News Article

The Division of Water Resources filed proposed Surface and Groundwater Measurement Rules in the Water Division 7 Water Court on December 5, 2024. Division 7 is located in southwest Colorado and includes the San Juan, Animas, La Plata, Mancos, Pine, Piedra, McElmo Creek, parts of the Dolores River basins, and other adjoining tributaries exiting Colorado. The proposed rules and other documents related to the rulemaking effort can be found on the Division’s website.

The Division of Water Resources has issued a Request for Proposals to: 1) update a 2002 study on the hydrogeology and groundwater resources of the Southern High Plains Designated Basin in order to provide scenario analyses for groundwater use; and 2) provide community facilitation to identify and establish groundwater resource goals for residents of the Basin.  The objective is to determine recommended actions to achieve the established community goal(s).

On October 28, 2024 the Upper Colorado River Commission approved $7 million in BIL / IIJA federal funding to pay for diversion measurement structures in Divisions 4, 5, 6, and 7 (additional details in CWCB's November 15, 2024 press release).  More information about the process of turning these funds into on-the-ground measurement structures will be coming soon.

DWR is proposing technical changes to certain well permitting statutes and changing the timing of decennial abandonment in west slope basins. Check out the fact sheet for more details.

The Division of Water Resources will accept comments on the current draft of the proposed Measurement Rules in Water Division 7 until November 7, 2024.  Please send all comments to marie.sullivan@state.co.us.  The draft rules can be found on the Water Administration Webpage, under the subheading “Water Administration Rulemaking”.

DWR is offering a 2-hour online live course on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 from 9:30am-11:30am.  RSVP to attend the online course.  Two hours of continuing education credit are available for realtors and water well contractors.  This course provides an overview of water administration, well permitting, and water rights in Colorado.

The Arkansas River Tributary Groundwater Use & Measurement Rules have moved to a new location.  You can now find these on the Division 2 Office webpage.

The Rio Grande Groundwater Withdrawal and Measurement Rules have moved to a new location.  You can now find these on the Division 3 Office webpage.

The Republican River and South Platte River Groundwater Measurement Rules have moved to a new location.  You can now find these on the Division 1 Office webpage.

Colorado Division of Water Resources, Dam Safety, just published new Guidelines for the Use of Regional Extreme Precipitation Study (REPS) Rainfall Estimation Tools.