Dunlap v. Carolina Power & Light Co.

195 S.E. 43, 212 N.C. 814, 1938 N.C. LEXIS 235

• Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
• Decided: February 2, 1938
• Status: Published

Opinion

Barnhill, J".

Tbe plaintiff does not allege, except by inference, that the plant of the defendant is operated in a negligent or careless manner. If the complaint be construed as alleging a- cause' of action based on negligence the same is not sustained by the evidence, for there is no evidence of any negligent operation by the defendant. Nor does the plaintiff allege any improper or negligent or unskillful design or construction of defendant’s plant, nor is there any allegation that defendant’s plant is in excess of the size and capacity of the stream. This limits our consideration to two questions: (1) Is the defendant wrongfully interfering with or impairing plaintiff’s rights as a riparian owner in the waters of Yadkin River? And, (2) does the operation of defendant’s plant result in a taking in whole, or in part, of plaintiff’s property without just compensation? Yadkin, or Pee Dee River, is a non-navigable stream. S. v. Glen, 52 N. C., 321; Cornelius v. Glen, 52 N. C., 512. Therefore, for the purpose of determining the riparian rights of the plaintiff it must be deemed that he owns to the center of the stream. Where a grant calls for a corner in the bank of a stream and then with its meanders to another corner, by implication of law the grant extends to the middle of the river and confers ownership for certain purposes as appurtenant to the land granted, although the land not having been paid for is still the property of the State. Cornelius v. Glen, supra. A grant of land, bounded in terms by a river or creek not navigable, carries the land to the grantee usque ad filum aquae, to the middle or thread of the stream. Williams v. Buchanan, 23 N. C., 535. Parker v. Griswold, 17 Conn., 288, 42 A. D., 739, is to the same effect. So, in determining the plaintiff’s rights, he is to be deemed a riparian owner, possessing the rights of such in the waters of Yadkin or Pee Dee River to the center thereof.

A lower riparian owner has the right to use the water of a stream as it comes upon his land in its natural state for any purpose to which it may be applied without material injury to the just rights of others. This right is inseparably annexed to the soil itself. Durham v. Cotton Mills, 141 N. C., 615; R. R. v. Light & Power Co., 169 N. C., 481; Smith v. Morganton, 187 N. C., 803.

In some of the cases defining the rights of a riparian owner, the terms “like use,” “like situation,” “like owners,” and “like,” are used. These terms, of course, mean that the use of one farmer shall be judged by the use of another farmer, one manufacturer by the customs and use of another manufacturer. The use by any particular person must be the same as the neighboring proprietor in like circumstances. We cannot compare the uses of a farmer with those of a power producer. To construe the term “other like owners” strictly, as the term is seemingly but not actually used in some of the decisions, would virtually nullify the law of riparian ownership and riparian rights. To so construe it would mean that a stream not theretofore used for water power purposes could never be so used, because the person who first undertook to avail himself of the water power capabilities of a stream would find that he was not making use thereof as other like owners. Such construction, when applied to a stream used largely for water power purposes, would likewise for all practical purposes destroy any use of the stream by farmers or others similarly situated.

Applying the law that a riparian landowner is entitled to have the waters of a stream to continue to flow by his lands in its usual channel, and in its normal quantity, it has become a well established principle of law in this and most of the other jurisdictions that any substantial diversion of waters or the pollution of waters of a stream gives rise to a cause of action in behalf of all riparian owners affected thereby. In some of the western states where the land is arid and irrigation is essential the rule against the diversion of the waters of a stream has been modified. Neither a diversion or a pollution of the waters of Yadkin River is alleged and the cited authorities are not pertinent in so far as they deal with these particular phases of riparian ownership.

The right of a riparian owner to the use of water flowing by his premises in a natural stream and as an incident to his ownership of the soil and to have it transmitted to him without sensible alteration in quality or unreasonable diminution in quantity, has been recognized and dealt with by the courts for time immemorial. While it has never been said that one who possesses lands bordering upon a nonnavigable stream actually owns the running water, it has always been recognized that he has the right to a reasonable use of it as it passes his land. And so, the doctrine of reasonable use has become fully developed and is recognized by this and all other jurisdictions.

The right of a riparian owner to make a reasonable use of the waters, so long as he does not divert or pollute it, is recognized by the plaintiff and many of the authorities cited in his brief are made to turn upon the question of reasonable use.

The “reasonable use” doctrine was recognized in Pugh v. Wheeler, 19 N. C., 50, in which Ruffin, C. J., referring to the use of water of a stream to propel machinery, says: “But the owners of the land may have those uses of it; and as they are beneficial uses — beneficial, not only as sources of private gain, but therein also of public utility — -it is reasonable, and ought therefore to be lawful, that the owners of the land should, as such, be entitled to the advantage of all those profitable uses of the water, which do not affect it as the aliment provided by nature to nourish animal life. We conceive, therefore, that it is the clear doctrine of the common law, that all the owners of land through which a stream, not navigable, runs, may apply it to the purposes of profit.” See Smith v. Morganton, 187 N. C., 803.

The right of a riparian proprietor to the natural flow of a stream running through or along his land in its accustomed channel undiminished in quantity and unimpaired in quality, is qualified by the right of other riparian owners to make a reasonable use of such water as it passes through or along their lands. In determining the rights of a lower riparian owner, the question is whether the upper riparian proprietor is engaged in a reasonable exercise of his right to use the stream as it flows by or through his land, whether with or without retaining the water for a time, or obstructing temporarily the accustomed flow. Every riparian owner has a property right to the reasonable use of running water for manufacturing purposes as well as for domestic and agricultural purposes conformable to the uses and needs of the community, qualified only by the requirement that it must be enjoyed with reference to the similar rights of other riparian owners. A lower riparian owner has the right only to insist that the waters shall not' be unreasonably withheld or let down by the owner above or withheld for an unreasonable length of time. The upper riparian owner has no right by virtue of his position unreasonably to interfere with the natural flow of the stream so as to give the riparian proprietors below a great deal more than the usual quantity of water during a part of the year, or at stated periods, and little or none during the remainder of the year or during intervals of unreasonable length. The statement that riparian proprietors are entitled to the natural flow of the water of the stream without diminution or obstruction and that no proprietor can diminish the quantity of water, which will otherwise descend to the proprietor below, are statements that are rather broader than they should be to accurately represent the law. A better statement is one which includes the element of reasonable use by each of the proprietors, although it has been said that it is impossible to lay down a general rule in all cases. The rule that the upper proprietor has no right to use the water to the prejudice of the proprietor below him, or that he cannot lawfully diminish the quantity is too broad, for it would give the lower proprietor superior advantages over the upper and in many cases give him in effect a monopoly of the stream.

A riparian proprietor has a right to make all the use he can of the stream so long as he does not pollute it or divert it from its natural channel and abstract so much as to prevent other people from having equal enjoyment with himself, or does not use the same in such an unreasonable manner as to materially damage or destroy the rights of other riparian owners. The rights of riparian owners in a running stream above and below are equal; each has a right to the reasonable use and enjoyment of the water, and each has a right to the natural flow of the stream subject to sucb disturbance and consequent inconvenience and annoyance as may result to bim from a reasonable use of tbe waters by others. There may be a diminution in quantity or a retardation or • acceleration of the natural flow indispensable for the general valuable use of the water perfectly consistent with the existence of the common right and this may be done so long as the retardation and acceleration is reasonably necessary in the lawful and beneficial use of the stream. The diminution, retardation or acceleration not positively and sensibly injurious by diminishing the value of the common right is an implied easement in the right of using the stream. The right to use necessarily implies a right to exercise a degree of control over the water and to some extent to diminish its volume. And the water may be detained long enough to accumulate a sufficient head for manufacturing purposes before it is let down to the next user. However, the person detaining water must act in a reasonable manner and not let it off in unreasonable quantities.

What constitutes a reasonable use is a question of fact having regard to.the subject matter and the use; the occasion and manner of its application; its object and extent and necessity; the nature and size of the stream; the kind of business to which it is subservient; the importance and necessity of the use claimed by one party and the extent of the injury caused by it to the other.

The mere erection of a dam and the use of the water in driving wheels or providing power must necessarily derange its steady, constant and natural flow and substitute a different manner as to the time and mode of holding it up and letting it down, but the water can be retained for the purpose of the upper mill if it is not diverted from the stream- and the storing of water in a pond or reservoir for power purposes is not actionable if it is retained no longer than is reasonably necessary. The upper proprietor may hold back the water a reasonable time to raise a pond or reservoir, although the effect is to deprive the lower owner of the use of the water to a certain extent. He may hold the water back and let it down in such manner as is necessary for the use of his manufacturing enterprises if the enterprise is adapted to the character of the stream and the use is reasonable and the lower proprietor will not be of automobiles. One of plaintiff’s witnesses testified in the trial that of the water.

The statements that a riparian owner “has no right to use the water to the prejudice of the proprietor below him” and that he cannot “diminish the quantity which would descend to the proprietor below” and that “he must so use the water as not materially to affect the application of the water below, or materially to diminish its quantity,” are used in cases in which the diversion or pollution of water is being discussed.

In tbe cases involving tbe right to tbe profitable use of tbe waters of a stream it seems to be almost universally beld tbat sucb interruption in tbe flow of tbe-stream as is necessary and unavoidable in tbe reasonable and proper use of tbe mill privilege above cannot be tbe subject of an action. So it is said in Dumont v. Kellogg, 18 A. R., 102: “It is, therefore, not a diminution in tbe quantity of the water alone, or an alteration in its flow, or either or both of these circumstances combined with injury, tbat will give a right of action, if in view of all tbe circumstances and having regard to equality of right in others, tbat which has been done and which causes tbe injury is not unreasonable. In other words, tbe injury tbat is incidental to a reasonable enjoyment of tbe common right can demand no redress.”

For cases dealing with tbe doctrine of reasonable use and tbe principles herein enounced see Pugh v. Wheeler, 19 N. C., 50; McLaughlin v. Mfg. Co., 103 N. C., 100; Adams v. R. R., 110 N. C., 326; Durham v. Cotton Mills, 141 N. C., 615; Rouse v. Kinston, 188 N. C., 1; Harris v. R. R., 153 N. C., 542; Mizell v. McGowan, 129 N. C., 93, reported in 85 A. S. R., 705; Barcliff v. R. R., 168 N. C., 268; Dumont v. Kellogg, 18 A. R., 102; Salliotte v. Bridge Co., 65 L. R. A., 620; Meyer v. Richmond, 43 L. Ed., 374; Gehlen Bros. v. Knorr, 36 L. R. A., 697; Stratton v. Mt. Hermon School, 216 Mass., 83; 67 C. J., 700.

As tbe defendant committed no wrong against tbe plaintiff in respect to bis riparian rights so long as tbe defendant used tbe waters of Yadkin River in a lawful manner, tbe burden rests upon tbe plaintiff to show an unlawful, wrongful or unreasonable use thereof to bis damage and hurt. Ordinarily, this presents a question of fact if there is any evidence to sustain tbe allegation. When, however, there is no evidence tending to show an unreasonable use it is a question for tbe court.

Viewing all of tbe evidence in tbe light most favorable to tbe plaintiff, we are of the opinion tbat plaintiff has failed to offer any evidence tending to show tbat tbe defendant is making an unreasonable use of tbe waters of Yadkin River to tbe hurt and damage of plaintiff’s riparian rights. While tbe plaintiff offered evidence tending to show tbat defendant’s floodgates were closed at night, resulting in a substantial decrease in tbe water in tbe channel of Yadkin River, and tbat in tbe morning tbe floodgates were open for tbe purpose of operation, resulting in an accelerated flow of tbe water until tbe stream was at normal, there is no evidence tbat water was turned into tbe stream in excessive amounts and tbe detention or retardation thereof only between operating hours could not be beld for an unreasonable use.

Tbe plaintiff likewise offered evidence tending to show tbat at tbe present time bis land overflows more frequently during periods of freshet or flood, and tbat when tbe high water begins to recede it does so much more rapidly than heretofore^ preventing the settlement of enriching silt on his land and washing away and eroding the top soil of his property, thereby destroying the value thereof. We are, however, unable to find any evidence in the record which we feel tends to show that such condition grows out of, or is caused by, the use of the waters of Yadkin River by the defendant.

We are of the opinion, therefore, that the judgment of nonsuit as to plaintiff’s cause of action based upon allegations of damage to his riparian rights was properly allowed.

But this case presents for consideration another alleged cause of action, that is, the plaintiff alleges that by reason of the peculiar location of his lands at the confluence of Rocky River and Yadkin River, connected with the manner of operation of defendant’s plant, the defendant has in effect taken his property in part at least, without just compensation. In respect to this there is evidence tending to show that when the defendant ceases operation at the end of the day it closes its floodgates; that this results in a diminution of the water in the channel of Yadkin River below defendant’s dam; that the diminution of the water in the channel of Yadkin River causes the water in Rocky River to likewise diminish in quantity; that when the defendant begins operation in the morning and opens its floodgates, at first and until the channel of the Yadkin River reaches its normal stage, the flow of the water is accelerated and proceeds down the channel of Yadkin River in a bank at times several feet high; that when this bank of water reaches the point of confluence of Yadkin River and Rocky River, by reason of its quantity and accelerated speed, it strikes the bank which forms a part of the property of the plaintiff and flows back up the channel of Rocky River instead of following its usual channel, and that when the water of Yadkin River reaches its normal stage .the water in Rocky River flows back down the channel of that river. The plaintiff has offered evidence likewise tending to show that this unusual movement of the water in the early portion of the weekdays is wearing away and gradually eroding the river bank of his property.

Whether this results in any considerable damage to the plaintiff’s property is not for us to determine. The evidence tends to show that in this respect, to some extent at least, by reason of the peculiar location of the plaintiff’s land not common to other lower riparian owners the defendant is taking or appropriating the property of the plaintiff without compensation. If these facts are established to the satisfaction of the jury the defendant is indebted to the plaintiff for the reasonable value of the land taken, or the damage so done, without regard to the reasonableness of the use it is making of the waters of Yadkin River in the operation of its plant. It cannot take the property of the plaintiff without just compensation, even though it is a result of a reasonable use of its own property. To this extent the plaintiff is entitled to a new trial.

We conclude, therefore, that the plaintiff is entitled to a new trial to the end only that appropriate issues may be submitted to the jury to determine the truth of the plaintiff’s evidence in respect to the damage to the banks of his land and the loss, if any, he has sustained by reason thereof.

New trial.