The DWR officials will be able to help quantify the amount of water needed for the use at the proposed location.Ģ) Submit a “Notice of Intent to Make Absolute” Application Form (“Notice of Intent”) to SWCD at or drop it off at 841 E 2nd Avenue, Durango, Colorado.ģ) Once the Notice of Intent has been approved, then submit the form with SWCD’s signature to La Plata County (97). 06CW127, please follow these steps:ġ) Contact the Colorado Division of Water Resources (DWR), 160 Rock Point Drive, Suite A, Durango, Colorado, 97 to arrange a time to discuss your proposal to use an increment of the water right decreed in 06CW127. To apply to use an increment of the water right decreed in Case No. Once the form has been completed, please contact SWCD (97) for more information on the process that must be followed in order to make any portion of the San Juan County Water Rights absolute and the requirements that must be satisfied in order to continue using that portion following entry of a water court decree confirming the same.įiling for a Water Right Under Case 06CW127 Staff from SWCD, San Juan County or the Colorado Division of Water Resources may be able to assist you if you need help filling out this form. The first-step for using or making any portion of the San Juan County Water Rights absolute is to submit a completed Notice of Intent Form to SWCD. SWCD and San Juan County work jointly to maintain and develop these conditional water rights as they are intended to provide for existing and future water needs within San Juan County. These conditional water rights are decreed to several points of diversion located on the Animas River and its tributaries within San Juan County and are collectively referred to as the “San Juan County Water Rights.” The water rights may be used for a variety of purposes that are further described in the 05CW88 Decree. The Southwestern Water Conservation District (“SWCD”) obtained a decree for conditional water rights in Case No. No application or notice to the City is necessary for securing these rights. Water rights covered under this decree may have already been identified. In water case 06CW09, 500 acre feet of diversions were identified by the City of Durango to be available upstream of the RICD to water users who are first to receive a decree with a priority date junior to the RICD. The service area for case 06CW127 includes the Animas River and its tributaries upstream of the RICD, including San Juan County. After the water court has decreed the water right as absolute the SWCD and County will deed the user the decreed portion of the water right. The user will need to file for a water right with the water court to make the water right absolute. A user must submit a Notice of Intent To Make Absolute form to the County and SWCD to specify anticipated depletive amounts and intended use. The decree in 06CW127 specifies uses and accompanying amounts which are eligible for receiving a portion of the water right. Increments of this water right may be decreed to users as absolute and senior to the RICD. 06CW127, La Plata County and the Southwestern Water Conservation District (“SWCD”) obtained a decree for a conditional water right with depletive flow rates ranging from 20 to 40 cfs depending on the time of year. Joint La Plata County and SWCD Water Right (06CW127) 06CW99 includes the Animas Valley planning district in La Plata County upstream of the RICD. Upon receiving County approval, the approved portion of the 06CW99 conditional water right will be deeded to the water user with the expectation that the water right will be confirmed by decree in water court. Applications may accompany land use applications, or may be submitted to receive a water right separate from the land use process. The decree in 06CW99 specifies uses and accompanying amounts which are eligible for receiving a portion of the water right. 06CW99, La Plata County holds a conditional water right to deplete up to 6 cfs on the Animas River mainstem, 1 cfs on Junction Creek and 2 cfs on Lightner Creek of which portions may be decreed to users as absolute and senior to the RICD after being developed and put to use. Water users still need to obtain a decree for their water right from the Division 7 Water Court as with any other water right.
Water users upstream of the City of Durango’s proposed water park in the Animas River drainage may obtain water rights that have priority over the recreational in-channel diversion (RICD) water right obtained by the City in 2007.įour water court cases make it possible for individuals to perfect water rights after the creation of the Durango RICD and avoid a “call” on their water by the RICD in the event of a shortage of water.