Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

Colorado Revised Statutes Title 24. Government State § 24-1-124. Department of natural resources--creation--divisions

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(1) There is hereby created a department of natural resources, the head of which shall be the executive director of the department of natural resources, who shall be the commissioner of mines. The executive director shall be appointed by the governor pursuant to law.

(2) The office of the executive director, created in article 33 of this title 24, is a type 2 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercises its powers and performs its duties and functions under the department of natural resources.

(2.1) The department of natural resources includes, as a part of the office of the executive director:

(a) The office of commissioner of mines, created in section 1 of article XVI of the state constitution. The office of commissioner of mines is a type 2 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercises its powers and performs its duties and functions under the department of natural resources.

(b) Repealed by Laws 2013, Ch. 316, § 48, eff. Aug. 7, 2013.

(c) The Colorado avalanche information center, created pursuant to section 24-33-116. The Colorado avalanche information center is a type 2 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercises its powers and performs its duties and functions under the department of natural resources.

(3) The department of natural resources consists of the following divisions:

(a) The division of water resources, the head of which is the state engineer, as described in subsection (4) of this section;

(b) The Colorado water conservation board and the office of director thereof, created in article 60 of title 37. The Colorado water conservation board and the office of the director are type 1 entities, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercise their powers and perform their duties and functions under the department of natural resources as a division thereof.

(c) Deleted by Laws 2000, Ch. 152, § 3, eff. July 1, 2000.

(d) The state board of land commissioners, created in section 9 of article IX of the state constitution. The state board of land commissioners is a type 1 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercises its powers and performs its duties and functions under the department of natural resources as a division thereof, subject to the state constitution.

(e) The division of reclamation, mining, and safety, created in section 34-20-103, the head of which is the director of the division of reclamation, mining, and safety, under the supervision of the executive director of the department of natural resources. The division and director are type 2 entities, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercise their powers and perform their duties and functions as prescribed by law under the department of natural resources and the executive director thereof. The division of reclamation, mining, and safety includes the following:

(I) The coal mine board of examiners, created in article 22 of title 34. The coal mine board of examiners is a type 2 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercises its powers and performs its duties and functions under the department of natural resources as a section of the division of reclamation, mining, and safety.

(II) The mined land reclamation board and the office of mined land reclamation, created in article 32 of title 34. The mined land reclamation board is a type 1 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercises its powers and performs its duties and functions under the department of natural resources and is allocated to the division of reclamation, mining, and safety. The office of mined land reclamation is a type 2 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercises its powers and performs its duties and functions under the department of natural resources and is allocated to the division of reclamation, mining, and safety as a section thereof.

(III) The office of active and inactive mines, created in article 21 of title 34. The office of active and inactive mines is a type 2 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercises its powers and performs its duties and functions as prescribed by law under the department of natural resources and is allocated to the division of reclamation, mining, and safety as a section thereof.

(IV) Deleted by Laws 2005, Ch. 311, § 1, eff. July 1, 2005.

(V) Repealed by Laws 2003, Ch. 307. § 4, eff. May 22, 2003.

(f) The energy and carbon management commission created in section 34-60-104.3(1) and the office of the director of the commission, created in article 60 of title 34. The commission and the office of the director are type 1 entities, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercise their powers and perform their duties and functions under the department of natural resources as a division of the department.

(g) Repealed by Laws 2012, Ch. 247, § 3, eff. Jan. 31, 2013.

(h)(I) Deleted by Laws 2011, Ch. 293, § 3, eff. July 1, 2011.

(II) Deleted by Laws 2011, Ch. 293, § 3, eff. July 1, 2011.

(III) Repealed by Laws 1999, Ch. 162, § 3, eff. July 1, 2009.

(i) Deleted by Laws 2011, Ch. 293, § 3, eff. July 1, 2011.

(j) The division of forestry, created in section 24-33-201 (1), the head of which is the state forester, appointed pursuant to section 23-31-207. The division of forestry and the state forester are type 2 entities, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercise their powers and perform their duties and functions as prescribed by law under the department of natural resources and the executive director thereof.

(k)(I)(A) The parks and wildlife commission, created in article 9 of title 33. The powers, duties, and functions of the parks and wildlife commission include the powers, duties, and functions of the wildlife commission and the board of parks and outdoor recreation. The parks and wildlife commission is a type 1 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105.

(B) The parks and wildlife commission includes, as an advisory council, the Colorado natural areas council created in article 33 of title 33.

(II)(A) The division of parks and wildlife, the head of which is the director of the division of parks and wildlife, created in section 33-9-104. The division of parks and wildlife and the office of the director of the division of parks and wildlife are type 1 entities, as defined in section 24-1-105.

(B) The division of parks and wildlife includes the fish health board created in article 5.5 of title 33. The fish health board is a type 2 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercises its powers and performs its duties and functions as specified by law under the department of natural resources and the executive director of the department of natural resources.

(4) The division of water resources includes the following:

(a) The office of the state engineer, created in article 80 of title 37. The office of the state engineer is a type 1 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercises its powers and performs its duties and functions under the department of natural resources and is allocated to the division of water resources as a section thereof.

(b) The division engineers, created in part 2 of article 92 of title 37. The division engineers are type 1 entities, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercise their powers and perform their duties and functions under the department of natural resources and are allocated to the division of water resources as a section thereof.

(c) The ground water commission, created in article 90 of title 37. The ground water commission is a type 1 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercises its powers and performs its duties and functions under the department of natural resources and is allocated to the division of water resources as a section thereof.

(d) The state board of examiners of water well construction and pump installation contractors, created in article 91 of title 37. The state board of examiners of water well construction and pump installation contractors is a type 1 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercises its powers and performs its duties and functions under the department of natural resources and is allocated to the division of water resources as a section thereof.

(e) Repealed by Laws 1991, H.B.91-1065, § 4.

(5) Repealed by Laws 1988, H.B.1184, § 4.

Previous Part of Code Next Part of Code
Back to Chapter List

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Colorado Revised Statutes Title 24. Government State § 24-1-124. Department of natural resources--creation--divisions - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-24-government-state/co-rev-st-sect-24-1-124/

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About The Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to Find an Attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

Copied to clipboard