Wyllie v. Kent

152 P. 194, 28 Idaho 16
CourtIdaho Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 7, 1915
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 152 P. 194 (Wyllie v. Kent) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Idaho Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wyllie v. Kent, 152 P. 194, 28 Idaho 16 (Idaho 1915).

Opinion

MORGAN, J.

This action was commenced by appellant pursuant to the provisions of chap. 224, Sess. Laws 1911 (p. 708), authorizing the summary adjudication of such water rights as have been omitted from a decree determining the priority of rights to the use of water.

The respondent, Kent, is the water-master who has charge of the distribution of the waters in controversy. He appeared in the action by general demurrer and thereafter defaulted. In response to the published notice provided for by said chap. 224, the respondents, Alta M. Rockwell and C. C. Rockwell, her husband, appeared and filed their answer and cross-complaint, which was answered by appellant.

The ease was commenced in Custer county and was, by stipulation of the parties, transferred to Bingham' county, where it was tried by the court without a jury.

On August 2, 1913, the court filed its findings, wherein it found, among other facts, that appellant is the owner of the west half of the southeast quarter and the south half of the southwest quarter, section 28, township 7 N., R. 25 E., B. M., in Custer county, Idaho; that the land is arid, and that for the purpose of irrigating it appellant’s predecessor in interest appropriated all, or about 80 inches or its equivalent in cubic-feet per second of time, of the water of what is known as Junction Springs creek or Jensen Springs creek (sometimes called by either name and which will hereafter be referred to as- Junction Springs creek), and constructed ditches therefrom to and upon his land for the irrigation thereof; that ever since that time appellant and his predecessor in interest have continued to use the entire flow of [19]*19the stream for the irrigation of his land, except in the year 1912, when hindered and deprived of the use of a portion thereof by respondents; that a greater portion of appellant's land is of a porous and gravelly nature and requires two inches of water per acre to properly irrigate it; that about 90 acres thereof can be irrigated from no other source of supply than the stream in question, and that appellant and his predecessor have never had sufficient water by the use of practically all of the available supply to irrigate the 90 acres aforesaid; that appellant and his predecessor in interest in about the year 1900, for the better irrigation of his land, built a small reservoir, and that he is the owner and entitled to the use and control thereof as against the respondents and all other persons, and that the respondents, nor either of them, have any interest therein.

The court further found that the waters of Junction Springs creek and of Big Lost river were decreed by the district court in the March, 1902, term thereof, in the case of S. T. Moe et al. v. Henry Harger et al., and that there was decreed to the grantor of appellant from Big Lost river the use of 100 inches of water for the irrigation of a portion of his land, and by inadvertence and mistake the use of only 40 inches of the flow of said creek, instead of the entire flow thereof consisting of about 80 inches of water, was decreed to him; that appellant and his predecessor in interest have ever since the date of the decree down to the year 1912, continued to use the whole flow of the creek for the irrigation of his land, and that all of it is absolutely necessary for that purpose, and appellant’s right to the use of 80 inches of water therefrom is prior and superior to the rights of respondents, or either of them.

The court further found that the respondent, Alta M. Rockwell, is the owner, subject to the paramount title of the United States, of the northeast quarter of section 28, township 7 N., R. 25 E., B. M., in Custer county, Idaho; that her land is arid and that for the purpose of irrigating the same her predecessor in interest filed in the office of the state engineer an application for a permit to appropriate the waters [20]*20of said creek; that the permit was allowed with date of priority of April 27, 1910, and that under and by virtue thereof, she is entitled to the use of the flow of the waters of the creek up to the amount of her appropriation, to wit, 160 inches thereof, or its equivalent in cubic-feet per second of time, after appellant has received 40 inches in addition to the 40 inches already decreed in case of Moe et al. v. Harger et al., in all 80 inches of water, appellant’s right being prior and superior to the right of the respondent, Alta M. Rockwell.

The conclusions of law and decree followed the findings of fact and awarded to appellant the use of 40 inches of water of Junction Springs creek, being 40 inches in addition to that theretofore decreed to him, or 80 inches in all. The appellant was also decreed to be the absolute owner of and entitled to the possession of the reservoir mentioned in the findings of fact, and respondents were perpetually enjoined from in any manner interfering with appellant’s right to the use of the water or to the use and enjoyment and ownership of the reservoir.

The respondent, Alta M. Rockwell, was decreed a right to the use of the flow of all the flood waters of the stream for the irrigation of her land up to 160 inches, after appellant has received the waters decreed to him, respondent’s right to any water being subsequent and inferior to the right of appellant.

On September 15, 1913, respondents filed a motion to modify and amend the judgment and decree and findings of fact and conclusions of law, alleging that errors had inadvertently been made therein; after a hearing the court, on January 21, 1914, made an order granting the motion and made and filed amended findings of fact, conclusions of law and decree differing from those formerly made and filed in the following important particulars:

In the modified findings it is found that appellant’s land requires one inch of water per acre for the proper irrigation thereof; that at the time of the decree in case of Moe et al. v. Harger et al., awarding to appellant’s predecessor in interest [21]*21the use of 40 inches of the waters of Junction Springs creek, appellant’s predecessor in interest had 50 acres of land under cultivation which was irrigated from the creek and that no land in addition thereto has since been cultivated; that the creek flows, in the irrigation season, about 220 inches of water, since having been cleaned out and increased by the respondent, Alta M. Rockwell; that since the date of the decree aforesaid the appellant and his predecessor in interest have, down to the year 1912, continued to use 60 inches of the flow of the creek which is now absolutely necessary for the irrigation of his land, and that the right to the use thereof is prior in time and superior to the right of the respondents. That the respondent, Alta 5V1. Rockwell, is entitled to the use of the flow of the waters of the stream up to 160 inches, after the appellant has received 20 inches of the flow thereof in addition to the 40 inches already decreed, or 60 inches of water in all.

The amended conclusions of law and ■ decree follow the amended findings of fact and award to appellant the prior right to the use of 60 inches, and to respondent, Alta M. Rockwell, is awarded a right, subsequent to that of appellant, to the use of 160 inches of the waters of the stream. In the amended findings of fact, conclusions of law and decree no disposition is made of the reservoir.

From the order of the court amending the decree and from the decree so amended this appeal is taken.

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Bluebook (online)
152 P. 194, 28 Idaho 16, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wyllie-v-kent-idaho-1915.