CO
Water Division Five Garfield County Courthouse
Glenwood Springs, CO

Water Division Six

Routt County Courthouse
Steamboat Springs, CO
Water Division Seven La Plata County Courthouse
Durango, CO

Designated Ground Water Basins

North High Plains/Camp Creek -
13th Judicial District

Kiowa-Bijou/Lost Creek -
17th Judicial District

Upper Black Squirrel Creek/
Upper Big Sandy - 4th Judicial District

Southern High Plains -
15th Judicial District

Upper Crow Creek -
19th Judicial District

 

 

Additional Resources

Rule & Form Information:

Water Court Rules

* Water Forms

Judicial Appointment Orders:
* Water Judges for Calendar Year 2024

* Designated Ground Water Judges for Calendar Year 2024

* Water Court Senior Judges for Calendar Year 2024 

Other Resources:
*Citizen's Guide to Colorado Water Law

*Non-Attorneys Guide to Colorado Water Courts

*History of the Consultation Process Under the 1969 Act  

*Adversarial Collaboration: Court-Mandated
Collaboration Between Opposing Scientific
Experts in Colorado’s Water Courts

*Article on Colorado’s 1969 Adjudication and Administration Act

*Article on Statutory and Rule Changes to Water Court Practice 

*Water Court Committee of the Colorado Supreme Court, Report to the Chief Justice, August 1, 2008

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