GRAND VALLEY WATER USERS v. BUSK-IVANHOE

Supreme Court Case No. 14SA303.

386 P.3d 452 (2016)

2016 CO 75

Concerning the Application of Busk-Ivanhoe, Inc., a Colorado corporation in Adams, Arapahoe, Chaffee, Douglas, Jefferson, Lake, Pitkin, and Weld Counties, Colorado, GRAND VALLEY WATER USERS ASSOCIATION; Orchard Mesa Irrigation District; Ute Water Conservancy District acting by and through the Ute Water Activity Enterprise; Colorado River Water Conservation District; Basalt Water Conservancy District; Board of County Commissioners of Eagle County; Board of County Commissioners of Pitkin County; Dick Wolfe, P.E., State Engineer; David L. Nettles, P.E., Division Engineer for Water Division 1; Steve Witte, P.E., Division Engineer for Water Division 2; and Alan Martellaro, P.E., Division Engineer for Water Division 5, Opposers-Appellants, and High Line Canal Company; Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District; and The City and County of Denver, acting by and through its Board of Water Commissioners, Opposers-Appellees, and Board of Water Works of Pueblo, Colorado, and Centennial Water and Sanitation District, Opposer, Opposer-Appellant/Opposer-Appellee, v. BUSK-IVANHOE, INC., a Colorado corporation, Applicant-Appellee.

Supreme Court of Colorado.

Rehearing Denied January 9, 2017.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Attorney for Opposers-Appellants Grand Valley Water Users Association, Orchard Mesa Irrigation District, and Ute Water Conservancy District acting by and through the Ute Water Activity Enterprise: Williams, Turner & Holmes, P.C., Kirsten M. Kurath , Mark A. Hermundstad , Grand Junction, Colorado.

Attorneys for Opposers-Appellants Colorado River Water Conservation District, Basalt Water Conservancy District, and Board of County Commissioners of Eagle County: Balcomb & Green, P.C., David C. Hanford , Christopher L. Geiger , Scott Grosscup , Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

Attorneys for Opposer-Appellant Board of County Commissioners of Pitkin County: Moses, Wittemyer, Harrison and Woodruff, P.C., Timothy J. Beaton , Jennifer M. DiLalla , Boulder, Colorado.

Attorneys for Opposers-Appellants Dick Wolfe, P.E., State Engineer, David L. Nettles, P.E., Division Engineer for Water Division 1, Steve Witte, P.E., Division Engineer for Water Division 2, and Alan Martellaro, P.E., Division Engineer for Water Division 5: Cynthia H. Coffman , Attorney General, Paul L. Benington , First Assistant Attorney General, Denver, Colorado.

Attorneys for Opposer-Appellant/Opposer-Appellee Board of Water Works of Pueblo, Colorado: Carlson, Hammond & Paddock, LLC, William A. Paddock , Mary Mead Hammond , Karl D. Ohlsen , Denver, Colorado.

Attorneys for Opposer-Appellee Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District: Burns, Figa & Will, P.C., Stephen H. Leonhardt , Sarah M. Shechter , Greenwood Village, Colorado.

Attorneys for Opposer-Appellee City and County of Denver, acting by and through its Board of Water Commissioners: Patricia L. Wells , General Counsel, Casey S. Funk , Mary J. Brennan , Daniel J. Arnold , James M. Wittler , Denver, Colorado.

Attorneys for Applicant-Appellee Busk-Ivanhoe, Inc.: Hamre, Rodriguez, Ostrander & Dingess, P.C., John M. Dingess , Austin Hamre, Denver, Colorado.

Attorneys for Amicus Curiae Cache La Poudre Water Users Association and for Amicus Curiae City of Northglenn: Fischer, Brown, Bartlett & Gunn, P.C., William R. Fischer, Donald E. Frick , Fort Collins , Colorado.

Attorneys for Amici Curiae City of Colorado Springs and Twin Lakes Reservoir and Canal Company: Michael Gustafson , City Attorney, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Hill & Robbins, P.C., David W. Robbins , Denver, Colorado, Carlson, Hammond & Paddock, LLC, William A. Paddock , Mary Mead Hammond , Karl D. Ohlsen , Denver, Colorado.

Attorneys for Amicus Curiae Board of County Commissioners for the County of Grand: White & Jankowski, LLP, David C. Taussig , Mitra M. Pemberton , Denver, Colorado.

Attorneys for Amicus Curiae Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District: Berg Hill Greenleaf & Ruscitti LLP, Peter D. Nichols , Leah K. Martinsson , Boulder, Colorado, Mendenhall & Malouff, H. Barton Mendenhall, II , Rocky Ford, Colorado.

Attorneys for Amici Curiae Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Municipal Subdistrict, and the City of Greely, acting by and through its Water and Sewer Board: Trout, Raley, Montano, Witwer & Freeman, P.C., Bennett W. Raley , Douglas M. Sinor , Lisa M. Thompson , Denver, Colorado, Greeley City Attorney's Office, Andrew B. Nicewicz , Greeley, Colorado, Vranesh and Raisch, LLP, Paul J. Zilis , Boulder, Colorado, Riley Carlock & Applewhite, Brian M. Nazarenus , Susan M. Ryan , Denver, Colorado, City of Lafayette, David C. Lindholm , Lafayette, Colorado, Starr & Westbrook, P.C., Randolph W. Starr , Michael A. Westbrook , Loveland, Colorado, Petrock & Fendel, P.C., Frederick A. Fendel, III , Denver, Colorado.

Attorneys for Amicus Curiae The Consolidated Mutual Water Company: Collins Crockrel & Cole, P.C., Evan D. Ela , Joseph W. Norris , Denver, Colorado.

En Banc.


¶ 1 This appeal from the water court in Water Division 2 challenges certain rulings relevant to the historic consumptive use quantification of transmountain water rights that are the subject of a change application.

¶ 2 The City of Aurora, Colorado ("Aurora"), is the sole...

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