C.R.S. Section 37-41-101
Irrigation district

  • organization
  • purposes

(1)

If a majority of the owners of the land within any district, whether residents or nonresidents, as well as the owners in the aggregate of a majority of the lands in such district desire to provide for the irrigation of the same and drainage work, or both, necessary to maintain the irrigability of the land within the district, they may propose the organization of an irrigation district under the provisions of this article. When so organized, each district shall have the powers conferred upon such irrigation district; except that where ditches, canals, or reservoirs have been constructed before May 3, 1905, such ditches, canals, reservoirs, and franchises, and the lands watered thereby, shall be exempt from the operation of this article, except such district shall be formed to purchase, acquire, lease, or rent such ditches, canals, and reservoirs and their franchises.

(2)

An irrigation district may also be formed in order to cooperate, or a district formed prior to May 3, 1905, may cooperate, with the United States under the federal reclamation laws or any other federal laws enacted by the congress of the United States which do not conflict with the constitution and laws of the state of Colorado for the purposes of the construction of irrigation works, including drainage works necessary to maintain the irrigability of the land, or for the acquisition, purchase, extension, operation, or maintenance of constructed works, or for the assumption as principal or guarantor of indebtedness to the United States on account of district lands. When so cooperating with the United States, but only in such cases, the lands of the district in their entirety shall become and remain liable to assessment and levy annually until payment is made of all contract obligations due by the district to the United States.

(3)

Except when cooperating with the United States, the liabilities of an irrigation district shall be a charge upon the land ratably, and taxes levied to pay such liabilities shall be local or special improvement assessments. Such a district shall also have power to take over the assets and assume the liabilities of water users’ associations organized for cooperation with the United States under the provisions of the act of congress approved June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388), and acts amendatory thereof, in case a majority of the lands of each association shall be within such district, subject to the provisions that the shareholders of such association, by vote as provided by their articles of incorporation and bylaws, shall assent and agree that such assets and liabilities be so taken over. Entrymen upon public lands of the United States within the proposed district boundaries shall be deemed to be the owners of lands within the district for the purpose of becoming petitioners for the organization of such irrigation district and shall share all the privileges and obligations of private landowners within the district.

(4)

All contracts between irrigation districts and the United States shall be recorded in the office of the clerk and recorder of the county in which the office of the irrigation district is located; except that, where the district is located in more than one county, said contract shall be recorded with the clerk and recorder of each county in which the district or any part thereof is located.

Source: Section 37-41-101 — Irrigation district - organization - purposes, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-37.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

37‑41‑101
Irrigation district - organization - purposes 37‑41‑102
Petition 37‑41‑103
Presentation and allowance of petition 37‑41‑104
Notice of election - qualifications of electors 37‑41‑105
Canvass of votes - proclamation 37‑41‑106
Directors - election - term 37‑41‑107
Office of board - elections 37‑41‑108
Directors - secretary - salaries 37‑41‑109
District treasurer - duties 37‑41‑110
Duties of election officers 37‑41‑111
Canvass of votes 37‑41‑112
Records - vacancy and term of office 37‑41‑113
Board of directors - duties - contracts - rules 37‑41‑114
Meetings - duties - eminent domain 37‑41‑115
Property - title 37‑41‑116
Conveyances - suits 37‑41‑117
Bonds - contract - purposes - election 37‑41‑118
Sale of bonds - proceeds 37‑41‑119
Bonds - payment - lien 37‑41‑120
Fiscal year - directors to fix levy 37‑41‑121
Assessor - assessment 37‑41‑122
Other taxes must be paid 37‑41‑123
Special tax levy 37‑41‑124
Assessment - collection - redemption - deed 37‑41‑125
Construction - contracts 37‑41‑126
Claims - audit - payment - financial report 37‑41‑127
Funds for expenses 37‑41‑128
Crossing streams, highways, railroads, state lands 37‑41‑129
Limit of indebtedness - emergency 37‑41‑130
Insufficient supply - distribution 37‑41‑131
Compensation for property taken 37‑41‑132
Boundaries - change - effect 37‑41‑133
Additional land admitted - petition 37‑41‑134
Notice of filing - costs 37‑41‑135
Hearing of petition - assent 37‑41‑136
Payment of pro rata assessments 37‑41‑137
Inclusion or rejection of lands - protest 37‑41‑138
Order - record - effect 37‑41‑139
Records - evidence 37‑41‑140
Legal representatives petitioners 37‑41‑141
Redivision of district - election of officers 37‑41‑142
Lands may be excluded from district 37‑41‑143
Petition for exclusion 37‑41‑144
Notice of filing petition 37‑41‑145
Hearing of petition 37‑41‑146
Order 37‑41‑147
Record - effect 37‑41‑148
Division of districts 37‑41‑149
Dissolution of district - election 37‑41‑150
Canvass - record 37‑41‑151
Judicial examination of bonds and contracts 37‑41‑152
Petition for judicial examination 37‑41‑153
Notice of hearing 37‑41‑154
Answer - pleading 37‑41‑155
Determination - costs 37‑41‑156
Sale of realty not needed 37‑41‑157
President to execute deeds 37‑41‑158
Proceeds - where paid 37‑41‑159
Findings of board conclusive 37‑41‑160
Single election precincts
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 37-41-101’s source at colorado​.gov