2020 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 37 - Water And Irrigation
Article 84. Responsibility of User or Owner
Section 37-84-112. Headgates - specifications - failure to maintain - penalty.
(1) The owners of any irrigation ditch, canal, flume, or reservoir in this state, taking water from any stream, shall erect where necessary and maintain in good repair, at the point of intake of such ditch, canal, flume, or reservoir, a suitable and proper headgate of height and strength and with embankments sufficient to control the water at all ordinary stages and suitable and proper measuring flumes, weirs, and devices and shall also erect and maintain in good repair suitable wastegates where necessary in connection with such ditch, canal, flume, or reservoir intake. The framework of such headgate shall be constructed of timber not less than four inches square, and the bottom, sides, and gate shall be of plank not less than two inches in thickness, or said gate may be made of other material of equal strength and durability or may be made and constructed upon plans and specifications approved by the state engineer. No such headgate shall be deemed complete until provided with suitable locks and fastenings (except when the division engineer deems such locks and fastenings unnecessary therefor) and keys therefor are delivered to the division engineer of the division who has control thereof during the seasons of the distribution of water.
(2) If the owners of any such irrigation ditch, canal, flume, or reservoir fail or neglect to erect or maintain in good repair said headgate, measuring flume, weir, or devices, in the manner and form provided in this section, then the state engineer or division engineer, upon ten days' previous notice in writing, duly served upon such owners, or upon any agent or employee representing them or controlling such ditch, canal, flume, or reservoir, shall refuse to deliver any water from such stream to such owners, or to such ditch, canal, flume, or reservoir, until such owners erect or repair the headgate, measuring flume, weirs, or devices of such ditch, canal, flume, or reservoir. The owners of all such ditches, canals, flumes, or reservoirs shall be liable for all damages resulting from their neglect or refusal to comply with the provisions of sections 37-84-112 to 37-84-117. Such owners who divert water from any such stream and into any such ditch, canal, flume, or reservoir contrary to the orders of the state engineer or division engineer are guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, and each day of violation shall be deemed a separate offense.
Source: L. 01: p. 193, § 1. R.S. 08: § 3248. L. 11: p. 463, § 1. C.L. § 1727. CSA: C. 90, § 125. CRS 53: § 147-7-13. C.R.S. 1963: § 148-7-12. L. 69: p. 1220, § 9.
