Case Law Index
Water Law

January 1, 2002 - March 1, 2011

This index provides a comprehensive though not necessarily exhaustive compilation of reported and unreported federal and state court decisions involving Water Law that were decided on or after January 1, 2002. For those cases that have been summarized by the National Agricultural Law Center, a link is provided to the summary. The index will be regularly updated to reflect new judicial developments. The cases are listed in reverse chronological order.

The "Text" link goes to the freely available Google Scholar text of the opinion; the "Summary" link goes to a summary of the opinion written by the National Agricultural Law Center staff.

SUPREME COURT

Orff v. United States, 545 U.S. 596 (2005) (Reclamation Reform Act did not waive sovereign immunity)   Text   |    Summary

Kansas v. Colorado, 543 U.S. 86 (2004) (violations of river compact)  Text

SIXTH CIRCUIT

V. Jacobs & Sons v. Saginaw County Dep't of Pub. Health, 284 F.Supp.2d 711 (E.D. Mich. 2003)(review of county moratorium on drilling deep wells)   Text   |    Summary

EIGHTH CIRCUIT

Keating v. Neb. Pub. Power Dist., 562 F.3d 923 (8th Cir. 2009) (deprivation of procedural due process in ordering to cease drawing water)  Text

Wochos v. Smith, Civil No. 08-6070, 2008 WL 4183393 (W.D. Ark. Sept. 11, 2008) (injunction to return water to creek)   Summary

Jacobson v. Bruning, No. 4:06cv3166, 2007 WL 1362638 (D. Neb. Apr. 24, 2007) (constitutional challenge of groundwater management law)   Summary

Ark. Wildlife Fed'n v. U.S. Army Corps of Eng'rs, 431 F.3d 1096 (8th Cir. 2005) (no NEPA violations with new irrigation project)   Text   |    Summary

NINTH CIRCUIT

San Luis Unit Food Producers v. United States, No. 1:09-cv-01871 OWW DLB, 2011 WL 693329 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 16, 2011) (dispute regarding federal management of water access to farmers)

United States v. Bell, 602 F.3d 1074 (Ninth Circuit 2010) (suit to recoup excess diverted water)  Text

United States v. Angle, No. CIV. S-80-583 LKK, 2010 WL 1729826 (E.D. Cal. April 28, 2010) (modifications to stream decree)

United States v. Angle, No. CIV. S-80-583 LKK, 2009 WL 347749 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 11, 2009) (modifications to stream decree)

>Natural Res. Def. Council v. Kempthorne, No. 1:05-CV-01207 OWW TAG, 2008 WL 5054115 (E.D. Cal. Nov. 19, 2008) (review of water servicing contracts)  

Grant County Black Sands Irrigation Dist. v. United States, 539 F.Supp.2d 1292 (E.D. Wash. 2008) (sovereign immunity; equitable treatment of districts)   Text   |    Summary

W. Watersheds Project v. Matejko, 468 F.3d 1099 (9th Cir. 2006) (Endangered Species Act consultation not required by agency)   Text   |    Summary

Cent. Delta Water Agency v. Bureau of Reclamation, 452 F.3d 1021 (9th Cir. 2006) (challenge to agency decision to release water for fish habitat)   Text   |    Summary

Brady v. Abbott Labs., 433 F.3d 679 (9th Cir. 2005) (reasonable use of groundwater)   Text   |    Summary

Smith v. Cent. Ariz. Water Conservation Dist., 418 F.3d 1028 (9th Cir. 2005) (prevention of modification to irrigation contracts)   Text   |    Summary

Cent. Valley Water Agency v. United States, 327 F.Supp.2d 1180 (E.D. Cal. 2004) (upholding agency decision to release water for fish habitat)   Text

Orff v. United States, 358 F.3d 1137 (9th Cir. 2004) (sovereign immunity; reduced allocation to protect species)   Text

Laub v. U.S. Dep't of Interior, 342 F.3d 1080 (9th Cir. 2003) (standing; NEPA challenge to proposed water management plan)   Text

Westlands Water Dist. v. U.S., 337 F.3d 1092 (9th Cir. 2003) (rights under water service contract)   >Text

Cent. Valley Water Agency v. United States, 306 F.3d 938 (9th Cir. 2002) (standing to challenge water release)   Text

United States v. Alpine Land & Reservoir Co., 291 F.3d 1062 (9th Cir. 2002) (intrafarm transfers; forfeiture)  Text

TENTH CIRCUIT

Tarrant Regional Water Dist. v. Hermann, No. CIV-07-0045-HE, 2009 WL 3922803 (W.D. Okla. Nov. 18, 2009) (out-of-state water purchases)

Pine River Irrigation Dist. v. United States, 656 F.Supp.2d 1298 (D. Colo. 2009) (quiet title in a reservoir right of way)  Text

Wagoner County Rural Water Dist. No. 2 v. Grand River Dam Auth., 577 F.3d 1255 (10th Cir. 2009) (no waiver of 11th Amendment sovereign immunity; McCarran Amendment did not waive sovereign immunity)  Text

Strawberry Water Users Ass'n v. United States, 576 F.3d 1133 (10th 2009) (federal government reserves right to change use of reclamation water)  Text

Lower Ark. Valley Water Conservancy Dist. v. United States, 578 F.3d 1315 (D. Colo. 2008) (standing to challenge water storage contract)  Text

In re Gregory Rock House Ranch, LLC, 339 B.R. 255 (Bankr. D. N.M. 2006) (temporary change in well location)  Text

Ellsworth v. Tuttle, 148 F. App'x 653 (10th Cir. 2005) (extent of appropriate water rights)

United States v. City of Las Cruces, 289 F.3d 1170 (10th Cir. 2002) (quiet title to water rights in federal reclamation project)   Text

FEDERAL CIRCUIT

Klamath Irr. Dist. v. United States, No. 2007-5115, 2011 WL 537853 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 17, 2011) (litigation regarding federal temporary reductions of irrigation water)

Klamath Tribe Claims Comm. v. United States, No. 09-75L, 2011 WL 490502 (Fed. Cl. Feb. 11, 2011) (tribe demands disbursement of funds to safeguard treaty-based water rights)

Klamath Irr. Dist. v. United States, No. 2007-5115, 2011 WL 537853 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 17, 2011) (takings claim by farmers against Bureau of Reclamation)

Stockton E. Water Dist. v. United States, 583 F.3d 1344 (Fed. Cir. 2009) (breach of water contract)  Text

Grant County Black Sands Irrigation Dist. v. United States, 579 F.3d 1345 (Fed. Cir. 2009) (water services contracts for groundwater were not long-term water service contracts or repayment contracts under Reclamation Project Act)  Text

Dalles Irrigation Dist. v. United States, 88 Fed. Cl. 601 (breach of contract by federal government in overcharging for electricity for irrigation pumping)

N. Colo. Water Conservancy Dist. v. United States, 88 Fed. Cl. 636 (Fed. Cl. 2009) (article in water contract was enforceable against the federal government)

Oswalt v. United States, 85 Fed. Cl. 153 (Fed. Cl. 2008) (breach of irrigation water delivery contract)  ">Text

Casitas Mun. Water Dist. v. United States, 543 F.3d 1276 (Fed. Cir. 2008) (breach of repayment contract; taking for diversion of water)  Text |    Summary

Estate of Hage v. United States, 82 Fed. Cl. 202 (Fed. Cl. 2008) (taking of water rights and ditches)

Walker v. United States, 79 Fed. Cl. 685 (Fed. Cl. 2008) (no property interest in water right)

Casitas Mun. Water Dist. v. United States, 76 Fed. Cl. 100 (Fed. Cl. 2007) (reduction in irrigation water)

Klamath Irrigation Dist. v. United States, 75 Fed. Cl. 677 (Fed. Cl. 2007) (breach of reclamation project contract)   Summary

Colvin Cattle Co. v. United States, 468 F.3d 803 (Fed. Cir. 2006) (no taking of water right with denial of grazing permit)  Text   |    Summary

Firebaugh Canal Water Dist. v. United States, 70 Fed. Cl. 593 (Fed. Cl. 2006) (government's failure to provide drainage)

Walker v. United States, 69 Fed. Cl. 222 (Fed. Cl. 2005) (state law determines property right in water)

Colvin Cattle Co. v. United States, 67 Fed. Cl. 568 (Fed. Cl. 2005) (no taking of water right)

Klamath Irrigation Dist. v. United States, 67 Fed. Cl. 504 (Fed. Cl. 2005) (no taking for temporary reductions in water)

Hage v. United States, 51 Fed. Cl. 570 (Fed. Cl. 2002) (vested interest in water rights taken)

TAX COURT

Garwood Irrigation Co. v. Comm'r, T.C. Memo 2004-195 (T.C. 2004) (valuation of water right)

ARIZONA

State ex rel. Winkleman v. Ariz. Navigable Stream Adjudication Comm'n, 229 P.3d 242 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2010) (determination whether stream was navigable to determine ownership rights)  Text

In re Gen. Adjudication of All Rights to Use Water In the Gila River Sys. & Source, 224 P.3d 178 (Ariz. 2010) (settlement agreement in general stream adjudication)  Text

Davis v. Agua Sierra Res., L.L.C., 203 P.3d 506 (Ariz. 2009) (invalid reservation of future groundwater rights)  Text

Sw. Sand & Gravel, Inc. v. Cent. Ariz. Water Conservation Dist., 212 P.3d 1 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2008) (diversion of water on property)  Text   |    Summary

Davis v. Agua Sierra Res., L.L.C, 174 P.3d 298 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2008) (validity of severance of water rights)   Text

Maricopa-Stanfield Irrigation & Drainage Dist. v. Robertson, 123 P.3d 112 (Ariz. 2005) (no vested right to receive irrigation water), cert. denied, 547 U.S. 1163 (2006)   Text

ARKANSAS

S. Flag Lake, Inc. v. Gordon, 307 S.W.3d 601 (Ark. Ct. App. 2009) (adoption of reasonable use standard)  Text

Ormond Enter., Inc. v. Point Remove Wetlands Reclamation & Irrigation Improvement Dist., 253 S.W.3d 449 (Ark. 2007) (exclusion of land from irrigation district project)   Text

Ark. Wildlife Fed'n v. Ark. Soil & Water Conservation Comm'n, 233 S.W.3d 615 (Ark. 2006) (state irrigation plans)   Text

Vereen v. Hargrove, 96 S.W.3d 762 (Ark. Ct. App. 2003) (no breach of lease for providing water to neighbor)   Text

CALIFORNIA

Sonoma County Water Coalition v. Sonoma County Water Agency, 116 Cal.Rptr.3d 616 (Cal. Ct. App. 2010) (challenge to adequacy of county water agency's urban water management plan rejected)  Text

Rainbow Farms v. Natomas Cent. Mut. Water Co., No. C059322, 2009 WL 4049564 (Cal. Ct. App. Nov. 24, 2009) (mutual water company immune from suit by member)

Allegretti & Co. v. Heuberger, No. D051350 , 2008 WL 50775350 (Cal. Ct. App. Dec. 3, 2008) (statute of limitations to challenge conditional use permit)

Nicoll v. Rudnick, 160 Cal.App.4th 550 (Cal. Ct. App. 2008) (quiet title in water rights in divided ranch)   Text

Phelps v. State Water Res. Control Bd., 157 Cal.App.4th 89 (Cal. Ct. App. 2007) (imposition of penalties for unauthorized diversion of water)   Text

Franklin v. Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation Dist., No. C050899, 2007 WL 746102 (Cal. Ct. App. Mar. 13, 2007) (inverse condemnation from increase groundwater flow)

Cal. Farm Bureau Fed'n v. Cal. State Water Res. Control Bd., 53 Cal.Rptr.3d 445 (Cal. Ct. App. 2007), cert. granted, 156 P.3d 1014 (Cal. 2007) (validity of annual fees imposed on water right permit holders)   Text

El Dorado Irrigation Dist. v. State Water Res. Control Bd., 142 Cal.App.4th 937 (Cal. Ct. App. 2006) (rule of priority; county of origin statutes; area of origin statutes)   Text

Turlock Irrigation Dist. v. Modesto Irrigation Dist., No. F046604, 2006 WL 2381129 (Cal. Ct. App. Aug. 17, 2006) (annexation of an irrigation district)

Allegretti & Co. v. County of Imperial, 138 Cal.App.4th 1261 (Cal. Ct. App. 2006) (requiring groundwater well permit was not a taking)   Text

People v. Murrison, 101 Cal.App.4th 349 (Cal. Ct. App. 2002) (water diversion without proper notice)   Text

COLORADO

Water Rights of King Consolidated Ditch Co. v. King Consol. Ditch Co., No. 09SA374, 2011 WL 873305 (Colo. March 14, 2011) (tribal intervention into determination of water rights)

City of Englewood v. Burlington Ditch, Reservoir and Land Co., 235 P.3d 1061 (Colo. 2010) (challenge to changes in water rights to river by irrigation companies denied)  Text

Broomfield v. Farmers Res. And Irr. Co., 235 P.3d 296 (Colo. 2010) (irrigation company challenges public application to change use of water rights)  Text

City of Aurura v. Northern Colorado Water Conservancy Dist., 236 P.3d 1222 (Colo. 2010) (out-of-priority depletion)  Text

V Bar Ranch LLC v. Cotton, 233 P.3d 1200 (Colo. 2010) (replacement well permit)  Text

V Bar Ranch LLC v. Cotten, 233 P.3d 1200 (Colo. 2010) (modification of ranch's replacement well permit)  Text

City & County of Broomfield v. Farmers Reservoir & Irr. Co., 235 P.3d 296 (Colo. 2010) (beneficial consumptive use and water rights)  Text

City of Englewood v. Burlington Ditch, Reservoir & Land Co., 235 P.3d 1061 (Colo. 2010) (validity of water rights agreement)  Text

Well Augmentation Subdistrict of Cent. Colo. Water Conservancy Dist. v. City of Aurora, 221 P.3d 399 (Colo. 2009) (challenging water augmentation plan)  Text

Meridian Ranch Metro. Dist. Colo. Ground Water Comm'n, --- P.3d ---, 2009 WL 3765490 (Colo. Ct. App. 2009) (groundwater district could restrict water use)  Text

Pagosa Area Water & Sanitation Dist. v. Trout Unlimited, 219 P.3d 774 (Colo. 2009) (application for conditional water rights)  Text

Vance v. Wolf, 205 P.3d 1165 (Colo. 2009) (extraction of water for coalbed methane is a beneficial use; appropriative water right)  Text

Kobobel v. Colorado, Dep't of Natural Res., 215 P.3d 1218 (Colo. Ct. App. 2009) (augmentation plan; cease and desist use of wells)  Text

North Sterling Irrigation District v. Simpson, 202 P.3d 1207 (Colo. 2009) (fixed water year; one fill rule)  Text

Archuleta v. Gomez, 200 P.3d 333 (Colo. 2009) (adverse possession of water rights)  Text   |    Summary

Buffalo Park Dev. Co. v. Mountain Mut. Reservoir Co., 195 P.3d 674 (Colo. 2008) (available unappropriated water)  Text   |    Summary

Bd. of County Comm'rs of County of Logan v. Vandemoer, 205 P.3d 423 (Colo. Ct. App. 2008) (problems with irrigation sprinklers)   Text

In re Tonko, 154 P.3d 397 (Colo. 2007) (condemnation of ditch right-of-way)   Text

In re Water Rights of Cent. Colo. Water Conservancy Dist., 147 P.3d 9 (Colo. 2006) (water appropriation could not be enlarged)   Text

Archuleta v. Gomez, 140 P.3d 281 (Colo. Ct. App. 2006) (jurisdiction of water court)   Text

Tatum v. People ex rel. Simpson, 122 P.3d 997 (Colo. 2005) (violation of statute requiring working headgate on irrigation ditch)   Text

High Plains A & M, LLC v. Se. Colo. Water Conservancy Dist., 120 P.3d 710 (Colo. 2005) (change in location of water right)   Text   |    Summary

ISG, LLC v. Ark. Valley Ditch Ass'n, 120 P.3d 724 (Colo. 2005) (change in use of water from irrigation to municipal)   Text   |    Summary

Ready Mixed Concrete Co. in Adam County v. Farmers Reservoir & Irrigation Co., 115 P.3d 638 (Colo. 2005) (dismissing change in water use application)   Text

E. Ridge of Fort Collins, LLC v. Larimer & Weld Irrigation, Co., 109 P.3d 969 (Colo. 2005) (interpretation of water rights contract)   Text

E. Twin Lake Ditches & Water Works, Inc. v. Bd. of County Comm'rs of Lake County, 76 P.3d 918 (Colo. 2003) (abandonment of water right)   Text

Simpson v. Bijou Irrigation Co., 69 P.3d 50 (Colo. 2003) (exceeding water rule power)   Text

E. Meadows Co., LLC v. Greeley Irrigation Co., 66 P.3d 214 (Colo. Ct. App. 2003) (overflow of irrigation's trash racks)   Text

In re Application for Water Rights in Rio Grande County, 53 P.3d 1165 (Colo. 2002) (change in point of diversion)   Text

Bd. of County Comm'rs of County of Park v. Park County Sportsmen's Ranch, LLP, 45 P.3d 693 (Colo. 2002) (storage of water in aquifer was not a trespass)  Text

GEORGIA

Tunison v. Harper, 690 S.E.2d 819 (Ga. 2010) (domestic and recreational use of water trumped agricultural use)  Text

HAWAI'I

Maui Tomorrow v. State, Bd. of Land & Natural Res. of State of Haw., 131 P.3d 517 (Haw. 2006) (attorney's fees)   Text

In re Water Use Applications, 93 P.3d 643 (Haw. 2004) (review of permit)   Text

In re Waiola O Molokai, Inc, 83 P.3d 664 (Haw. 2004) (review of ranch's new use application for groundwater)   Text

IDAHO

Lake CDA Investments v. Idaho Dep't of Lands, 233 P.3d 721 (Idaho 2010) (reach of state-owned highway easements)  Text

Nelson v. Big Lost River Irrigation Dist., 219 P.3d 804 (Idaho 2009) (requiring allocation of conveyance loss by universal shrink method)  Text

United States v. Pioneer Irrigation Dist., 157 P.3d 600 (Idaho 2007) (title to water held by irrigation districts)  Text   |    Summary

Lu Ranching Co. v. United States, 156 P.3d 590 (Idaho 2007) (priority dates for water rights)  Text

Am. Falls Reservoir Dist. No. 2 v. Idaho Dep't of Water Res., 154 P.3d 433 (Idaho 2007) (conjunctive management regulations not facially unconstitutional)   Text

Joyce Livestock Co. v. United States, 156 P.3d 502 (Idaho 2007) (priority date of stock watering appropriation)   Text

McKay v. Boise Project Bd. Control, 111 P.3d 148 (Idaho 2005) (flooding caused by irrigation ditch)  Text

Sagewillow, Inc. v. Idaho Dep't of Water Res., 70 P.3d 669 (Idaho 2003) (doctrine of resumption of use; forfeiting of water rights)  Text

Lu Ranching Co. v. United States, 67 P.3d 85 (Idaho 2003) (due process violation)   Text

INDIANA

Long v. IVC Indus. Coatings, Inc., 908 N.E.2d 697 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009) (was water "surface waters")  Text

KANSAS

Nelson v. Kansas Dep't of Agric., 242 P.3d 1259 (Kan. Ct. App. Nov. 19, 2010) (farmer's abandonment of water rights)

Nelson v. State Dep't of Agric., No. 102,695, 2010 WL 4674303 (Kan. Ct. App. Nov. 19. 2010) (rights of water use by alfalfa farmer)  Text

Frick Farm Props., L.P. v. Kansas, 216 P.3d 170 (Kan. 2009) (review of termination of water right)  >Text

Shipe v. Pub. Wholesale Water Supply Dist. No. 25, 210 P.3d 105 (Kan. 2009) (standing to challenge temporary easement to drill test wells on property; standing to challenge condemnation of groundwater rights)  Text

Frank v. Kan. Dep't of Agric., 198 P.3d 195 (Kan. Ct. App. 2009) (blocking of stream building groundwater pit)  Text

Frick Farm Prop., Ltd. P'ship v. Kan. Dep't of Agric., 190 P.3d 983 (Kan. Ct. App. 2008) (termination of water rights)  Text   |    Summary

Hawley v. Kan. Dep't of Agric., 132 P.3d 870 (Kan. 2006) (forfeiture statute; forfeiture of water right)   Text

LOUISIANA

Hamel's Farm, L.L.C. v. Muslow, 988 So.2d 882 (La. Ct. App. 2008) (ownership of lakebed)  Text   |    Summary

La. Purchase II Partners, LLC v. J & E P'ship, 834 So.2d 604 (La. Ct. App. 2002) (duty to provide irrigation water)   Text

MISSOURI

Citizens for Ground Water Prot. v. Porter, 275 S.W.3d 329 (Mo. Ct. App. 2008) (seeking injunction to prevent use of groundwater in ethanol production)  Text

Edmondson v. Edwards, 111 S.W.3d 906 (Mo. Ct. App. 2003) (reasonable use; denial of water for livestock)   Text

MONTANA

Hohenlohe v. State Dep't of Natural Res. and Conservation, 240 P.3d 628 (Mont. 2010) (review of denial of application for change of use of irrigation water rights)  Text

Northern Cheyenne Tribe v. Montana Dep't of Envtl. Quality, 234 P.3d 51 (Mont. 2010) (groundwater discharge from coal bed methane extraction activities)  Text

In re Kelly, 224 P.3d 640 (Mont. 2010) (senior water users challenging new use)  Text

Blacktail Mountain Ranch, Co. v. Dep't of Natural Res. & Conservation, 353 Mont. 149, 220 P.3d 388 (Mont. 2009) (revocation of water use permit)  Text

Tin Cup County Water &/or Sewer Dist. v. Garden City Plumbing & Heating, Inc., 200 P.3d 60 (Mont. 2008) (statute of limitations in breach of dam repair contract claim)  Text   |    Summary

Bitterroot River Prot. Ass'n v. Bitterroot Conservation Dist., 198 P.3d 219 (Mont. 2008) (review of determination of stream as natural or manmade)  Text   |    Summary

Kruer v. Three Creeks Ranch of Wy., L.L.C., 194 P.3d 634 (Mont. 2008) (enforcement of water rights settlement)  Text   |    Summary

Wills Cattle Co. v. Shaw, 167 P.3d 397 (Mont. 2007) (conveyance of water rights)  Text

Byrum v. Andren, 159 P.3d 1062 (Mont. 2007) (interference with water right)  Text

Petitioners I-549 v. Missoula Irrigation Dist., 111 P.3d 664 (Mont. 2005) (seeking exclusion from irrigation district)   Text

Geil v. Missoula Irrigation Dist., 96 P.3d 1127 (Mont. 2004) (seeking exclusion from irrigation district)   >Text

King v. Van Setten, No. 2004 MT 171N, 2004 WL 1447736 (Mont. June 29, 2004) (enjoining flood irrigation)   Summary

Hidden Hollow Ranch v. Fields, 92 P.3d 1185 (Mont. 2004) (violating court water decree)  Text

Geil v. Missoula Irrigation Dist., 59 P.3d 398 (Mont. 2002) (challenging irrigation district exclusion statute)  Text

In re Deadman's Basin Water Users Ass'n, 40 P.3d 387 (Mont. 2002) (jurisdiction of water courts)   Text

NEBRASKA

Cent. Neb. Pub. Power and Irr. Dist. v. N. Platte Nat. Res. Dist., 788 N.W.2d 252 (Neb. 2010) (denial of challenge to ground water appropriation by natural resources district)  Text

In re 2007 Admin. Of Appropriations of Water of Niobrara River, 768 N.W.2d 420 (Neb. 2009) (condemnation of water rights; administrative proceedings not moot)  Text

Babel v. Schmidt, 765 N.W.2d 227 (Neb. Ct. App. 2009) (ownership of riparian land; failure to prove avulsive event)  Text

Bihuniak v. Roberta Corrigan Farm, 757 N.W.2d 725 (Neb. Ct. App. 2008) (negligent flooding of neighbor's property)  Text

Koch v. Aupperle, 737 N.W.2d 869 (Neb. 2007) (denial of injunction to prevent upstream riparian owner from constructing dam)  Text

Crouse v. Pioneer Irrigation Dist., 719 N.W.2d 722 (Neb. 2006) (exclusion of land from irrigation district)   Text

In re Cent. Neb. Pub. Power & Irrigation Dist., 699 N.W.2d 372 (Neb. 2005) (jurisdiction of water agency)   Text

Spear T Ranch, Inc. v. Neb. Dep't of Natural Res., 699 N.W.2d 379 (Neb. 2005) (no duty by state to protect appropriations)   Text

Spear T Ranch, Inc. v. Knaub, 691 N.W.2d 116 (Neb. 2005) (conjunctive use)   Text

NEVADA

Great Basin Water Network v. State Eng'r, 234 P.3d 912 (Nev. 2010) (failure to review applications in a timely manner)  Text

NEW JERSEY

In re Agric., Aquacultural, & Horticultural Water Usage Certification Rules, 410 N.J.Super. 209, 981 A.2d 99 (challenging new water use regulations for agriculture)  Text

NEW MEXICO

Walker v. United States, 162 P.3d 882 (N.M. 2007) (property right in water under state law)  Text

Montgomery v. Lomos Altos, Inc., 150 P.3d 971 (N.M. 2006) (transfer of water rights)  Text

New Mexico ex rel. Office of State Eng'r v. Lewis, 150 P.3d 375 (N.M. 2006) (ratification of settlement agreement)  Text

Herrington v. New Mexico ex rel. Office of Eng'r, 133 P.3d 258 (N.M. 2006) (change of surface diversion to groundwater well)  Text

Turner v. Bassett, 111 P.3d 701 (N.M. 2005) (severance of water rights)   Text

OKLAHOMA

Heldermon v. Wright, 152 P.3d 855 (Okla. 2006) (requiring water agency to be notified to intervene in determination of rights in a stream)   Text   |    Summary

Jacobs Ranch, L.L.C. v. Smith, 148 P.3d 842 (Okla. 2006) (moratorium on out-of-basin transfers)   Text   |    Summary

OREGON

Klamath Irrigation Dist. v. United States, 227 P.3d 1145 (Or. 2010) (certified questions on beneficial use of water and recognition of property right)  Text

Klamath Irrigation Dist. v. United States, --- P.3d ---, 2010 WL 841320 (Or. 2010) (equitable property interest in water)  Text

Gienger v. Dep't of State Lands, 214 P.3d 75 (Or. Ct. App. 2009) (farmer was not exempt from state statute requiring permit before removing materials from bed and banks of creek)  Text

Fort Vannoy Irrigation Dist. v. Water Res. Comm'n, 188 P.3d 277 (Or. 2008) ("holder of water use")   Text

Orr v. E. Valley Water Dist., 125 P.3d 834 (Or. Ct. App. 2007) (denying exclusion from irrigation district)   Text

TEXAS

Save Our Spring Alliance, Inc. v. City of Dripping Springs, --- S.W3d ---, 2010 WL 521027 (Tex. App. 2010) (standing to challenge development that may add pollution to aquifer)

Save Our Springs Alliance, Inc. v. City of Dripping Springs, 2009 WL 1896070 (Tex. App. 2009), withdrawn, --- S.W3d ---, 2010 WL 521027 (standing to challenge development that may add pollution to aquifer)  Text

Edwards Aquifer Authority v. Day, 274 S.W.3d 742 (Tex. App. 2008) (distinction between groundwater and state water)  Text |    Summary

Brownsville Irrigation Dist. v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 264 S.W.3d 458 (Tex. App. 2008) (change in diversion point)  Text   |    Summary

Guitar Holding Co., L.P. v. Hudspeth County Underground Water Conservation Dist. No. 1, 263 S.W.3d 910 (Tex. 2008) (groundwater permits based on historic use; transfer permits)   Text

Castano v. San Felipe Agric., Mfg., & Irrigation Co., 147 S.W.3d 444 (Tex. App. 2004) (enforcement of water mediation settlement)  Text

UTAH

Bingham v. Roosevelt City Corp., 235 P. 3d 730 (Utah 2010) (city not liable for groundwater diversion that lowered water table and made soil less saturated for irrigation purposes)

Bingham v. Roosevelt City Corp., --- P.3d ----, 2010 WL 1929561 (Utah 2010) (suit against city for allegedly diverting groundwater)  Text

W. Water, LLC v. Olds, 184 P.3d 578 (Utah 2008) (salvage water; failure to exhaust remedies)   Text

U.S. Fuel Co. v. Huntington-Cleveland Irrigation Co., 79 P.3d 945 (Utah 2008) (quiet title in water rights)   Text

VIRGINIA

Mattaponi Indian Tribe v. Virginia, 72 Va. Cir. 444 (Va. Cir. Ct. 2007) (reserved water rights)

WASHINGTON

Hanson Indus. Inc. v. Kutschkau, 239 P.3d 367 (Wash. Ct. App. Sept. 16, 2010) (artificially stored water)  Text

Fitzpatrick v. Okanogan County, 238 P.3d 1129 (Wash. 2010) (property damage due to dike improvement by county that changed course of river)  Text

Pac. Land Partners, LLC v. Washington, Dep't of Ecology, 208 P.3d 586 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009) (relinquishing of surface water rights due to nonuse by previous owner)  Text

Kissler v. Buckland, 134 Wash. App. 1070 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006) (transfer of water rights)

City of W. Richland v. Dep't of Ecology, 103 P.3d 818 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004) (transfer of farm water permits)   Text

Willowbrook Farms LLP v. Dep't of Ecology, 66 P.3d 664 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003) (failure to claim entire water right)  Text

S. Naches Irrigation Dist. v. Brewer, 116 Wash.App. 1075 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003) (easement over property to maintain irrigation ditches)

Sunnyside Valley Irrigation Dist. v. Dickie, 73 P.3d 369 (Wash. 2003) (violation of irrigation easement)   Text

WYOMING

Kerbs v. Walck, 229 P.3d 974 (Wyo. 2010) (wrongful diversion of creek water)  Text

Velasquez v. Chamberlain, 209 P.3d 888 (Wyo. 2009) (damages caused by destruction of water pipeline)  Text

Lucky Gate Ranch, L.L.C. v. Baker & Assocs., Inc., 208 P.3d 57 (Wyo. 2009) (breach of engineering and survey services contract; switch from flood irrigation to center pivot)  Text

William F. West Ranch, LLC v. Tyrrell, 206 P.3d 722 (Wyo. 2009) (need to exhaust administrative remedies to challenge state engineer's administration of groundwater)  Text

Krenning v. Heart Mountain Irrigation Dist., 200 P.3d 774 (Wyo. 2009) (extension of governmental immunity to irrigation district)  Text   |    Summary

Reed v. Cloninger, 131 P.3d 359 (Wyo. 2006) (nuisance from irrigation flooding)  Text

Stutzman v. Office of Wyo. State Eng'r, 130 P.3d 470 (Wyo. 2006) (failure to file water claims by state engineer)   Text

Snider v. Kirchhefer, 115 P.3d 1 (Wyo. 2005) (abandonment of water right)   Text

Polo Ranch Co. v. City of Cheyenne, 61 P.3d 1255 (Wyo. 2003) (city's refusal to provide irrigation water)  Text

In re General Adjudication of All Rights to Use Water in Big Horn River System, 48 P.3d 1040 (Wyo. 2002) (due diligence in irrigating; Walton claims)   Text