This position exists to oversee and direct the distribution, control, and regulation of waters in Districts 37, 38, 39, 45, 52, and 53 (Middle River) according to Colorado's prior appropriations doctrine and water decrees; interpret Colorado water statutes and decrees to make decisions regarding water distribution; supervises water commissioners; provide first level review of diversion records accounting and field inspections associated with new water court applications; determine and record the amount of water available for beneficial use and distribution to numerous water rights; disseminate and explain information pertaining to water availability and use to the public; monitor and inspect dams for unsafe conditions and report to appropriate persons. This position is responsible for assisting the hydrographic program within Division 5 by performing flow measurements and streamflow gaging maintenance in the Middle River.
Specific duties include but may not be limited to:
Supervision and Management:
Independently formulates short term and long term schedules to organize and execute work tasks by planning and managing available resources. Trains and supervises subordinates by assigning duties, monitoring performance and conduction planning and performance appraisals. Plans for efficient day to day operation by scheduling meetings to assure completion of work tasks and to apprise of operational concerns. Identifies and resolves personnel issues, interviews candidates for employment & recommends selected candidate for hiring.
Record, Code and Enter Water Diversion and Usage Records:
Observes, computes and records the amount of water diverted, stored and released through each structure.
Properly codes diversion records and enters them into database that is made available to the public.
Water Administration:
Oversees and manages staff who control and regulate the distribution of water to numerous diversion structures and may perform these duties, as staff workload requires. Directs the distribution of reservoir releases, calculates and determines the amount of direct flow water available to each water right priority, and determines the exchange capacity of the stream and necessary releases for augmentation or exchange. This involves in person or staff’s in person regular observation of structures and comprehensive knowledge of the water rights priority system and hydrologic factors within the basin.
Water Accounting and Diversion Records:
- Ensures the accuracy and currency of the water diversion records produced by staff in the Middle River. Manages the publication of the diversion records prior to the established deadline.
- Develops relationships between stage and discharge using empirical principles to create continuous flow records at key measuring sites in the Middle River. Evaluates and compiles data using graphical and computer analysis to create an accurate daily discharge report for annual publication
Public Assistance
- Directs and assists the public in the completion of applications for well permits, water rights, non-jurisdictional water impoundment structures and livestock water tanks and erosion control dams.
- Establishes good working relations with water users and the general public.
- Attends public and organizational meetings to provide water-related information and input.
- Resolves water disputes using knowledge of Colorado Water Law.
- Makes recommendations to the Division Engineer or Immediate Supervisor regarding settlement of disputes.
Water User Compliance Monitoring:
Enforces Colorado water law & policies of the state engineer. Directing staff to or personally regulates diversions of State waters by controlling and/or locking head gates and issuing orders restricting diversions pursuant to Sec. 37-92-502 C.R.S. Directs the release of out of priority stored water impounded in reservoirs. Investigates, makes reports, provides recommendations, and writes drafts of legal orders from the Division Engineer, which may pertain to storage in excess of safe storage level for reservoirs, cease and desist orders requiring curtailment of out-of-priority diversions, illegal use of wells, and non-compliance with provisions of exchanges, substitute water supply plans, and augmentation plans.
Field Inspections:
- Performs, drafts and/or reviews staff’s field inspections and analyses of water court applications, well permits, gravel pits, augmentation plans, substitute supply plans, livestock water tanks and erosion control dams, and non-jurisdictional water impoundment structures to ascertain and compile information and make recommendations to the Division Engineer. For locations within the Middle River, this position measures flows in streams, rivers, canals, and ditches by applying standard stream flow measurement techniques. This position calibrates, monitors, operates, and maintains stream gaging stations involving electronic telemetry equipment to ensure the quality and availability of flow data.
Water Rights Database Management:
- Tabulates new decrees and examines existing water court decrees and extracts data for verification, additions, revisions of the water rights tabulation, and completes correction of errors as necessary.
- Maintains structure information database based upon current knowledge of water diversion structures and owners.
- Plots location of water structure on maps from legal descriptions in water court decrees.
- Maintains and updates water rights and irrigated acres information pertaining to structure location and use on topographic maps and state issued computer programs.
Other duties as assigned
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