Water Laws & Rain Barrels...Colorado Style!

Wow, you think installing a rain barrel is difficult near you...check out the water laws in Colorado! Copied from the Adobe Gold website: http://www.adobegold.com/property-information/colorado-water-info/#.ToDCvylPN84.email which my sister sent me! Read on:

"Learn why Colorado has so many 35 acre parcels….

Water Laws in the West are certainly different than in most parts of the United States. This explanation is a very simple one, if more information is needed we will be happy to assist you in any way or refer you to someone who can.

From the 1850′s to 1870′s prospectors introduced a new beneficial use of water to secure rights to use the available water. “First in Time equaled First in Right!” Between 1870 and 1969 Cattle Ranching and Farming progressed to use this system also. This pertains to surface water and well water that might be drawn from a surface source. Example: If you have 35 miners, ranchers or farmers who own rights to draw water from a certain surface water source each will have a specified amount of water that they can take from the source . If in a dry year there is only enough water to allow numbers 1-20 to have water then numbers 21-35 won’t have water. This is First in Time, First in Right. Water rights are sold separate from surface rights and usually will cost more than the land itself. But this pertains to surface water in most cases.

As of 1972 property owners in Colorado were required to own at least 35 acres in order to get a Domestic Well permit. This was to limit the impact on the water supplies. Note: This is not a Water Right! This is just a permit from the State of Colorado to secure water for your household. A Domestic Well Permit allows you to supply water to your Residence and outbuildings, irrigate up to only 1 (one) acre of land, and to water your Livestock. Commercial uses are permitted differently.

Note: Domestic Well Permits and their uses are subject to change. Local Counties also may make changes as to the number of wells or uses of those wells. So be sure to inquire when you are making a purchase as to the current status of wells in the area you plan to purchase.

You will find current Water information on our State’s Web Site here Colorado Division of Water Resources

If you have less than 35 acres (34.99 or less) you are issued a “House Hold Use Only” permit which is for use inside your home only. If you need to wash your vehicles, water your livestock/horses, or water your garden you will have to haul water for that purpose. Outside faucets are also restricted. You are not allowed to use it for any purpose other than in the household.

This explains why most Mountain Properties are sized at least 35 acres or larger. The good side of this is that this has restricted developments with 1-5 acre parcels all over the mountain sides and preserves our open space and forests to share with the wildlife. We feel that this 35 acre requirement has been good for Colorado land owners.

In this area we are not tapping into underground aquifers but underground streams, cracks and fizzures to find water. This makes finding water a bit harder to find in some places. Well dowsers are commonly used to locate water. We can recommend an excellent dowser to you, just email or call for more information.

What about costs for drilling a well in the mountains?

If you figure about $18 to $20 per foot for a completed well with casing and pump you will be pretty close. Most wells in the surrounding mountain areas west of Trinidad are between 400 to 800 feet deep on average. Recently I have heard the cost to drill an 800 foot well is about $15,000 not including the cost of installing the pump and that pump for an 800 foot deep well could cost between $6,000 and $12,000 depending on pump size and other factors.

Some people elect not to drill a well and they instead install a cistern (water holding tank made of plastic or concrete) and haul water from town or have it delivered by a local company. A cistern will usually hold between 1000-3000 gallons of water depending on your household needs. You can purchase a 300-500 gallon water tank that will fit on your trailer or in the back of a pickup and when you go into town you fill it up at the City Water Department for about 3¢ per gallon.

If you are concerned about the risks of finding water be sure to take a look at Santa Fe Trail Ranch as it is one of only a few Mountain Ranches in this area that has a city supplied water water system. This is very rare indeed and this ranch will be desireable because of its guaranteed water source.

Please feel free to ask us any questions you may have about Colorado Water Laws. If we don’t feel we can answer your question we will point you in the right direction to find the answer you need.

We understand that they most likely are different than your states Water Laws. Also, for your information, in our area of Colorado we have very little surface water in the way of Ponds, Streams, Creeks or Rivers available on properties. Southern Colorado, being very arid, receives most of its moisture from yearly snow fall. And because it is arid any surface water tends to evaporate pretty fast. Gosh where I come from, what they call a river here is not even a good creek. But what we do have here is excellent year round climate with four seasons, very low humidity and awesome incredible views of the snow capped mountains and a quiet peaceful lifestyle that can’t be matched!

Come visit with us and see for yourself what makes Southern Colorado so special. Call us today! We look forward to hearing from you.

Colorado Water Well Permit Locator
Many times when you find a property that you are interested in you will want to check and see what kind of water well history the neighboring properties have. And you can do this by visiting this web page

http://www.dwr.state.co.us/WellViewWeb/

(Note: it is possible that this webpage link could change so if that happens go to the Colorado Division of Water Resources main website at http://www.water.state.co.us/ and look for the link for the Online Data Tools)

Download the Permit Locater User’s Guide here:

http://www.dwr.state.co.us/WellViewWeb/documentation/WellView_Help.pdf "

Aren't you glad now that you just have to fill out a request from your local Village or HOA Association?

Best wishes,
Linda

Soggy Bottom

I learned a lot at the MAR conference. Gems to share: Property values are projected to come down another 5-6% in the next 12 months and then slowly begin to rise again according to Steve Harney. The "bottom" is an historical event which we can only clearly define when it has passed according to CRS President, Frank Serio. While we are in what I call the "Soggy Bottom" it is still a Buyer's Market, after we gain firm footing again, it will be a Seller's Market. Enjoy the lovely weather!