(1) If, in the opinion of the state engineer, conditions of any dam or reservoir are so dangerous to the health and safety of life or property as not to permit time for issuance and enforcement of an order relative to construction, modification, maintenance, or restriction of storage, or the dam is threatened by any large flood, the state engineer may immediately employ remedial measures necessary to protect such life and property.
(2) (a) The state engineer shall maintain complete control of any such dam or reservoir which, pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, has been determined to be dangerous to life or property until such dam or reservoir is deemed safe, or until any emergency conditions which precipitated the state engineer taking control of any such dam or reservoir, pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, have abated. The state engineer is hereby empowered to determine the proper time at which to relinquish control of any such dam or reservoir.
(b) For purposes of this paragraph (b), measures taken by the state engineer pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall be deemed final action by the state engineer for purposes of judicial review. The owner or operator of any dam upon which the state engineer has employed remedial measures pursuant to subsection (1) of this section may seek judicial review of the propriety of such measures by filing an action in the state district court for the district in which such dam is located.
(3) (a) Any necessary and reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the state engineer in fulfilling the duties mandated by subsections (1) and (2) of this section in connection with a remedial or emergency action shall be recoverable by the state engineer from the owner of any such dangerous or threatened dam.
(b) Any owner failing or refusing, after written notice has been given, to pay the reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the state engineer pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (3) shall be, upon complaint by the state engineer to the attorney general, subject to reasonable attorney fees incurred in the recovery of such costs and expenses.
(4) (a) All moneys collected by the state engineer pursuant to subsection (3) of this section shall be credited to the emergency dam repair cash fund created in section 37-60-122.5, to the extent necessary to replenish the account. Moneys collected in excess of such amount shall be credited to the Colorado water conservation board construction fund.
(b) The general assembly shall make annual appropriations from the emergency dam repair cash fund created in section 37-60-122.5, for the direct and indirect costs incurred by the state engineer in the performance of those duties authorized to be carried out by the state engineer in this section.
Source: L. 92: Entire section added, p. 2308, § 11, effective June 3. L. 2001: (4) amended, p. 696, § 35, effective May 30.