Denver Office

This Section provides leadership to assist staff in meeting the division's public mission.

This section manages the Division's Accounting and Budget Processes. 

This section consists of two units; the Design Review and Construction Inspection Unit and the Dam Safety Engineering Unit.  The two principal duties of the team are to determine the safe storage level of the reservoir dams in the state and to approve the plans and specifications for the construction and repair of Jurisdictional dams. 

This section provides hydrogeologic expertise helpful to the State Engineer in administering Colorado surface water and groundwater.  The staff collect and publish hydrogeologic data for Colorado aquifers including groundwater-level data. The section also works with the Board of Examiners of Water Well Construction and Pump Installation Contractors to enforce well construction standards, protecting Colorado's vital and limited groundwater resources and public health.

This section provides real-time gauging station data for lakes, reservoirs, ponds, rivers, streams and canals throughout Colorado and published stream flow data. 

This section provides public hearings for State Engineer and Ground Water Cases. 

This section provides digital access to records and associated data to the public via online tools. 

This section works with the Republican River Basin Groundwater Team as well as represents the Ground Water Commission. 

This section creates and maintains models and tools that help water users and DWR staff administer water and makes information available online at no cost to the public. Research tools include Tabular Data Query Tools, which return textual data, and Mapping Tools, which use a GIS interface to retrieve data, display it, and allow analysis. Water data pulled from DWR's HydroBase includes streamflows, lake levels, water rights, diversion records, administrative calls, well permit applications, etc.  These tools also display associated images and documents. 

The Water Supply teams are responsible for review and evaluation of water well permit applications, substitute water supply plans, water court applications, county land-use referrals, replacement plans and changes of water rights within Designated Basins, and other related duties.

This team is responsible for water supply activities in that portion of the South Platte River Basin that includes the Denver Basin aquifer system, including the review and evaluation of water well permit applications, substitute water supply plans, water court applications, county land-use referrals, and other related duties.  This team is also responsible for Determination of Water Rights, Replacement Plans, and other related applications, within that portion of the Designated Basins that includes the Denver Basin aquifer system.

This team is responsible for water supply activities within the portion of the South Platte River Basin outside of the Denver Basin aquifer system, including the review and evaluation of water well permit applications, substitute water supply plans, water court applications, county land-use referrals, replacement plans and changes of water rights within Designated Basins, and other related duties.

This team is responsible for water supply activities within the Arkansas, Rio Grande, San Juan, Animas, and Dolores River Basins, including the review and evaluation of water well permit applications, substitute water supply plans, water court applications, county land-use referrals, and other related duties.

This team is responsible for water supply activities within the Colorado, Gunnison, Yampa, White, and North Platte River Basins, including the review and evaluation of water well permit applications, substitute water supply plans, water court applications, county land-use referrals, and other related duties.

This section provides support to the Board of Examiners (BOE) and DWR Staff including complaint investigation, rules enforcement and education, verification of proper construction, plugging and abandonment of wells. The BOE has supervision and authority over the construction and abandonment of wells and the installation of pumping equipment, revision of rules, and contractor licensing. Well Inspection includes protection of the ground water resources and public health through enforcement of minimum well construction and pump installation standards.