Water Law 101: Water Law and Administration Program Series - WEBCAST
September 2009
Water Law 101: Water Law and Administration Program Series - WEBCAST
Timely, Fair and Effective Water Court Practice. A Series of Courses Sponsored by the Colorado Supreme Court and the Colorado Bar Association
LIVE WEBCAST INFORMATION:
For more information on participating via webcast, go to:
Information and instructions regarding connecting to the webcast will be e-mailed to you approximately 5-10 business days before the webcast.
Program Highlights
Water Law 101 is the first course in the Water Law and Administration Program Series, and is an essential requirement for anyone who is, or desires to become, involved with water rights and/or the practice of water law, whether from a legal, technical, administrative or expert prospective. This is your introduction to a very specialized practice and its specialized system of Colorado Water Courts. This course contains the basic body of knowledge critical to your understanding of the terms, theories, practices, court procedures, and doctrines involved with the practice of water law in this state. Your course materials will include valuable and critical forms and guidelines for your practice from the Division of Natural Resources, the Colorado Foundation for Water Education, and leading practitioners.
Program Description
In this day-long session you will be introduced to and learn about the hydrologic cycle and variability of the river basins, the basic legal framework governing water rights and issues, the prior appropriation doctrine, federal reserved rights, as well as the different types of water rights, how they are administered, the role of the State Engineer, what is required for changes of water rights and plans for augmentation. You will also become familiar with water right abandonment issues and other issues and matters of interest critical to your understanding of water and water law in Colorado. This is the foundation required for your successful and effective water practice, and it is being presented to you by the experts in the field.
Agenda
8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Registration
9:00 - 11:55 a.m.
Morning Session (Including a 15-minute break)
Presented byAaron Clay, Esq. and Jim Hall, P.E.
12:00 - 1:10 p.m
Lunch (Box Lunches to be provided)
12:10 - 1:00 p.m.
Keynote Presentation
Presented by Rebecca Love Kourlis, Executive Director, Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System and former Colorado Supreme Court Justice
1:10 - 4:45 p.m.
Afternoon Session (Including a 15-minute break)
Presented by Aaron Clay, Esq. and Jim Hall, P.E.
Course Outline
Hydrologic Cycle and Variability
- River Basins in Colorado
Basic Legal Framework
- Constitution, Statutes, Compacts/Interstate Agreements
Office of the State Engineer (Division of Water Resources)
- State and Division Engineers
- Statutory Responsibilities and Authorities
- Organizational Structure
The Prior Appropriation Doctrine
Adjudication of Water Rights
Surface Water Rights in Colorado
- Direct, Storage, Exchanges and Instream Rights
Federal Reserved Rights
Ground Water Rights
- Tributary/Non-tributary
- Designated Groundwater
- Exempt/Non-exempt
- Well Permitting
Water Rights Administration
- Water Commissioner Responsibilities
- Calls and Curtailment
- Measurement/Records/Water Accounting
- Enforcement
Changes of Water Rights and Plans for Augmentation
Water Right Abandonment
Outstanding Water Right Issues and Matters of Interest
Faculty
AARON CLAY, Esq.
Aaron Clay was raised in Hotchkiss, Colorado. He graduated from the University of Colorado in 1975 (Boettcher Scholar) and the University of Colorado School of Law in 1979 (Order of the Coif). He has practiced law in Delta since 1980. His practice is a general practice, with emphasis on real estate, water, business planning, and estate planning. He served as the Water Referee for Water Division 4 for twenty-six years, from 1982 to 2008. He has designed and taught Water Law in a Nutshell for realtors, closers, attorneys, and others for several years. His course has been approved by Western State College for three units of college credit, and has been accredited by the Division of Real Estate, the Colorado Well Drillers Licensing Board, and the Colorado Supreme Court for continuing education credits.
JIM HALL, P.E.
Jim Hall was born and raised in Colorado. After high school, Jim attended Colorado State University where he earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering. Jim began his career with the Division of Water Resources, first as a hydrographer, then as an engineer associated with litigation and water supply plans for new developments, and later as the water manager for a metropolitan city. In 1992, Jim became the Assistant Division Engineer in Water Division 1, and was appointed the Division Engineer on December 1, 2002. In this role, he manages a large staff responsible for water administration, dam safety, and hydrography in the South Platte, Republican and Laramie River Basins. Jim is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Colorado and has taught numerous classes associated with the administration of water rights, including accredited continuing legal education programs.
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
REBECCA LOVE KOURLIS
Rebecca Love Kourlis served Colorado's judiciary for nearly two decades, first as a trial court judge and then as a justice of the state supreme court. In this role, she spearheaded significant reforms related to matters such as family law, juries and attorney regulation. She resigned from the Colorado Supreme Court in January 2006 to establish the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS) at the University of Denver, where she is Executive Director. IAALS is a national, non-partisan organization dedicated to improving the process and culture of the U.S. civil justice system. Under her leadership, the Institute has been acknowledged as a national expert on the subject of judicial performance evaluation and on the growing impact of electronic discovery on U.S. courts and businesses. Justice Kourlis accepted 2007 Legal Reform Organization of the Year honors from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She has received numerous individual awards, including the Colorado Judicial Institute's 2006 Judicial Independence Award and the Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 2002 Judicial Excellence Award. Justice Kourlis holds B.A. and J.D. degrees from Stanford University.
PLANNING COMMITTEE
Andrea K. Bloom, Esq.
Colorado Supreme Court
Denver, CO
William H. Caile, Esq.
Holland & Hart
Denver, CO
Douglas H. Clements, P.E.
Spronk Water Engineers
Denver, CO
Devin O'Dell, Esq.
Colorado Attorney General's Office
Denver, CO
Priscilla S. Fulmer, Esq.
CBA Continuing Legal Education, Inc.
Denver, CO
Mark Hermundstad, Esq.
Williams, Turner & Holmes
Grand Junction, CO
William A. Hillhouse, Esq.
White & Jankowsky
Denver, CO
Honorable Gregory J. Hobbs, Jr.
Colorado Supreme Court
Denver, CO
Douglas Kemper, P.E.
Colorado Water Congress
Denver, CO
John H. McClow, Esq.
Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District
Gunnison, CO
Kevin Rein, P.E.
Colorado Division of Water Resources
Denver, CO
Nicole Seltzer
Colorado Foundation for Water Education
Denver, CO
Cheryl Signs, P.E.
Cheryl Signs Engineering
Denver, CO
Steven Vasconcellos
State Court Administrator's Office
Denver, CO
Video Replays October 8, 2009:
Denver: CLE Classroom, 1900 Grant Street, Suite 300
Grand Junction: 1250 East Sherwood Drive
Colorado Springs: 421 South Tejon Street, Suite 100
Registration Fees
| Non Member | $299.00 |
| CBA | $249.00 |
| WATER | $229.00 |
| New Lawyer | $209.00 |
| Govnt Employee | $209.00 |
| Non Lawyer | $209.00 |
- General Credits: 8.00
- Ethics Credits:
- EDI Credits:
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