Groundwater 101: The Technical and Engineering Program Series
October 2009
Groundwater 101: The Technical and Engineering Program Series
Timely, Fair and Effective Water Court Practice. A Series of Courses Sponsored by the Colorado Supreme Court and the Colorado Bar Association
This program is also available via webcast! To register for the WEBCAST please use the following link: http://www.cobar.org/calendar/eventdetail.cfm?EventID=WA101610W
Program Description:
Groundwater Law 101 is the first course in the Technical and Engineering 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 in any way, whether from a legal, technical, administrative or expert perspective. This course is your introduction to the scientific side or geohydrology of water practice and its legal counterpart, groundwater law in Colorado. It will provide you with the basic groundwater concepts, terms, theories and practices and their applications in the courtroom, as well as give you a firm understanding of groundwater law so that you will understand just what is required for you to know as a professional in this field. This is the basic foundation necessary for your successful and effective water practice, and it is being presented to you by experts in the field.
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 crucial 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 by Scott G. Mefford, CPG and William B. Tourtillott, Esq.
12:00 - 1:10 p.m.
Lunch Keynote Presentation (Box Lunches provided)
Presented by Honorable Gregory J. Hobbs, Jr.
1:10 - 4:45 p.m.
Afternoon Session (Including a 15-minute break)
Presented by Scott G. Mefford, CPG and William B. Tourtillott, Esq.
4:45 p.m.
Adjourn
Course Outline for the Day
Ground Water Geology
- Hydrologic Cycle
- Components of a Groundwater Flow System
- Water Balance
- Water Flow
Collection and Presentation of Geohydrologic Information
- Geologic Mapping/Water Table Mapping
- Collecting Drilling Data
- Aquifer Testing
History of Groundwater Law in Colorado
Impacts of Wells
- Injury from Well Pumping
- Proliferation of Wells
Basic Aquifer Mechanics
- Cone of Depression
- Importance of Boundary Conditions in the Aquifer
- Well-to-Well Interference (Superposition)
- Interaction between Ground Water and Surface Water Features
Fundamental Groundwater Flow Calculations
Types of Groundwater
- Tributary Groundwater Outside Designated Groundwater Basins
- Developed Groundwater (Treated as Non-Tributary)
- Denver Basin Groundwater
- Designated Groundwater within a Basin
The Need to Regulate and Administer Wells
Augmentation Plans for Groundwater Use
Faculty
SCOTT G. MEFFORD, C.P.G.
Scott Mefford is a native of Colorado and has worked in the field of ground water hydrogeology in the state since 1973. He attended the Colorado School of Mines, where he received a B.S. in Geophysical Engineering in 1971. He is currently president of Hydrokinetics, Inc., a groundwater engineering firm based in Golden, Colorado. Scott is a Certified Professional Geologist, a Past President of the Colorado Ground Water Association (CGWA), and has taught Groundwater and Environmental Engineering at Metropolitan State College in Denver. He frequently testifies as an expert in cases involving ground water litigation, and has taught a course in the preparation of engineering materials for trial through the CGWA. Mr. Mefford was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Lowry Superfund Site Public Review Committee, and has served on peer review committees for various legislative initiatives over the past twenty years.
WILLIAM B. TOURTILLOTT, ESQ.
William Tourtillott of Ryley Carlock & Applewhite PA in Denver has been practicing law since 1970, during which time he has become a leader in natural resource law with an emphasis on water rights. A noted lecturer, William frequently speaks on a broad range of water law issues before civic groups, Colorado realtors, trade associations, and at seminars conducted by the Water Congress. He has represented a consortium of clients with water rights interests in the preparation and successful passage of major legislation affecting the development and use of tributary and non-tributary water rights. He has also represented developers in the planning, management, development, and adjudication of complicated and integrated municipal water rights. He is often sought to render title opinions on water rights of all types and character and has served as an expert witness on water law issues and on the value of water rights in the setting of water rates and charges before the Public Utilities Commission of the State of Colorado He has successfully prosecuted thousands of adjudications of water rights for municipalities, industries, farmers, ranchers, and other water users.
Keynote Presentation
HONORABLE GREGORY J. HOBBS, JR.
Justice Greg Hobbs took office as a member of the Colorado Supreme Court on May 1, 1996. He practiced water, environmental, land use and transportation law for 25 years before that. He is a co-convener of the western water judges educational project, Dividing the Waters; Vice President of the Colorado Foundation for Water Education; and the author of In Praise of Fair Colorado, The Practice of Poetry, History, and Judging (Bradford Publishing Co. 2004), Colorado Mother of Rivers, Water Poems (Colorado Foundation for Water Education 2005), and The Public's Water Resource, Articles on Water Law, History, and Culture (Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc. 2007).
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: November 5, 2009
Denver: CLE Classroom, 1900 Grant Street, Suite 300
Grand Junction: 1250 East Sherwood Drive
Colorado Springs: 421 South Tejon Street, Suite 100
Location Information
CLECI Large Classroom
1900 Grant Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80203
Get directions
1900 Grant Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80203
Registration Fees
| Non Member | $299.00 |
| CBA | $249.00 |
| WATER | $229.00 |
| New Lawyer | $209.00 |
| Non Member | $209.00 |
| Govnt Employee | $209.00 |
- General Credits: 8.00
- Ethics Credits:
- EDI Credits:
To join the CBA or add a Section to your membership click