State Engineer's Evolving Role: Water Court and Consultation Processes - Video Replay Colorado Sprin
May 2017
State Engineer's Evolving Role: Water Court and Consultation Processes - Water Court Practice Program – Water Law and Administration Program Series
Co-sponsored by Dividing the Waters
Program Description
This is the tenth in a series of courses related to Colorado water law and administration. And, for you, we have gathered the Judiciary, including Water Court Judges and Referees, the State Engineer and all Division Engineers and their attorney, water users, private firm attorneys and private firm engineers from around Colorado. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to gain insights on the Water Rights Determination and Administration Act of 1969 and the water court and consultation processes from all parties in the same room, at the same time, and at the same program.
Agenda:
8:00 am
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 am
Welcome and Introductions
Extended by P. Andrew (Andy) Jones, Esq., Lawrence Jones Custer Grasmick LLP
8:40 am
History of the Consultation and Adjudication Process Under the Water Rights Determination and Administration Act of 1969
What is the Consultation Process? How Did the Process Start? What Is Its Intent? •
Roles and Interactions of State and Division Engineers, Referees and Judges
Presented by Honorable Gregory J. Hobbs, Jr., Senior Water Judge, State of Colorado, Colorado Supreme Court Justice (ret.), David Robbins, Esq., Hill & Robbins, P.C., and William Hillhouse, II, Esq., Hoskins Farina & Kampf, PC, Denver, CO
9:30 am
Networking Break
9:45 am
Role of the Division Engineer in the Consultation Process: A Panel Presentation and Discussion
- Tasks of Division Engineers in the Consultation Process
- SEO Survey Results — Consultation Process
- What Has Worked Well?
- Differences Between the Basins
- How the Process Can Work More Effectively
- Audience Questions and Participation
Presented by:
David Nettles, P.E., Division 1 Engineer
Steven Witte, P.E., Division 2 Engineer
Craig Cotten, P.E., Division 3 Engineer
Bob Hurford, P.E., Division 4 Engineer
Allen Martellaro, P.E., Division 5 Engineer
Erin Light, P.E., Division 6 Engineer
Robert Genualdi, P.E., Division 7 Engineer
Moderator: Dick Wolfe, State Engineer, and Director, Colorado Division of Water Resources
10:45 am
The Role of the Referee in the Consultation Process: A Panel Presentation and Discussion
- Investigative and Decision-making Responsibilities of Referees in the Consultation Process
- What Has Worked Well?
- SEO Survey Results — Consultation: Reaction and Discussion
- Differences Between the Basins
- How the Process Can Work More Effectively
- Audience Questions and Participation
Presented by:
Honorable John Cowan, Water Referee, Water Division One, South Platte River Basin
Honorable Susan Ryan, Water Referee, Water Division Five, Colorado River Basin
Moderator: Honorable Holly Kirsner Strablizky, Formerly Water Referee, Water Division Five, Colorado River Basin
11:45 am
Lunch on Your Own
1:00 pm
The Role of the Division Engineer as a Litigant in Water Court
- Goals of Division and State Engineers as Litigants in Water Court Cases
- SEO Survey Results – Adjudication
- Audience Questions and Participation
Presented by Steven Witte, P.E., Division 2 Engineer, Paul Benington, Esq., First Assistant Attorney General
1:45 pm
Judicial Perspectives: A Panel Discussion
- How the Consultation Process is Working for the Courts
- How the Process Can Work More Effectively
- Training and/or Explanations to Assist Referees
- Differences in the Staffing of Water Courts
- Audience Questions and Participation
Presented by: Water Court Judges
Honorable Pattie P. Swift, Chief Judge/Water Judge, Water Division Three, Rio Grande River Basin
Honorable Steven Patrick, Chief Judge/Water Judge, Water Division Four, Gunnison River Basin
Honorable Michael A. O’Hara III, Chief Judge/Water Judge, Water Division Six, White River Basin
Honorable James Boyd, Chief Judge/Water Judge, Water Division Five, Colorado River Basin
Moderator: Honorable Allison Eid, Justice, Colorado Supreme Court
2:45 pm
Networking Break
3:00 pm
Perspectives of the Private Sector — Views and Suggestions for the Consultation Process and Roles of Judges, Referees and Division Engineers: A Panel Discussion
- The Consultation and Adjudication Process from the Private Sector
- SEO Survey Results — Reaction and Discussion
- Audience Questions and Participation
Presented by:
Private Practice Attorneys:
Peter Ampe, Esq., Hill & Robbins, P.C.
Aaron Clay, Esq., Clay & Dodson PC
Bradley Grasmick, Esq., Lawrence Jones Custer Grasmick LLP
Engineers
Jonathan D. George, P.E., Bishop-Brogden Associates, Inc.
Ashley Moffat, P.E., Resource Engineering, Inc.
Water Users
Larry Clever, General Manager, Ute Water Conservancy District
Lisa Darling, Executive Director, South Metro Water Supply Authority (SMWSA)
Randy Ray, Executive Director, Central Colorado Water Conservancy District (CCWCD)
Moderated by P. Andrew (Andy) Jones, Esq., Lawrence Jones Custer Grasmick LLP
4:00 pm
Summary and Next Steps
- What is the Current State of the Water Rights Determination and Administration Act of 1969?
- What Are the Changes We Anticipate in the Future?
- What Works Well? What Needs Improvement?
- What Are Possible Action Items for Further Developments?
Presented by Members of the Faculty
Moderator: Honorable Allison Eid, Justice, Colorado Supreme Court
4:50 pm
Adjourn
Location Information
Law Office of Michael D Holder
405 S. Cascade Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Get directions
405 S. Cascade Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Registration Fees
| Non Member | $369.00 |
| CBA Member | $339.00 |
| CBA Water Law Section Member | $279.00 |
| Engineers | $279.00 |
| New Lawyer Edge Partner | $154.50 |
| CLEACCESSPASS---ELITE Pass Holder | $0.00 |
- General Credits: 8.00
- Ethics Credits: 0.00
- EDI Credits:
To join the CBA or add a Section to your membership click
Sponsor Information
- Take a Day and Hear the Perspectives of the - Judiciary, the Attorney General’s Office, State and Division Engineers, Private Firm Attorneys, Private Firm Engineers and Water Users - on Colorado’s Water Court and Consultation Processes
- Attend Day-Long CLE Program, and Better Understand the Water Rights Determination and Administration Act Of 1969, the Roles of Each Party In the Water Rights Consultation and Adjudication Processes, Current and Anticipated Successes and Challenges, and Potential Next Steps
- History of the Consultation and Adjudication Process Under the Water Rights Determination and Administration Act of 1969 and Roles of the State and Division Engineers, Water Referees and Water Judges, Water Users, and More to be Discussed at Colorado Water Law CLE Program Sponsored by the Colorado Supreme Court and the Colorado Bar Association