Water Law

WL&H's comprehensive water law practice is one of the firm’s main focuses.

WL&H represents clients in water matters across Colorado, both on the western slope and east of the continental divide. While the majority of the firm’s water practice takes place in the Arkansas River Basin (Water Division 2) and the Gunnison River Basin (Water Division 4), widespread recognition of the firm’s proficiency has also provided it with the opportunity to regularly practice in the Rio Grande Basin (Water Division 3), the Colorado River Basin (Water Division 5), and the San Juan and Dolores River Basins (Water Division 7).

WL&H has the great fortune of representing a diverse group of clients, including ranchers and other individual landowners, ditch and reservoir companies, real estate developers and homeowners’ associations, industrial and commercial operations, water conservancy districts, and water and sanitation districts.

WL&H counsels and represents clients in all types of transactions and litigation involving water rights. The firm's representation includes the acquisition and sale of water rights, the leasing of water rights, water rights opinions, and water rights supply planning. In addition, WL&H has extensive experience in all types of water court proceedings necessary to protect, preserve, and utilize water rights, including the establishment of new water rights, the demonstration of due diligence for conditional water rights, the making of conditional water rights absolute, the change of decreed water rights, and the development of augmentation plans and substitute supply plans. WL&H also has extensive experience with resolving disputed ownership issues.