Water rights guide
Conveyance & abandonment of water rights
When water rights transfer with land, when they don't, and how a right can be lost.
Conveyance requires specificity
Colorado courts require water rights to be described specifically in the deed. A generic 'appurtenances' clause is insufficient.
Change of use
Moving a right to a new location or use requires a water court change case, which analyzes historical consumptive use to prevent injury to other users.
Abandonment
10+ years of continuous non-use with intent to abandon can extinguish a right. The state publishes a decennial abandonment list — always check the most recent.
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