DWR - Engineer-In-Training II

State of Colorado • Denver, CO

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

This position exists to provide support to maximize the beneficial use of waters of the state and facilitate the above by conducting engineering and hydrologic investigations pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes, rules, regulations, and policies of the State Engineer and Colorado Ground Water Commission. This position analyzes applications for well permits and approves or denies them or returns them to the applicant with necessary explanations; reviews water court cases and prepares determinations of facts; reviews requests for approval of substitute water supply plans; evaluates applications for determinations of water rights, replacement plans, and changes of water rights within the Designated Basins; reviews submittals from County planning departments and other State and Federal agencies for technical or legal issues; provides support to the State Engineer, Division Engineer, and Colorado Ground Water Commission on matters within the South Platte River Basin inside of the Denver Basin; and consults, assists, advises, and confers with water users and/or their attorneys and engineers. Specific job duties include but are not limited to: Reviews and evaluates requests for substitute water supply plans/replacement plans by evaluating surface and ground water hydrology, performing engineering analyses, researching water court decrees, and evaluating site specific data. Determine if substitute water supply plans result in injury to decreed water rights based on review and evaluation of the engineering report, consumptive use model and Glover model. Performs engineering evaluations of water court cases for engineering, geologic, legal, and administrative correctness and provides comments to the Division staff. Participates in negotiations with attorneys, consulting engineers, and geologist of applicants for water rights on behalf of the Division of Water Resources. Reviews and provides analysis and the State Engineer’s opinion to counties regarding the adequacy and potential injury to other water rights of proposed subdivision water supply plans by reviewing applicable statutes, rules, regulations, and policies, and evaluating groundwater hydrology, performing engineering analyses, researching water rights, evaluating site specific data Provide (written and verbal) information, assistance, and advisement to the general public, water users, attorneys, engineers and private organizations on water issues, Colorado Revised Statutes, State Engineer and Ground Water Commission Rules, regulations, and guidelines, policies, geology, hydrology, and availability of groundwater. Conducts engineering, hydrologic, and geologic analysis and evaluation of applications for change of water rights within the Designated Basins and applications to construct and use large-capacity and non-exempt wells pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes, rules, regulations, and the policies of the State Engineer and Ground Water Commission. Evaluation and/or final review of applications to construct and use small-capacity and exempt wells. Determine, after analysis and evaluation, if an application to the Ground Water Commission for Determination of Water Right within a Denver Basin bedrock aquifer can be approved in accordance with applicable statutes and rules and decide if the application can be given favorable consideration by the Commission. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Current enrollment as an Engineer Intern by the Colorado State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors.
• Must have and maintain a valid Colorado license in accordance with DNR-120 Fleet and Driving Standards Administrative Directive , if utilizing a fleet vehicle.
• Current enrollment as an Engineer Intern or current valid license as a Professional Engineer by the Colorado State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors.

Nice To Haves

• Current or former State experience relevant to this position.
• Knowledge and experience with Colorado water rights.
• Water administration experience.
• Licensure as a Professional Engineer.
• Water measurement experience.
• Water modeling experience such as historical consumptive use analysis, Glover equation, MODFLOW.
• Excellent public service skills.
• Proficiency with Google and Microsoft suites.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and/or Google Sheets.
• Other experience relevant to the use or management of water resources.

Responsibilities

• Reviews and evaluates requests for substitute water supply plans/replacement plans by evaluating surface and ground water hydrology, performing engineering analyses, researching water court decrees, and evaluating site specific data.
• Determine if substitute water supply plans result in injury to decreed water rights based on review and evaluation of the engineering report, consumptive use model and Glover model.
• Performs engineering evaluations of water court cases for engineering, geologic, legal, and administrative correctness and provides comments to the Division staff.
• Participates in negotiations with attorneys, consulting engineers, and geologist of applicants for water rights on behalf of the Division of Water Resources.
• Reviews and provides analysis and the State Engineer’s opinion to counties regarding the adequacy and potential injury to other water rights of proposed subdivision water supply plans by reviewing applicable statutes, rules, regulations, and policies, and evaluating groundwater hydrology, performing engineering analyses, researching water rights, evaluating site specific data
• Provide (written and verbal) information, assistance, and advisement to the general public, water users, attorneys, engineers and private organizations on water issues, Colorado Revised Statutes, State Engineer and Ground Water Commission Rules, regulations, and guidelines, policies, geology, hydrology, and availability of groundwater.
• Conducts engineering, hydrologic, and geologic analysis and evaluation of applications for change of water rights within the Designated Basins and applications to construct and use large-capacity and non-exempt wells pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes, rules, regulations, and the policies of the State Engineer and Ground Water Commission.
• Evaluation and/or final review of applications to construct and use small-capacity and exempt wells.
• Determine, after analysis and evaluation, if an application to the Ground Water Commission for Determination of Water Right within a Denver Basin bedrock aquifer can be approved in accordance with applicable statutes and rules and decide if the application can be given favorable consideration by the Commission.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical and Dental plans
• Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax 401K and 457 plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Employee Wellness programs
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Accounts
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave
• Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options
• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed