STATE, ETC. v. S.W. COLO. WATER CONSERVATION

No. 79SA38.

671 P.2d 1294 (1983)

STATE of Colorado, DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES, STATE ENGINEER, et al., Appellants and Cross-Appellees, v. SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, et al., Appellees and Cross-Appellants, and Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, et al., Appellees.

Supreme Court of Colorado, En Banc.

As Modified on Denial of Rehearings November 7, 1983.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

J.D. MacFarlane, Atty. Gen., Richard F. Hennessey, Deputy Atty. Gen., Mary J. Mullarkey, Sol. Gen., Dennis M. Montgomery, William A. Paddock, Asst. Attys. Gen., Denver, for appellant and cross-appellee State of Colo., Dept. of Natural Resources, Div. of Water Resources, State Engineer.

Stephen T. Williamson, Judy S. Howard, Louisville, for appellants and cross-appellees Bluepond Associates, Stonybrook Associates, Taskmaster Trust, Wet Rock Trust, Trout Creek Associates, Dexter Enterprises, Amity Associates, Tabernash Enterprises, New Colorado Associates, New Aries Associates, Consumer Ventures, Markline Ventures, Trident Mesa Ventures, Paradox Associates, Elk Creek Ventures, Kadota Enterprises, East Park Associates, Starglaze Enterprises, Pinerose Associates, Harlan-Bismuth Associates.

Welborn, Dufford & Brown, Robert F. Welborn, William C. Robb, Denver, for appellants and cross-appellees CF & I Steel Corp., Trujillo Creek Cattle Co., Open Circle N Ranch.

Calkins, Kramer, Grimshaw & Harring, Wayne B. Schroeder, Denver, for appellants and cross-appellees Colorado Pacific Aztec, Colorado Pacific Energy.

Holme Roberts & Owen, Kenneth J. Burke, Kathleen M. Kulasza, Steven B. Richardson, Denver, for appellant and cross-appellee Nedlog Technology Group.

Moses, Wittemyer, Harrison & Woodruff, P.C., Raphael J. Moses, David L. Harrison, James R. Montgomery, Timothy J. Beaton, Boulder, for appellants and cross-appellees Amax, Inc., City of Arvada, Banker's Trust, City of Boulder, Colorado-Ute Elec. Association, Inc., Denver Southeast Suburban Water and Sanitation Dist., Douglas Park, Ltd., City of Federal Heights, Genessee Water and Sanitation Dist., Highland Ditch Co., Inverness Water and Sanitation Dist., Robert D. Lindner, Marathon Oil Co., Mission Viejo Co., South Adams County Water and Sanitation Dist., Golf Host West, Inc., Thunderbird Water and Sanitation Dist., Trailwood North, City of Trinidad, Union Oil Co.

Holland & Hart, John U. Carlson, Charles M. Elliott, A.B. Ferguson, Jr., John H. Land, Denver, for appellants and cross-appellees Adams Rib Ranch Corp., Atlantic Richfield Co., Blackland Properties, Inc., Chevron Shale Oil Co., Chevron U.S.A. Inc., J. Rathbone Falck, Goldsmith Metropolitan Dist., Robert Knapp, Koppers Co., Inc., Nu-West Development Corp., Roy H. Ott, Jr., Rio Grande Water Users Ass'n, Stearns-Roger Corp., Valley Country Club, City of Westminster.

Jimmie Joe Honaker, P.C., Longmont, for appellant and cross-appellee Big Elk Meadows Ass'n.

Saunders, Snyder, Ross & Dickson, P.C., Glenn G. Saunders, Denver, for appellants and cross-appellees Bob Johnston, Jr., AZL Resources, Inc., The Bessemer Irrigation Ditch Co., Cherokee Water Dist., Cimarron Corp., City of Fountain, Coppa Cattle Co., Sweetwater Development Co., Adolph Coors Co., Carolyn Allabashi, American Medical Center, Arapahoe County Airport, Bear Creek Development Co., Brannan Sand and Gravel, Daniel F. Burns, Cherry Hills Country Club, Denver Turf Farms, Lester A. Dixon, Bruce Dixon, Joann Dixon Hansen, East Cherry Valley Water & Sanitation Dist., Alfreda Guy, Hewlett-Packard, John Madden Co., City of Loveland, Loveland Ready Mix Concrete Co., Leonard Loukonen, Reino Loukonen, Town of Lyons, W. Everet Mellema, Orr Construction Co., Penta, Inc., Perry Pine Area Homeowners, Porter Memorial Hosp., Presbyterian Medical Center, Richlawn Turf Farms, Inc., Smoky Hills Land Co., South Cherry Creek Land Co., Walter Stonehocker, Swedish Medical Center, Joseph B. Thomas, Willows Water Dist., Woodside, Ltd., YMCA of the Rockies, Edward T. Young, Jr., Southwest Properties, Copper Mountain and Copper Mountain Water & Sanitation Dist., Nine Mile Ranch, Peter Jaffe, Dean A. Stone, David L. Thompson.

Wayne D. Williams, Michael L. Walker, Henry C. Teigen, Anne R. McGee, Denver, for appellant and cross-appellee City and County of Denver (Board of Water Commissioners).

Hannon, Stutz, Dyer & Miller, Steven M. Hannon, Denver, for appellants and cross-appellees City of Wheatridge, Town of Breckenridge.

Dept. of Justice Land & Natural Resources Div., John R. Hill, Jacques B. Gelin, Washington, D.C., for appellant and cross-appellee United States of America.

Donald A. Carpenter, Greeley, for appellant and cross-appellee Paradise Oil, Water and Land Development, Inc.

Maynes, Bradford & Shipps, Frank E. Maynes, Sara Duncan, Durango, for appellee and cross-appellant Southwestern Colorado Water Conservation Dist.

Fairfield & Woods, Charles J. Beise, Kevin B. Pratt, Howard Holme, Denver, for appellee and cross-appellant Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy Dist.

Delaney & Balcomb, P.C., Scott Balcomb, Pamela H. Prescott, Glenwood Springs, for appellees and cross-appellants Colorado River Water Conservation Dist., Glen Schmidt, Betty Jo Schmidt, Jack E. Schmidt, Benton Land and Livestock Co., Merrill Hastings and Ben Wurtsmith, Stone Creek Co., Grouse Mountain at Vail, Ltd., Eagle-Vail Metropolitan Dist., Benchmark at Beaver Creek, Avon Metropolitan Dist., Fred Green, June Creek Ranch Co., Crested Butte Water and Sanitation Dist., Leonard Horn.

Donald H. Hamburg, Glenwood Springs, for Colorado River Water Conservation Dist.

Steinmark & Lawrence, Kim R. Lawrence, Greeley, for appellee and cross-appellant High Plains Water Users Ass'n.

Davis, Graham & Stubbs, John M. Sayre, Robert V. Trout, Denver, for appellees Northern Colorado Water Conservancy Dist., Municipal Subdistrict, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy Dist., E.I. duPont DeNemours & Co., Ensign Bickford Co., Colorado Water Protective and Development Ass'n, Purgatoire River Water Conservancy Dist., John T. Oxley.

Mattlage, Maus & Lettunich, Karl P. Mattlage, John A. Vanderbloemen, Steamboat Springs, for appellees County of Routt, Colo.

Fischer, Brown, Huddleson & Gunn, Ward H. Fischer, Steven B. Ray, Fort Collins, for appellees Jackson County Water Conservancy Dist., Cache La Poudre Water Users Assoc., City of Fort Collins, Colo., Upper Yampa Water Conservancy Dist., Thompson River Water Users Assoc., The City of Brighton, Colo.

Sherman & Howard, Gary L. Greer, Wendy J. Busch, James M. King, Denver, for appellees Elysian Corp., c/o Coventry Development Corp., Royal Crest Jersey Farms, Inc., Wheaton College, Keystone, a div. of Ralston-Purina Co., a Missouri corp., The New Jersey Zinc Co., a div. of GW Natural Resources Group, Lazy EH Ranch, Lincoln Park West Metropolitan Dist., LPE Estates, Inc., Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, Lincoln Property Co.

Kelly, Stansfield & O'Donnell, Timothy J. Flanagan, Denver, for Public Service Co. of Colo.

Robert F. Moreland, Boulder, for Vidler Tunnel Water Co.

Holme, Roberts & Owen, Glenn E. Porzak, Denver, for Terracor.

McMartin, Burke, Loser & Fitzgerald, P.C., Herbert C. Phillips, Englewood, for South Suburban Metropolitan Recreation and Park Dist.

Geddes, MacDougall, Geddes & Paxton, P.C., M.E. MacDougall, Colorado Springs, Bruce B. Lassman, Castle Rock, for Town of Castle Rock.

Geddes, MacDougall, Geddes & Paxton, P.C., M.E. MacDougall, Colorado Springs, for F.B. Rooke & Sons, Chess-Shoemaker Ranches, Inc., J. Frank, Hazel J. Dilley, Arthur W. Dilley and Laurin Dilley, d/b/a A.W. Dilley & Co., John E. and Mable M. Wilson, Jim and Ann Like, C. Roy and Beneta Canterbury.

Goluba & Shenk, Nicholas W. Goluba, Jr., Glenwood Springs, for J. Golden Bair.

Musick & Cope, Joseph A. Cope, Boulder, for City of Northglenn, Colo.

Williams, Turner & Holmes, Anthony W. Williams, Grand Junction, for George R. Webster, Elizabeth M. Webster.

Musick & Cope John D. Musick, Jr., Boulder, for City of Aspen, Colo., Board of County Comm'rs of the County of Pitkin, Colo.

Ralph N. Wadleigh, La Junta, for The Holbrook Mut. Irrigating Co., The Las Animas Consol. Canal Co.

Floyd K. Murr, Walsenburg, for Town of LaVeta, Colo.

Moses, Wittemyer, Harrison & Woodruff, P.C., Raphael J. Moses, Boulder, for William P. McKinnel.

Robert G. Stovall, Eads, for County of Kiowa, Colo.

Mitchell & Hamano, P.C., Rexford L. Mitchell, Rocky Ford, for Avondale Water & Sanitation Dist., St. Charles Mesa Water Assoc., Colorado City Water & Sanitation Dist. a/k/a Colorado City, Metropolitan Dist., Salt Creek Water & Sanitation Dist., Pueblo West Metropolitan Dist., Greenhorn Mountain Water Association, Inc., Arkansas Valley Ditch Ass'n Lower Arkansas Valley Council of Governments, Board of County Commissioners of the County of Otero, Colo., City of Rocky Ford, Colo., Town of Cheraw, Colo., West Grand Valley Water Co., South Swink Water Co., Valley Water Co., Bent's Fort Water Co., Eureka Water Co., Hilltop Water Co., Patterson Valley Water Co., East End Water Co., West Holbrook Water Co., Fayette Water Ass'n, South Side Water Co., Beehive Water Co., Schlegel Water Co., Riverside Water Co., Hancock Water Co., Newdale-Grand Valley Water Co., Vroman Water Co., Tucker Farms, Town of Swink, Colo., Town of Manzanola, Colo., Holbrook Center Water Co., Timberlake Grazing Ass'n., 96 Pipeline Co., Wilhelm Feedlots, Inc.

Lutz & Berkowitz, J.E. Lutz, Denver, for H.G. Isbill, Eleanor L. Isbill.

Dufford, Waldeck & Williams D.J. Dufford, Robert I. Williams, Grand Junction, for City of Grand Junction, Marie Scott, Lorraine Harney, Charles Scudder, Elizabeth A. Scudder, Holly Scudder Difani, Jean Scudder, Carolyn Miller, Richard B. Scudder.

George A. Epperson, Donald F. McClary, Edward L. Zorn, Douglas R. Vannoy, Fort Morgan, for Bijou Irrigation Co., Bijou Irrigation Dist., Riverside Irrigation Co., Riverside Irrigation Dist., Jackson Lake Co., Ft. Morgan Reservoir and Irrigation Co., Weldon Valley Ditch Co., Deuel and Snyder Ditch Co., Snyder-Smith Ditch Co., Johnson-Edwards Co., Tremont Ditch Co., Lower Platte and Beaver Ditch Co., Union Mutual Ditch Co., Tetsel Ditch Co.

Holme Roberts & Owen, Kenneth J. Burke, Michael F. Browning, Denver, for Brush Creek and Eagle River Co.

Marshall McClung, Fairplay, for County of Park, Colo.

Akolt, Dick & Akolt, Robert A. Dick, John P. Akolt, III Denver, for The Farmers Reservoir & Irrigation Co.

Carl M. Shinn, Lamar, for Amity Mutual Irrigation Co., District 67 Irrigation Canals Assoc.

Thomas J. Aron, Jr., Greeley, for Town of Fairplay, Colo.

Friedman, Hill & Robbins, David W. Robbins, Denver, for Water In Our Wells (W.O. W.).

Stephen M. Mathis, Montrose, for Wayland Phillips.

Banta, Hoyt, Malone & Banta, P.C., Paul A. Linton, Englewood, for Cherry Creek School Dist. # 5.

William E. Bohlender, Greeley, for City of Greeley, Water & Sewer Bd. of the City of Greeley.

Holme Roberts & Owen, Kenneth J. Burke, Marilyn G. Alkire, Michael F. Browning, Denver, for Western Water Resources, Phillips 1527, Techtrack, New Leaf Nursery, Catherine H. Anderson, Brush Creek and Eagle River Co.

Calkins, Kramer, Grimshaw & Harring, Wayne B. Schroeder, James L. Gallogly, Denver, for Arapahoe Water & Sanitation Dist., Bancroft Water & Sanitation Dist., Bellview Green Ltd., Box Elder Water & Sanitation Dist., Castle Pines Metropolitan Dist., Greenwood Plaza Water Dist., Silver Heights Water & Sanitation Dist., Pine Meadow Tree Farm, Country Homes Land Co., Columbine Lake Water & Sanitation Dist., Vail Intermountain Water Dist., Durango Ski Corp., Purgatory Water & Sanitation Dist., Ft. Lyon Canal Co., Spady Bros., River Canyon Ranch Co.

Criswell & Patterson, Anthony Gary Bell, Englewood, for Titan Road I Land Inv. Co., Harold F. Hurst, Sheila K. Primm Hurst, Donald Rossi, Olga Safranek, Frank Safranek, Robert J. Safranek, Alan Safranek, Rosann Safranek.

Musick & Cope Stephen T. Williamson, Boulder, for Buffalo Park Development Co.

Gorsuch, Kirgis, Campbell, Walker & Grover, Keith M. Crouch, Bradford C. Berge, Denver, for Castle Oaks Corp., F. Burr Betts, Charles B. Henderson.

Mattlage, Maus & Lettunich, Karl P. Mattlage, Steamboat Springs, for Steamboat Lake Water Dist.

Kenneth A. Baker, Salida, for Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy Dist.

Wade & Blackburn, Oakley Wade, Las Animas, for George C. Camilli, Neil J. Davidson, Hasty Water Company, Inc., McClave Water Association, Inc., May Valley Water Association, Inc., Emery Cass, Bernice Cass, Bent County Farm Bureau.

Graves and McGill, Nicholas Magill, Steamboat Springs, for Routt County Cattlemen's Ass'n, Elk River Citizen's Ass'n, Forrest Warren, M.W. Carver, William B. May, Raymond Gray, John E. Sandelin, Iva Catherine Sandelin, Richard P. Warrick, Florence E. Warrick.

Kutak, Rock & Huie, James E. Thompson, Denver, for Edward B. Coughlin.

Johnson, McLachlan & DiCola, Larry Stutler, Lamar, for John Smartt Ranch, Inc., Harley J. Koeller, Wesley Splitter, Buffalo Mut. Irr. Co.

Britt C. Anderson, Denver, for Henry Clay Kimbrough.

Andersen & Gelhausen, P.C., S. Ford Andersen, Lamar, for Herb Reyher, d/b/a Reyher Enterprises, Inc.

Maynes, Bradford & Shipps, Frank E. Maynes, Durango, for La Plata Water Conservancy Dist., Pine River Irr. Dist., Dolores Water Conservancy Dist., Mancos Water Conservancy Dist., San Miguel Water Conservancy Dist., Summit Irr. and Reservoir Co., F & I Scott & Co., John Schmitt, Robert K. Taylor, Arthur Isgar, Charles M. Rogers, Noland Alexander, Rodger Ives, Tom Gilliland, Charles M. McAfee.

Maynes, Bradford & Shipps, Frank E. Maynes, Durango, McDaniel & Yates, L.W. McDaniel Gerald B. McDaniel, Durango, for Florida Water Conservancy Dist.

Robert L. Tibbals Aurora, Horn, Anderson & Johnson, Louis Johnson, Colorado Springs, for City of Colorado Springs, City of Aurora.

Henry, Cockrell, Quinn & Creighton, Benjamin L. Craig, Denver, for The Consolidated Mut. Water Co., Douglas County School Dist. RE-1, Lucas Wilson.

Hugh R. Warder, Glenwood Springs, for Ronald Kirby, Frank Satterfield.

Broadhurst & Petrock, P.C., Kenneth L. Broadhurst, Denver, for City of Thornton by its Utilities Bd.

Mountain States Legal Foundation, Kea Bardeen, William H. Mellor, III, Denver, for Mountain States Legal Foundation.

Welborn, Dufford & Brown, Robert F. Welborn, William C. Robb, Debra R. Lappin, Denver, for Committee to Defend Your Private Water.

George Rosenberg, Vail, Colo., for County of Eagle, Colorado, Vail Associates, Inc., Beaver Creek Metropolitan Dist.

Dominick Law Offices, David D. Dominick, Denver, for Perry Park Water and Sanitation Dist.

Mincer & Hartert, Neil S. Mincer, Lawrence M. Mincer, Michael E. Doyle, Glenwood Springs, Colo., for Nick Alfred Strubi Union Oil Co. of California.

Holland & Hart, John U. Carlson, Charles M. Elliott, John H. Land, Lawrence L. Hooper, Jr., Denver, for Ruth H. Brown, Twin Lakes Reservoir and Canal Co.

John A. Hughes, Montrose, for Colorado-Ute Electric Ass'n, Inc. of Montrose, Colo.

Leavenworth, Patrick & Lockhead, P.C., Loyal E. Leavenworth, Kevin L. Patrick, Glenwood Springs, for Town of Eagle, Colo.

Musick & Cope, Boulder, for Vail Village West Water & Sanitation Dist.

Klingsmith & Associates, P.C., P.C. Klingsmith, Gunnison, for Upper Gunnison Water Protection Authority, a Colorado corp., Dr. Robert B. Willey; Dr. Ruth L. Willey, Soderquist Ranches, Inc., a Colorado corp., Frank B. Meaker & Sons, Jim Lazzeri, John R. Long, Town of Crested Butte, Colorado, a Municipal corp., Alvin O. Berg;

Vera Berg, John W. Nemanic; Joseph M. Nemanic, Lyle T. McNeill; Mildred McNeill, Riverbend Homeowners' Ass'n, Inc., a Colorado corp., Riverbend Subdivision, E.L. Hilt; V. Pauline Hilt, Cranor, Inc., a Colorado corp., Fletcher Corporation, a Colorado corp., Lands End Co., a Colorado corp., Robert Bullington, Esten B. Orme, Butte Rock Ranches, Inc., a Colorado corp., Town of Lake City, Colorado, a Municipal corp., The Corporation of The Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory at Gothic, a Colorado corp., P & J Vader Ranch, a Partnership, Gertrude Vader; Paul H. Vader; Anne Marie Vader, Jean Lee Vader; Mark Vader; Harry Vader; Ina Fay Vader, Jack McLain; Louise McLain, Duane Phelps; Donna P. Phelps, August Nicolas; Octave Nicolas; Paul Nicolas.


LOHR, Justice.

This is an appeal from the judgment of the special water judge appointed by this court to decide questions of law common to numerous applications for determinations of conditional water rights in nontributary ground water1 outside the boundaries of designated ground water basins in all seven water divisions in the State of Colorado. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand the cases to the respective divisions in which...

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