Colo. Rev. Stat. » Title 37
Colorado Revised Statutes

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 37-90-111 (2026)

Powers of the ground water commission - limitations

✓ current as of July 2026
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(1) In the administration and enforcement of this article and in the effectuation of the policy of this state to conserve its designated groundwater resources and for the protection of vested rights and except to the extent that similar authority is vested in ground water management districts pursuant to section 37-90-130 (2), the ground water commission is empowered: (a) To supervise and control the exercise and administration of all rights acquired to the use of designated groundwater. In the exercise of this power it may, by summary order, prohibit or limit withdrawal of water from any well during any period that it determines that such withdrawal of water from said well would cause unreasonable injury to prior appropriators; except that nothing in this article shall be construed as entitling any prior designated groundwater appropriator to the maintenance of the historic water level or any other level below which water still can be economically extracted when the total economic pattern of the particular designated groundwater basin is considered; and further except that no such order shall take effect until six months after its entry. (b) To establish a reasonable groundwater pumping level in an area having a common designated groundwater supply. Water in wells shall not be deemed available to fill the water right therefor if withdrawal therefrom of the amount called for by such right would, contrary to the declared policy of this article, unreasonably affect any prior water right or result in withdrawing the groundwater supply at a rate materially in excess of the reasonably anticipated average rate of future recharge. (c) To issue permits for the construction of replacement wells. Any permits issued shall set forth the conditions under which a well may be modified by a change of the well itself or the pumping equipment therefor, by the drilling of a replacement well, or otherwise, in order to make it possible for the owner of a well to obtain the water to which such owner may be entitled by virtue of his original appropriation.

(d) In the exercise of any of the powers or duties conferred by this section, to confer and consult with the board of directors of the ground water management district board in the affected area, if any such board exists, before promulgating any orders or regulations which would affect the district in general; (e) To order the total or partial discontinuance of any diversion within a groundwater basin to the extent the water being diverted is not necessary for application to a beneficial use;

(f) In any area where a ground water management district has not been formed, to prescribe satisfactory and economical measuring methods for the measurement of water levels in and the amount of water withdrawn from wells and to require reports to be made at the end of each pumping season showing the date and water level at the beginning of the pumping season, the date and water level at the end of the pumping season, and showing any period of more than thirty days' cessation of pumping during such pumping season;

(g) Upon application therefor by any permit holder, to authorize a change in acreage served, volume of appropriation, place, time, or type of use of and by any water right, or of any well location, either conditional or final, granted under the authority of the commission but only upon such terms and conditions as will not cause material injury to the vested rights of other appropriators. No such change that increases the volume of appropriation beyond that authorized by the original decree, conditional permit, registration statement, or other well permit issued prior to basin designation shall be authorized, and no such change shall be approved until after publication of such application as provided in section 37-90-112; except that publication shall not be required to approve a temporary change pursuant to the rules adopted by the commission and except that publication shall not be required for replacement wells that are relocated no further than the maximum distance allowed by district rules and regulations without prior board approval or by commission policy where no district exists or where no district rule has been adopted. (h) To adopt rules necessary to carry out the provisions of this article.

(2) No supplemental wells or alternate point of diversion wells shall be allowed in any area of any designated groundwater basin in which the proposed well or wells combined would deplete the aquifer in excess of the rate of depletion prescribed by the ground water commission or by the ground water management district rules and regulations.

(3) In the exercise of any of the powers or duties conferred by this section, the commission shall confer and consult with the board of directors of the ground water management district board in the affected areas, if any such board exists, before promulgating any orders or regulations which would affect the district in general, and shall request written recommendations from the board of any existing district within which the conditional or final permit has been issued, before taking final action on any request or application made pursuant to this section.

(4) In any area within a designated groundwater basin which has not been included within the boundaries of a ground water management district, the commission has the authority to exercise any power given by this article to the board of directors of a ground water management district, but, before instituting control measures pursuant to section 37-90-130, the commission shall follow the procedures set out in section 37-90-131.

(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the commission shall allocate, upon the basis of ownership of the overlying land, any designated groundwater contained in the Dawson, Denver, Arapahoe, or Laramie-Fox Hills aquifers. Permits issued pursuant to this subsection (5) shall allow withdrawals on the basis of an aquifer life of one hundred years.

Source: L. 65: R&RE, p. 1254, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 148-18-10. L. 67: p. 276, § 4. L. 71: p. 1314, § 8. L. 79: IP(1) amended and (1)(g), (3), and (4) added, pp. 1373, 1374, §§ 4, 5, effective June 7. L. 85: (1)(g) and (3) amended, p. 1175, § 5, effective May 31. L. 88: (5) added, p. 1238, § 1, effective July 1. L. 92: (1)(c) amended, p. 2299, § 4, effective March 19. L. 94:

(1)(h) added, p. 1747, § 3, effective July 1. L. 98: (1)(g) amended, p. 1220, § 9, effective August 5.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 17 cases, 1978–2015 · leading case: Colorado Ground Water Comm'n v. North Kiowa-Bijou Groundwater Mgmt. Dist., 77 P.3d 62 (Colo. 2003).
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Colorado Ground Water Comm'n v. North Kiowa-Bijou Groundwater Mgmt. Dist., 77 P.3d 62 (Colo. 2003). · cites it 14× “1, § 37-90-111, 1988 Colo. Sess. Laws. 1238, 1238.”
Meridian Ranch Metro. Dist. v. Colorado Ground Water Comm'n, 240 P.3d 382 (Colo. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 14× “Under section 37-90-111(1), C.R.S.2009, the Commission is empowered, among other things, (a) To supervise and control the exercise and administration of all rights acquired to the use of designated ground water.”
Upper Black Squirrel Creek Ground Water Mgmt. Dist. v. Goss, 993 P.2d 1177 (Colo. 2000). · cites it 7× “See § 37-90-111, 10 C.R.S. (1999); State v. Vickroy, 627 P.”
Colorado Ground Water Comm'n v. Dreiling, 606 P.2d 836 (Colo. 1980). · cites it 5× “The case is remanded to the district court for retrial of the injunctive and damage issues and the court is directed to make appropriate referral to the Colorado Ground Water Commission, pursuant to section 37-90-111 (l)(a), C.R.S. 1973. JUSTICE GROVES concurs in the opinion as…”
Colorado Ground Water Comm'n v. Eagle Peak Farms, Ltd., 919 P.2d 212 (Colo. 1996). · cites it 2× “Administration and enforcement functions are placed with the Ground Water Commission, section 37-90-111,15 C.R.S. (1990); the State Engineer, section 37-90-110, 15 C.”
State Ex Rel. Danielson v. Vickroy, 627 P.2d 752 (Colo. 1981). · cites it 3× “Section 37-90-111, C.R.S.1973. The Management Act also provides for formation of ground water management districts, with administrative and regulatory powers supplemental to and coordinated with those of the commission, within designated ground water basins.”
Danielson v. Kerbs Ag., Inc., 646 P.2d 363 (Colo. 1982). · cites it 3× “To permit the maximum economic development of designated ground water in the Northern High Plains Designated Ground Water Basin, while protecting prior appropriations and maintaining reasonable pumping levels, the Commission allows no more than a 40 percent depletion of the…”
Meridian Serv. Metro. Dist. v. Ground Water Comm'n, 361 P.3d 392 (Colo. 2015). · cites it 2× “{46 Third, contrary to Meridian's assertions regarding waste, a ruling in Meridian's favor would reduce the four percent rate of recharge of the aquifer, thereby harming senior designated ground water users and impeding the Commission's duty to administer designated ground water…”
Pioneer Irrigation Districts v. Danielson, 658 P.2d 842 (Colo. 1983). · cites it 2× “” The Management Act requires persons desiring to appropriate ground water in a designated ground water basin to make application for a permit to the Ground Water Commission. Section 37-90-107.”
Qualls, Inc. v. Berryman, 789 P.2d 1095 (Colo. 1990). · cites it 2× “Sections 37-90-111, 37-90-130(2), 15 C.R.”
Eagle Peak Farms, Ltd. v. Colorado Ground Water Comm'n, 870 P.2d 539 (Colo. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 2× “15), and, as such, is charged with enforcing any regulation adopted by the Commission pursuant to § 37-90-111, C.R.S. (1990 Repl.Vol. 15). Section 37-90-110(1)®, C.”
Upper Black Squirrel Creek Ground Water Mgmt. Dist. v. Cherokee Metro. Dist., 351 P.3d 408 (Colo. 2015). “The allocation of rights to the use of ground water, which has been characterized as a modified prior appropriation regime, § 37-90-102(1); Goss, 998 P.”
Show all 17 citing cases →
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 37-90-111(1) — 2 cases
Meridian Ranch Metro. Dist. v. Colorado Ground Water Comm'n, 240 P.3d 382 (Colo. Ct. App. 2009). “Under section 37-90-111(1), C.R.S.2009, the Commission is empowered, among other things, (a) To supervise and control the exercise and administration of all rights acquired to the use of designated ground water.”
Upper Black Squirrel Creek Ground Water Mgmt. Dist. v. Goss, 993 P.2d 1177 (Colo. 2000). “See § 37-90-111, 10 C.R.S. (1999); State v. Vickroy, 627 P.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 37-90-111(1)(a) — 3 cases
Meridian Serv. Metro. Dist. v. Ground Water Comm'n, 361 P.3d 392 (Colo. 2015). “{46 Third, contrary to Meridian's assertions regarding waste, a ruling in Meridian's favor would reduce the four percent rate of recharge of the aquifer, thereby harming senior designated ground water users and impeding the Commission's duty to administer designated ground water…”
In the Matter of Water Rights as Applied for by Meridian Serv. Metro. Dist.: Meridian Serv. Metro. Dist. v. Ground Water Comm'n, 2015 CO 64 (Colo. 2015).
In the Matter of Water Rights as Applied for by Meridian Serv. Metro. Dist.: Meridian Serv. Metro. Dist. v. Ground Water Comm'n, 2015 CO 64 (Colo. 2015).
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 37-90-111(1)(b) — 5 cases
Meridian Serv. Metro. Dist. v. Ground Water Comm'n, 361 P.3d 392 (Colo. 2015). “{46 Third, contrary to Meridian's assertions regarding waste, a ruling in Meridian's favor would reduce the four percent rate of recharge of the aquifer, thereby harming senior designated ground water users and impeding the Commission's duty to administer designated ground water…”
Upper Black Squirrel Creek Ground Water Mgmt. Dist. v. Cherokee Metro. Dist., 351 P.3d 408 (Colo. 2015). “The allocation of rights to the use of ground water, which has been characterized as a modified prior appropriation regime, § 37-90-102(1); Goss, 998 P.”
In the Matter of Water Rights as Applied for by Meridian Serv. Metro. Dist.: Meridian Serv. Metro. Dist. v. Ground Water Comm'n, 2015 CO 64 (Colo. 2015).
Concerning the Application for Water Rights for Cherokee Metro. Dist. in El Paso Cnty.: Upper Black Squirrel Creek Ground Water Mgmt. Dist. v. Cherokee Metro. Dist., 2015 CO 47 (Colo. 2015).
In the Matter of Water Rights as Applied for by Meridian Serv. Metro. Dist.: Meridian Serv. Metro. Dist. v. Ground Water Comm'n, 2015 CO 64 (Colo. 2015).
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 37-90-111(1)(g) — 1 case
Meridian Ranch Metro. Dist. v. Colorado Ground Water Comm'n, 240 P.3d 382 (Colo. Ct. App. 2009). “Under section 37-90-111(1), C.R.S.2009, the Commission is empowered, among other things, (a) To supervise and control the exercise and administration of all rights acquired to the use of designated ground water.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 37-90-111(2) — 2 cases
Colorado Ground Water Comm'n v. Dreiling, 606 P.2d 836 (Colo. 1980). “The case is remanded to the district court for retrial of the injunctive and damage issues and the court is directed to make appropriate referral to the Colorado Ground Water Commission, pursuant to section 37-90-111 (l)(a), C.R.S. 1973. JUSTICE GROVES concurs in the opinion as…”
Upper Black Squirrel Creek Ground Water Mgmt. Dist. v. Goss, 993 P.2d 1177 (Colo. 2000). “See § 37-90-111, 10 C.R.S. (1999); State v. Vickroy, 627 P.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 37-90-111(3) — 1 case
Upper Black Squirrel Creek Ground Water Mgmt. Dist. v. Goss, 993 P.2d 1177 (Colo. 2000). “See § 37-90-111, 10 C.R.S. (1999); State v. Vickroy, 627 P.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 37-90-111(5) — 1 case
Colorado Ground Water Comm'n v. North Kiowa-Bijou Groundwater Mgmt. Dist., 77 P.3d 62 (Colo. 2003). “1, § 37-90-111, 1988 Colo. Sess. Laws. 1238, 1238.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 37-90-111(8) — 1 case
Meridian Ranch Metro. Dist. v. Colorado Ground Water Comm'n, 240 P.3d 382 (Colo. Ct. App. 2009). “Under section 37-90-111(1), C.R.S.2009, the Commission is empowered, among other things, (a) To supervise and control the exercise and administration of all rights acquired to the use of designated ground water.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 37-90-111(b) — 1 case
Meridian Ranch Metro. Dist. v. Colorado Ground Water Comm'n, 240 P.3d 382 (Colo. Ct. App. 2009). “Under section 37-90-111(1), C.R.S.2009, the Commission is empowered, among other things, (a) To supervise and control the exercise and administration of all rights acquired to the use of designated ground water.”
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