Colorado water rights at risk

Thousands of water rights across Colorado are at risk in this decennial abandonment cycle. The Colorado Division of Water Resources has proposed over 4,000 water rights for abandonment—a marked increase from years past.  Water right owners should check the lists online at http://water.state.co.us.  The lists will also be published in the local papers of record throughout the state in July and August.  While the agency is required to notify the “last-known owner or claimant” of a water right included on the list by July 31^st, the State’s ownership records are not always up-to-date. Fortunately, the deadline for written objections to be submitted to the appropriate Division Engineer (along with a $10.00 fee for each water right) is July 1, 2021.