Blue River Decree
The Blue River Decree is considered the governing body of law for the Blue River.
For your convenience we’ve provided copies of the legal documents here:
- 1955 Final Decree
- 1955 Final Judgement
- 1955 Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law and Final Decree
- 1957 Supplemental Order
Summary of the Blue River Decree
The Blue River Decree was finalized by a federal court decision in 1955 and was the result of a dispute dating back to 1937. In 1937, Congress authorized a reclamation project known as the Colorado-Big Thompson Project (“CBT”). This project was developed to store replacement water at Green Mountain Reservoir for use by the western slope to compensate for other Colorado River water diverted to the eastern slope as part of the CBT. The Decree recognized the Federal Government’s right to fill and utilize Green Mountain Reservoir and described Denver’s water rights to the use of Blue River water and its tributaries.