Acquiring, Using, and Protecting Water in Colorado covers all aspects of water rights and water quality relevant to Colorado water users. In it you will find information on basic and complex water law issues, regulatory concerns, and future trends.
The book discusses the distribution, beneficial use, and conservation of water, as well as environmental issues and business aspects related to acquiring, using, and protecting water rights in Colorado.
More than just a general overview, this book is a one-stop resource that contains many citations to Colorado and federal statutes and Colorado water law cases. It also covers the sections of the Colorado Constitution that are devoted to water and its use.
The Revised Edition includes these new and expanded topics!
“Water myths” – Common misunderstandings about Colorado water law
Precipitation harvesting
Non-tributary ground water produced during oil and gas extraction
Temporary water use agreements
Conservation easements for water rights
Interstate compacts
Recreational in-channel diversion water rights and legislation
Water supply planning considerations and standards for appropriating new water rights
Adverse possession of water rights
Federal regulatory issues under Clean Water Act
Emerging state and federal regulation issues
It also has an appendix that contains a glossary of terms, conversion tables for water quantities and rates, and listings of water organizations that include federal, state, and local agencies.
Foreword – Working with Water Measuring Water
SECTION ONE: OVERVIEW Chapter 1: Basic Water Law
SECTION TWO: ACQUIRING WATER Chapter 2: How Much Water Do You Need? Chapter 3: Securing New Surface Water Rights Chapter 4: Securing New Ground Water Rights Chapter 5: Purchasing Existing Water Supplies Chapter 6: Temporary Use Agreements Chapter 7: Condemnation of Water Rights and Related Interests Chapter 8: Water Facility and Water Right Acquistion Funding
SECTION THREE: USING WATER Chapter 9: Administration of the Priority System Chapter 10: Water Facilities Chapter 11: Changes of Water Rights, Plans for Augmentation, and Exchanges Chapter 12: Regulatory Concerns Chapter 13: Municipal Water Conservation Programs Chapter 14: Water Agencies Chapter 15: Interstate Allocation Issues Chapter 16: Water Organizations
SECTION FOUR: PROTECTING WATER Chapter 17: Protecting Water Rights Chapter 18: Conservation Easements Chapter 19:Water Right Taxation
SECTION FIVE: LOOKING TO THE FUTURE Chapter 20: Emerging Issues
APPENDICES (resources for water professionals) Glossary
Authors: Trout, Raley, Montaño, Witwer & Freeman, P.C. is one of the leading small law firms in the Rocky Mountain region, specializing in water rights, water quality, environmental law, natural resources, and municipal law. The firm’s attorneys are experienced in all aspects of these substantive areas, including transactions, negotiations, and litigation. Many of the firm’s attorneys have specialized degrees, have served on federal and state commissions, and are published authors in their areas of expertise.
Founded in 1992, Trout, Raley, Montaño, Witwer & Freeman, P.C. provides legal services to government agencies, businesses, and individuals.
CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS Robert V. Trout, James S. Witwer Deborah L. Freeman Peggy E. Montaño Bennett W. Raley Peter D. Nichols Gabriel Racz Douglas M. Sinor Ema Schultz Lisa Thompson
