Colorado § 37-82-101 Waters of natural surface streams subject to appropriation

Colorado Statutes

§ 37-82-101 — Waters of natural surface streams subject to appropriation

Colorado § 37-82-101

Title 37Water and

Art.Appropriation and Use of Water

This text of Colorado § 37-82-101 (Waters of natural surface streams subject to appropriation) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Colorado primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 37-82-101 (2026).

Text

(1)The water of every natural stream, as referred to in sections 5 and 6 of article XVI of the state constitution, includes all the water occurring within the state of Colorado which is in or tributary to a natural surface stream but does not include nontributary groundwater as that term is defined in section 37-90-103. All nontributary groundwater shall be subject to such administration and use as the general assembly may provide by law. Such nontributary waters, when released from the dominion of the user, become a part of the natural surface stream where released, subject to water rights on such stream in the order of their priority.

(2)A stream system which arises as a natural surface stream and, as a natural or man-induced phenomenon, terminates within the state of Colora

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(1)
The water of every natural stream, as referred to in sections 5 and 6 of article XVI
of the state constitution, includes all the water occurring within the state of
Colorado which is in or tributary to a natural surface stream but does not include
nontributary groundwater as that term is defined in section 37-90-103. All
nontributary groundwater shall be subject to such administration and use as the
general assembly may provide by law. Such nontributary waters, when released
from the dominion of the user, become a part of the natural surface stream where
released, subject to water rights on such stream in the order of their priority.

(2) A stream system which arises as a natural surface stream and, as a
natural or man-induced phenomenon, terminates within the state of Colorado
through naturally occurring evaporation and transpiration of its waters, together
with its underflow and tributary waters, is a natural surface stream subject to
appropriation as provided in subsection (1) of this section.

Legislative History

Source: L. 69: R&RE, p. 1219, � 2. C.R.S. 1963: � 148-2-1. L. 79: Entire section R&RE, p. 1366, � 1, effective June 22. L. 85: (1) amended, p. 1166, � 4, effective July 1.