Colorado Law Scholarly Commons

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  A Look at Laws Authorizing Uses of Conserved and Saved Water in California, Montana, Oregon, and Washington

  Cassidy Woodard

  Publication Date: 2016

  28 pages : color illustrations.

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  An Enhanced Water Bank for Colorado

  Anne J. Castle and Lawrence J. MacDonnell

  Publication Date: 2016

  23 pages.

  Introduction and rationale -- Background on Colorado water law -- The initial Colorado water bank -- Water banks in other western states -- An enhanced water bank framework for Colorado -- Overcoming municipal preference for permanent acquisition -- Existing authority and new authority needed -- Conclusion and recommendation -- Attachment: Provisions for consideration in water bank operating guidelines.

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  Colorado Acequia Handbook: Water Rights and Governance Guide for Colorado's Acequias

  Jens Jensen; Peter D. Nichols; Ryan Golten; Sarah Krakoff; Sarah Parmar; Karl Kumli; Jesse Heibel; Blake Busse; Karoline Garren; Julia Guarino; Megan Gutwein; Cori Hach; Melissa S. Jensen; Shannon Liston; Gunnar Paulsen; Nate Miller; John R. Sherman; Dan Weiss; Michael Weissman; Emily Neiley; University of Colorado Boulder. Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment; Gates Family Foundation; Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation; Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area; Sangre de Cristo Acequia Association; and Colorado Open Lands

  Publication Date: 2016

  51 pages (includes 1 color map)

  Introduction -- Definitions -- Water rights -- Change of water right -- Transfers of water rights -- Water sharing agreements -- Losing your water rights ("use it or lose it") -- Preventing the transfer of water out of the acequia -- Conservation easements -- Governing the acequia -- Assessments -- Easements -- Enforcement -- Tort liability -- Water quality -- The Rio Grande Compact -- Main government water entities -- Where can an acequia get legal assistance? -- Appendix I. Water rights : frequently asked questions -- Appendix II. Acequia bylaws : frequently asked questions -- Appendix III. Acequia incorporation : frequently asked questions -- Appendix IV. Model bylaws -- Appendix V. Catlin provision (Also included at Art. 10 in Model Bylaws) -- Appendix VI. Topics to consider about bylaws -- Appendix VII. The new Acequia laws passed in 2009 and 2013 -- Appendix VIII. Process for incorporating -- Appendix IX. Protest to Revised Abandonment List -- Appendix X. Contacts for organizations and agencies.

  "Acequias are unique and longstanding cultural and legal institutions in Colorado. Spanish and Mexican farmers and ranchers who settled here long before Colorado became a state created these systems for irrigation and water sharing that ensure sustainable use of water, and create important community bonds. Despite their long history, which includes acknowledgment in the session laws of the Colorado Territory, it was not until 2009 that acequias received recognition in Colorado state statutes. The 2009 Acequia Recognition Law, which was amended in 2013, allows acequias to continue to exercise their traditional roles in governing community access to water, and also strengthens their ability to protect their water. For acequias in Colorado to take full advantage of the statute, it is necessary to have a set of written bylaws that formalize existing customs and adopt the recently recognized powers. This Handbook was drafted in part to highlight the opportunities presented by the Acequia Recognition Law, as well as to explain the basics of Colorado water law for acequia members and those who work with acequias."--Introduction

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  Enhancing Watershed Planning in Implementation of the Colorado Water Plan: An Overview of Implementation Challenges and Opportunities

  Douglas S. Kenney

  Publication Date: 2016

  25 pages.

  Introduction -- Review of existing efforts -- Summary of interviews -- The salience of funding -- Recommendations -- Attachment A: Summary of reviewed watershed plans.

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  Improving Irrigation Water Uses for Agricultural and Environmental Benefits

  Anne Castle, Amy Beattie, Zach Smith, Drew Peternell, and Ted Kowalski

  Publication Date: 2016

  37 pages : color pictures, color maps.

  Introduction -- Agricultural and environmental enhancements -- An ag and environmental enhancement program for Colorado -- Appendix A: Conservation case studies in Colorado -- Appendix B: Related Colorado water law -- Appendix C: Relevant laws from other states -- Appendix D: Legislative attempts to statutorily recognize conserved water -- Appendix E: The problem of vocabulary

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  Looking Upstream: An Analysis of Low Water Levels in Lake Powell and the Impacts on Water Supply, Hydropower, Recreation, and the Environment: A Companion Report to The Bathtub Ring

  Michael Johnson; Lindsey Ratcliff; Rebecca Shively; Leanne Weiss; Yale University. School of Forestry and Environmental Studies; University of Colorado Boulder. Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment; and Western Water Policy Program

  Publication Date: 2016

  viii, 110 pages : color illustrations, color maps

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  Prioritizing Management and Protection of the Colorado River's Environmental Resources

  Colorado River Research Group

  Publication Date: 2016

  4 pages.

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  Proposal for an Enhanced Colorado Water Bank

  Anne J. Castle and Lawrence J. MacDonnell

  Publication Date: 2016

  4 pages.

  Outlines and explains 8 characteristics of an enhanced Colorado water bank.

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  Tribes and Water in the Colorado River Basin

  Colorado River Research Group

  Publication Date: 2016

  4 pages : charts.

  The special nature of tribal water rights -- Quantified water rights -- The Colordo mainstream reservations -- Central Arizona tribes -- Upper basin tribes -- Outstanding / unresolved tribal claims -- The path forward.

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  Watershed Planning and Management in Colorado

  University of Colorado Boulder. Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment

  Publication Date: 2016

  9 pages.

  Introduction -- The watershed approach in Colorado -- Moving to the next level : implementation of the BIPs -- Possible next steps -- Conclusion.

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  A Look at the Interim Guidelines at Their Mid-Point: How Are We Doing?

  Colorado River Research Group

  Publication Date: 2015

  4 pages.

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  Navigating a Pathway Toward Colorado's Water Future: A Review and Recommendations on Colorado's Draft Water Plan

  Lawrence J. MacDonnell and Colorado Water Working Group

  Publication Date: 2015

  40 pages (includes color illustrations).

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  The Bathtub Ring. Shrinking Lake Mead: Impacts on Water Supply, Hydropower, Recreation and the Environment

  Ning Jiang, Season Martin, Julia Morton, Skyler Murphy, and Colorado River Governance Initiative

  Publication Date: 2015

  4 pages (includes color illustrations and color maps).

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  The Case for Conservation

  Colorado River Research Group

  Publication Date: 2015

  4 pages.

  The unfolding success story of municipal and industrial conservation -- Agricultural water conservation and transfers -- Conclusion.

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  The Hallett Decrees and Acequia Water Rights Administration on Rio Culebra in Colorado

  Will Davidson and Julia Guarino

  Publication Date: 2015

  58 pages.

  Article on p. 219-276.

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  The Value of Water in the Colorado River Basin: A Snapshot of a Fluid Landscape

  Brian Annes and Colorado River Governance Initiative

  Publication Date: 2015

  33 pages.

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  An Introduction to the Colorado River Research Group: Purpose, Membership and Contact Information

  Colorado River Research Group

  Publication Date: 2014

  [11] p. : color illustrations ; 28 cm

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  Charting a New Course for the Colorado River: A Summary of Guiding Principles

  Colorado River Research Group

  Publication Date: 2014

  [4] p. : color illustrations ; 28 cm.

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  Considerations for Climate Change and Variability Adaptation on the Navajo Nation

  Julie Nania; Karen Cozzetto; Nicole Gillett; Sabre Druen; Anne Mariah Tapp; Michael Eitner; Beth Baldwin; National Integrated Drought Information System (U.S.); Western Water Assessment (Program); University of Colorado Boulder. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute; and University of Colorado Boulder. Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment

  Publication Date: 2014

  [6], 204 p. : color illustrations, color maps

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  Research Needs in the Colorado River Basin: A Summary of Policy-Related Topics to Explore Further in Support of Solution-Oriented Decision-Making

  Colorado River Governance Initiative and University of Colorado Boulder. Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment Western Water Policy Program

  Publication Date: 2014

  14 p. ; 28 cm

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  Restoring Sacred Waters: A Guide to Protecting Tribal Non-Consumptive Water Uses in the Colorado River Basin

  Julie Nania; Julia Guarino; and University of Colorado Boulder. Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment

  Publication Date: 2014

  105 p. : color illustrations ; 28 cm

  Introduction -- Gathering information and starting the process -- Indian federal reserved water rights -- Using Indian federal reserved water rights for instream flows -- Negotiating for non-consumptive uses in settlement agreements -- Protecting non-consumptive uses in tribal water codes -- Other legal tools -- Irrigating for instream flows and traditional plants -- Summary and key points

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  The First Step in Repairing the Colorado River’s Broken Water Budget: Summary Report

  Colorado River Research Group

  Publication Date: 2014

  4 p. : color illustration and chart ; 28 cm.

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  The First Step in Repairing the Colorado River’s Water Budget: Technical Report

  Colorado River Research Group

  Publication Date: 2014

  22 p. : charts (some color) ; 28 cm.

  Contents: Introduction -- Diagnosing the problem -- Plans to increase use of basin water: Overview; Upper basin states: Colorado; New Mexico; Utah; Wyoming; Lower basin states: Arizona; California; Nevada; Tribal demands -- Reconciling fantasy with reality: Upper basin; Lower basin -- Conclusion -- Literature cited.

  Tables and figures: Declining reservoir storage on the Colorado River -- Average supplies versus demands on the Colorado River mainstem -- Relationship between Lake Powell storage and Lee Ferry virgin flows -- Relationship between Lake Powell releases and Lake Mead storage -- Tribal water rights/demands: upper basin -- Tribal water rights/demands: lower basin mainstem -- Tribes served by Central Arizona Project (CAP) water -- Water Use and Availability in the Upper Basin.

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  Cross-Boundary Water Transfers in the Colorado River Basin: A Review of Efforts and Issues Associated with Marketing Water Across State Lines or Reservation Boundaries

  Colorado River Governance Initiative; University of Colorado Boulder. Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment; and Western Water Policy Program

  Publication Date: 2013

  65 p. : charts ; 29 cm

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  The "Upper Basin Voluntary Demand Cap" as a Means of Mitigating Legal Uncertainty in the Colorado River Basin: Modeling Results

  Colorado River Governance Initiative; University of Colorado Boulder. Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment; and Western Water Policy Program

  Publication Date: 2013

  15 p. : ill. ; 29 cm