News Article

The Colorado Ground Water Commission has approved initiation of the process to possibly add a new Rule 8 to the Rules and Regulations for the Management and Control of Designated Ground Water.  In contemplating this new rule, the Commission invites parties with an interest in the subject of the rulemaking to present their thoughts, ideas, and opinions by attending meetings and/or submitting written comments. Staff of the Commission will hold a public meeting to allow for input.

Date and Time: December 8, 2025 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

We have created an informational document, "Placing Wells Back in Service Following Inundation by Flood Waters - Decontamination of the Well Structure is Imperative," for well owners impacted by recent flooding in Southwest Colorado.

DWR is offering a 2-hour online live course on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 from 10am-12pm. RSVP by Monday 11/3/25 to attend the online course. This course provides an overview of water administration, water rights, and well permitting in Colorado.  Realtors, brokers, title company agents, government employees, attorneys, water professionals, drillers, and the general public are all invited to join.

As a result of recent legislation (HB25-1014), DWR is required to notify the owner of record of a non-exempt permit that the permit has expired.  Such permits are expired if acceptable evidence that the well was constructed within two years of permit issuance was not provided to our office.  DWR is in the process of notifying individuals by mailed postcards that such permits have expired and advising them to contact our office for information on next steps.

DWR has begun the measurement rulemaking process in Division 5. The draft proposed rules, meeting information, and comment form can be found on the Division 5 webpage under the Water Administration Rulemaking section. If you have any questions, please email marie.sullivan@state.co.us. 

The State Engineer has received a request for a hearing regarding the response functions derived from the RGDSS Model Run 7P101.  Any person who wishes to be added as a party to this hearing must follow the instructions in the Notice by 9/4/25.

Pursuant to HB25-1165, Governor Polis has appointed a sixth individual to the Board of Examiners of Water Well and Ground Heat Exchangers, formerly the Board of Examiners of Water Well Construction and Pump Installation Contractors.  Terril (Terry) Proffer will serve as the individual with a minimum of 10 years’ experience relating to ground heat exchangers and is appointed for a term ending June 30, 2029.  Mr.

In accordance with Rules 7.2, 7.3, 22 and 24.5 of the Rules Governing the Withdrawal of Groundwater in Water Division No. 3 (the Rio Grande Basin) and Establishing Criteria for the Beginning and End of the Irrigation Season in Water Division No. 3 for All Irrigation Water Rights, on May 22, 2025 the State Engineer provided notice of updated Response Functions based upon the RGDSS Phase 7 model to Well Users withdrawing groundwater pursuant to plans specified in Rule 6.1 for use in Well Users’ 2026 plans.

Effective 8/6/25, House Bill 25-1014 changed the expiration process on non-exempt and large capacity well permits.  House Bill 25-1165 provided updates to the Board of Examiners, Geothermal Notifications and established a new Registration Process for Prior Geothermal Operations.  Click the headline to read more.

On May 29, 2025, the Board of Examiners of Water Construction and Pump Installation Contractors formally adopted amended Rules and Regulations for Water Well Construction, Pump Installation, Cistern Installation, and Monitoring and Observation Well/Hole Construction (2 CCR 402-2).