Case ID: minn_164/html/0482-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Dibell, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

IN RE JUDICIAL DITCH NO. 9 IN NOBLES COUNTY.
    
    October 23, 1925.
    No. 24,671.
    Finding of fact that meandered lake will not be drained contrary to earlier decisions sustained by evidence.
    The evidence justifies the finding of the trial court that a proposed ditch will not damage a meandered lake and the order establishing the ditch is sustained.
    See Drains, 19 C. J. p. 662, § 113.
    Upon the relation oí the county of Jackson the supreme court granted its writ of certiorari directed to the district court for Nobles county, Nelson, J., to review an order of that court establishing Judicial Ditch No. 9.
    Order affirmed.
    
      B. E. Grottum and Haycraft & McGune, for relator.
    
      Wilson Borst and John Roberts, for respondents.
    
      
       Reported in 205 N. W. 442.
    
   Dibell, J.

Certiorari to review the order of the district court of the Thirteenth judicial district establishing a judicial ditch. .

This is the third effort, the first two unsuccessful, to drain a sub stantial area of wet lands in Nobles county lying west and nortl and northwest of Bound lake, a meandered body of water in Jack son county. The result of the first effort is found in State v. District Court, 146 Minn. 150, 178 N. W. 595. It was held that thi lake was of such character that it was not subject to drainage undelj the law, and the drainage project which contemplated draining iB was held unauthorized. The result of the second effort is found ill In re Judicial Ditch No. 9, 152 Minn. 544, 188 N. W. 321. ThH plan was to run the ditch south and east of the lake. It was hell that the proposed ditch would drain Bound lake and the establish ment of the ditch was not sustained. In this proceeding it is pr<| posed to run the ditch north of Bound lake and to the east, cutting through a watershed, and finally outletting into a judicial ditch in Jackson county. At a point to the north a branch is run to the lake. The plan is to have traps in this branch so that in times of flood the waters from the ditch may go into the lake and replenish it, and so that waters will not be allowed to come from the lake into the ditch.

Jackson county is the only relator and the question presented is whether the ditch will drain the lake. If it will, the project cannot be sustained.

Competent engineers testified. There is evidence that the proposed ditch will and there is evidence that it will not affect the lake. The trial court, familiar with drainage proceedings and in position to give proper weight to the testimony of the engineers, and with definite and particular knowledge as to the proposed ditch and its probable effect on Bound lake, finds that the lake will not’ be damaged. This finding, in view of the two cases cited, includes a finding that it will not be drained in a way held not permissible in our former decisions. The finding is one of ultimate fact, with evidence to sustain it, and under the familiar rule should not be disturbed by this court.

Order affirmed.