Steven P. Jeffers

Shareholder

PHONE: (720) 726-3671
FAX: (303) 776-9100
EMAIL: sjeffers@lyonsgaddis.com

Overview

With over 35 years of experience helping people protect their water rights, whether buying water to help develop land or selling water to achieve their financial goals, changing water rights to a new use, or developing new water rights in areas where there are limited supplies, Steve helps his clients through the process to achieve their goals with the least cost and controversy. Steve guides his clients through the Colorado water court process, and helps them work with state and federal agencies when needed.

In addition to a broad water law practice, Steve enjoys helping people evaluate options for preserving their property, and developing fish and wildlife projects, and seeing those projects through to completion.

Practices

Water Law
Conservation Easements

Education

Steve received a bachelor of arts degree in Environmental Conservation – Geography from the University of Colorado in 1983, and earned his law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1988.

Representative Matters

Steve has helped clients to confirm existing and conditional water rights and to change water rights, to maintain and defend easements, obtain and correct well permits, obtain court approval for augmentation plans, and to plan and develop new water supplies.

Over his career, Steve has participated in all of the state’s water courts, and in several appeals before the Colorado Supreme Court. Steve has successfully appealed well permit matters before the State Engineer and represented well owners in hearings before the Colorado Ground Water Commission. His clients’ conservation easements are located throughout Colorado, and have involved individuals, local, state and national land trusts, county land preservation programs, and numerous funding sources. There is nothing more rewarding to Steve than helping protect land and water for enjoyment by future generations.

Appeals include:

Coors Brewing Co. v. City of Golden; 420 P.3d 977 (Colo. 2018) (challenge to application to amend decreed augmentation plan to add reuse).

Burlington Ditch, Reservoir and Land Co. v Englewood, 256 P.3d 645 (Colo. 2011) (change in location of headgate based on changes in stream conditions without court approval); and

Chatfield East Well Co. v. Chatfield East Property Owners Assoc., 956 P.2d 1260 (Colo. 1998) (interpretation of deed reserving nontributary groundwater in Denver Basin aquifers);

Park County Sportsmen’s Ranch, L.L.P. v. Bargas, 986 P.2d 262 (Colo. 1999) (challenge to attempted appropriation and augmentation plan in tributary aquifers);

Professional Organizations

Water and Environmental Law Sections of the Colorado Bar Association,

Water Resources and Environmental Law Section of the American Bar Association, Boulder County Bar,

Northwest Colorado Bar,

Colorado Water Congress (State Affairs Committee).

Former board member for the CBA Water Law Section.

Community Involvement

Some of the other groups that Steve works with and supports:

Community Food Share – Boulder/Broomfield Counties donor
Louisville Chamber of Commerce board member (2021-2023)
Colorado Mesa University – Water Center donor
Boulder County Parks and Open Space Advisory Board past board member
Ducks Unlimited donor
Louisville Coal Creek Ranch HOA board member (2019-2021)
Lift Up – Routt County donor
Community Agricultural Alliance – Routt County
Friends of the Yampa
Yampa Valley Community Foundation

Personal

Steve and Carol enjoy living in Louisville and Steamboat Springs. They have two daughters, one grandchild and four grand dogs.

He enjoys skiing, hiking with his dog Luna and reading. He is a former long-time soccer player and coach and remains a huge soccer fan.