Marsh Land

C.R.S. tit. 37, art. 33
in effect

C.R.S. § 37-33-101 Draining marsh lands

37-33-101. Draining marsh lands. Whenever any person or corporation desires to construct, enlarge, or extend a drainage ditch or drain for the purpose of draining and reclaiming seeped or marshy land included within any irrigation district in this state, it shall file with the board of directors of such irrigation district in which such improvements are to be located a petition signed by one or more of the landowners who own the major portion of the land which would be affected by the proposed improvement.

C.R.S. § 37-33-102 Lists of lands affected

37-33-102. Lists of lands affected. Said petition shall set forth the necessity and probable benefits of such drainage ditch or drain, together with a list of the lands affected by the proposed improvement and the names and addresses of the owners of such lands, and there shall be attached to said petition a plat showing the approximate direction, size, and length of said drainage ditch or drain.

C.R.S. § 37-33-103 Bond

37-33-103. Bond. The petitioner shall give good and sufficient bond, payable to the irrigation district in which such lands are included and approved by the board of directors of such district, conditioned in case said drainage ditch or drain, from any cause whatsoever, is not constructed, to pay all expenses incurred by the irrigation district on account of said proposed improvement.

C.R.S. § 37-33-104 May employ engineer - hearing

37-33-104. May employ engineer - hearing. When such petition, plat, and bond are filed, the board of directors of said irrigation district in which such improvements are to be made shall proceed at once to view the line of the proposed drainage ditch or drain and the lands affected thereby, and, if in its opinion it is necessary, shall employ an engineer to prepare accurate surveys and estimates of the proposed work and shall set the day and place for hearing all interested parties, receiving protests, information, and any matter in relation to the proposed improvement, and shall notify all resident landowners affected by such improvement by personal service fifteen days prior to the date of such meeting. If personal service of such notice cannot be had, or if any of said landowners are nonresidents, then such notice shall be sent through the mail at least fifteen days prior to said meeting.

C.R.S. § 37-33-105 Method of hearing

37-33-105. Method of hearing. All persons whose lands may be affected may appear at the time specified for said meeting before said board of directors and present such testimony and affidavits as shall relate to the proposed drainage system or ditch with such recommendations as to them shall seem pertinent and necessary.

C.R.S. § 37-33-106 When improvement not feasible

37-33-106. When improvement not feasible. If the board of directors finds that the proposed improvement is not feasible, it shall so determine, and the costs and expenses incurred shall be paid by the original petitioners as provided under their bond.

C.R.S. § 37-33-107 Majority to control

37-33-107. Majority to control. If, however, the improvements petitioned for are found feasible and of use and benefit to the owners representing a major portion of the lands affected and in the best interest of such landowners and such irrigation district, the board of directors is empowered to proceed with the construction of such improvements in the same manner as provided by the statutes of the state of Colorado; but, upon the hearing of said petition, the board of directors, on good cause shown, may exclude any of the lands mentioned and described in said petition which will not be benefited by the proposed improvement and may likewise, on petition of the owners, include such other lands as may be benefited thereby.

C.R.S. § 37-33-108 Determination of cost - assessment

37-33-108. Determination of cost - assessment. When the works have been completed and accepted by the board of directors, the board shall determine the total cost, damages, and other expenses and divide the same among the several tracts of land affected in proportion to the number of acres in each tract of land or according to the benefits received at the discretion of the board of directors of the district and shall certify to the county assessor, or assessors if such improvements are located in more than one county, a list of the lands affected and the total amount to be assessed against each tract. The assessor, or assessors if such improvements are located in more than one county, shall enter such assessment against each of the several tracts of land lying within his county in the same manner as other taxes, and the county treasurer of each county where such improvements or part thereof is made shall collect the same in the same manner, at the same time, and receipt for same in the same manner as other taxes for irrigation district purposes, and all moneys collected for and on account of such improvements shall be by said county treasurer credited to the general fund of such irrigation district.

C.R.S. § 37-33-109 Irrigation district laws apply

37-33-109. Irrigation district laws apply. In all cases not specifically provided for under this article, the laws of the state of Colorado relative to the operation, maintenance, and improvement of irrigation districts shall apply to improvements made under the authority of this article.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-37.docxFetched: 10/6/2026

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