Document: 514 U.S. 673115 S.Ct. 1733131 L.Ed.2d 759 STATE OF KANSAS, Plaintiffv.STATE COLORADO. No. 105, Orig. Supreme Court of the United States Argued March 21, 1995. Decided May 15, Syllabus * Kansas and Colorado negotiated Arkansas River Compact to settle disputes remove causes future controversies over river's waters equitably divide apportion those benefits arising from States' construction, operation, maintenance John Martin Reservoir. Under Article IV-D, is not intended impede or prevent beneficial development—including construction dams reservoirs prolonged improved functioning existing works—provided that such development does "materially deplet[e]" stateline flows "in usable quantity availability for use." In this action, Special Master recommended Court, among other things, find post-Compact well pumping in has resulted a violation IV-D Compact; failed prove operation Colorado's Winter Water Storage Program (WWSP) violates dismiss Kansas' claim failure abide by Trinidad Reservoir Operating Principles (Operating Principles) Compact. Both have filed exceptions. Held: The exceptions are overruled. Pp. __. (a) permits projects so long as their result material depletion flow users. exception dismissal its fails because established obey violation. (b) Because meet burden proving WWSP despite being given every reasonable opportunity do Master, there no support Master's conclusion on claim. (c) selecting what method should be used determine depletions "usable" flow, properly rejected Spronk method—which proposes correct —as less compatible with hydrological model than ultimately adopted Master. (d) ruling laches bar well-pumping claim, it necessary decide whether doctrine applies case involving enforcement an interstate compact lacked due diligence bringing errs arguing officials had sufficient evidence about increased existed 1956. available through 1985 was vague conflicting. (e) This disagrees both legal factual claims raises finding limits annual pre-Compact wells 15,000 acre feet, highest amount actually pumped years. object replacement pumps argument limit maximum possible using prior Regardless parties' subsequent practice, improvements clearly fall within IV-D's prohibition. making determination feet per year appropriate limit, relied reports Geological Survey Legislature, since been State Engineer. (f) agrees 1980 Plan (Plan) separately bargained thus raised were settlement claims. state cause changes regime, expressly reserves rights under (g) concluded that, regardless proof applied clear convincing preponderance evidence, caused river Thus, need resolve issue exception: standard. P. 20. Exceptions overruled, remanded. 1 REHNQUIST, C.J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. 2 B. Draper, Santa Fe, NM, plaintiff. 3 David Willis Robbins, Denver, CO, defendant. 4 Jeffrey Minear, Washington, DC, 5 Chief Justice REHNQUIST 6 original action involves dispute Kansas, Colorado, alleged violations report (Report) detailing his findings recommendations concerning liability phase trial. recommendations. We agree disposition issues. Accordingly, we overrule 7 Continental Divide begins at Canadian border mountains northwestern Montana. From there, angles southeast Montana Wyoming until enters Colorado. It then runs roughly south following first crest Front Range Rocky Mountains, shifting slightly west follow Sawatch Range. rises east side Divide, between Climax Leadville, Thence Oklahoma, Arkansas, emptying into Mississippi River, which turn Gulf Mexico. As if ridge separates them indeed short distance away source thence southwest Utah, Arizona, finally empties Baja California. 8 steep gradient Canon City, whence turns Royal Gorge. Gorge, some points half mile below summit bordering cliffs. descends gradually high plains eastern western Kansas; elevation Colorado-Kansas 3,350 feet. makes great bend northward southeasterly northeastern Oklahoma across Arkansas. covers 1,450 miles Rockies point southeastern where River. fourth longest States, drains area 185,000 square miles. 9 Europeans see members expedition Francisco Coronado, course search fabled Southern Cities Cibola. 1541, they crossed near now border. One later, Hernando DeSoto would 1,000 downstream mouth. borders Louisiana Purchase, acquired France 1803, included most, all, drainage basin. Zebulon Pike, 1805-1806, he sighted mountain peak named after him, traveled up C. Freemont traversed direction 1843-1844. 10 Today, Kerr McClellan Project, navigable ocean going vessels all way mouth Tulsa, Oklahoma. unique pronunciation name State. pronounced but Ar-KAN-sas. 11 reach system here fertile agricultural region extends Pueblo, Garden Kansas. developed 23 major canal companies companies, divert surface distribute individual farmers. Report 35-38. Also relevant dispute, constructed three large water storage Id., 43-48. Reservoir, located 60 border, authorized Congress 1936, 49 Stat. 1570, completed 1948. largest federal reservoirs, initially capacity 700,000 acre-feet.1 45. Pueblo 150 1962, substantially 1975. 44. 1977, estimated 357,000 acre-feet. Ibid. Finally, Purgatoire (a tributary River) approved 1958, 1977. 43. total 114,000 12 Twice before century, litigated regarding respective See v. 206 46, 27 655, 51 L.Ed. 956 (1907); 320 383, 64 176, 88 116 (1943). suit, denied request enjoin diversions insufficient warrant injunctive relief. supra, U.S., 114-117, S.Ct., 674-676. second sought lower court litigation brought against users, while equitable apportionment 388-389, 178-179. granted injunction, entitled apportionment. 400, 184. suggested differences negotiation agreement, pursuant Clause Constitution. 392, 180. Const., Art. I, § 10, cl. 3. 13 1949, years negotiations, approved, ratified, (Compact). 63 145; also 5-6; App. 1-17 (reprinting text Compact). VIII creates Administration (Administration) vests power responsibility administering 11-15. composed nonvoting presiding officer designated President voting representatives each Each one vote, decision, authorization, requires vote. 12-13 (Article VIII-D). 14 Compact's primary purposes "[s]ettle controversy . River" "[e]quitably apportion" "as Reservoir." 1-2 (Articles I-A, I-B). provision most states: 15 "This basin Federal agencies, private enterprise, combinations thereof, may involve dams, reservoir, works utilization control, works: Provided, shall materially depleted use users construction." (emphasis added). 16 1983, conducted independent investigation impact increases two reservoirs. 9-10. December 1985, 10. leave file complaint, 475 1079, 106 1454, 89 712 (1986), appointed Judge Wade H. McCree, Jr., serve 478 1018, 3330, 92 736 (1986). Upon McCree's death, Arthur L. Littleworth 484 910, 108 254, 98 212 (1987). 17 advanced principle claims, 58. First, groundwater adoption significant decline River's Second, claimed (WWSP)—a program whereby Bureau Reclamation Department Interior (Bureau Reclamation) excess store portion winter River—violates Third, constituted 18 bifurcated trial remedy phase. At phase, Report, outlining recommended, Court: (1) depleted" (stateline) Compact, 336; (2) "Kansas [WWSP] violated [C]ompact," ibid.; (3) "dismiss Reservoir," ibid.2 19 Report. excepts rejection id., 373-433; 306-335; preferred determining usability flows, 291-305. that: guilty inexcusable delay prejudiced delay, 147-170; limited during acre-feet year, 182-200; resulting operating plan (1980 Plan) "separately for" and, therefore, offset 171-181; (4) only "preponderance evidence" standard breach 65-70. 20 II A. 21 dam reservoir upstream city Trinidad, 382-388. Recognizing prohibited any studies Project. 388-390. Project could administered "without adverse effect inflow 390 (internal quotation marks omitted). Governor reviewed Reclamation's proposed indicated five additional conditions accepted, position approve amended completion project." 392-393. June 1967, conditions. 395. 22 1979, began 396. immediately complained violated. 397. 1988, Administration, study practices " 'departure intent principles.' trial, argued binding departure "regardless injury." 408 however, "offered apart studies, show actual project receive historical, without-project conditions." 412. Instead, quantify "comparing 'as occurred operations.' 409. order required demonstrate "the operations meaning IV-D." 431. recommends established, did attempt establish, 24 argues "[d]eparture ipso facto [is] entirely sufficient, quantifying violation, compare simulated Principles." 12. But, must recalled, enforce terms Compact.3 provides basin—including —provided depleted. For prevail contention, amending granting either party right sue even though stateline. Although empowered "[p]rescribe procedures administration th[e] Compact," VIII-B(2)), "consistent provisions ibid. VIII-B(1)) added); 416 ("[T]he delegated change Compact"). theory advocated inconsistent allows resultant 25 Thus establish based upon Principles, IV-D. "has B 26 1964, planning winter-time times. WWSP, flow—much previously flood uncultivated cropland—is instead stored contends erred flows. disagree. concluded: 28 proved Stateline depletions. helped own contradictions impacts ranging 255,000 initially, 44,000 40,000; nor fact essentially eliminated accretions taken account." 335. 29 examined computer models submitted determined shown model's range error." 334-335. result, "[o]ne [could not] sure error [was] shown." 30 believe gave Therefore, C 31 along Basin provided deplete availability." IV-D) flow. define term "usable." Cf. 396-397, 182 ("The critical matter divertible times when needed irrigation. Calculations average include are, helpful ascertaining dependable supply irrigation"). presented methods 32 expert, Timothy J. Durbin, analyzed data period 1951 plotting 293-294. Using these data, Durbin criteria usable. summer months, April October, 78% diverted; greater 40,000 acre- month usable; 140,000 whole 293. With respect November March, 24% 7,500 33 After isolated errors Durbin's analysis, case. group experts, led Stephen Larson, same methodology revised certain exhibits made minor corrections data. Larson modified coefficients, 72% months 25% months. 295. 34 Later, begun, enlisted aid Brent Spronk, who yet another 300-305. attempted "percentage days fully Kansas." 301. Instead seasonal averages, approach yielded coefficients varied month. multiplied monthly predicted model. 301-302. 35 approach, Larson's best several flow" "a flow." 305. agree. calculating steps: calculation model, application "usability" criteria. Brief Response 30. dependent estimate predict accurately 303. But testified, 'good predictor' 'looking periods time.' 303, n. 130 (quoting testimony). hydrologic something designed do, i.e., basis. 303 analysis assumes H-I can basis"). proposed, conclude favor coefficients. III 36 press earlier. 170. excepted determination. (Colorado's Exceptions) 24-64. exception. 37 defense "requires lack whom asserted, prejudice asserting defense." Costello 365 265, 282, 81 534, 543, 551 (1961); Black's Law Dictionary 875 (6th ed. 1990) (" 'Doctrine laches,' maxim equity aids vigilant slumber rights. defined neglect assert which, together lapse time circumstances causing party, operates equity"). compact. Illinois Kentucky, 500 380, 388, 111 1877, 1883, 114 420 (1991) (in context boundary generally inapplicable State"); Block North Dakota, 461 273, 294, 103 1811, 1823, 75 840 (1983) (O'Connor, J., dissenting) common law accepted 'nullum tempus occurrit regi'—neither statutes limitations will sovereign"); 394, 181 suit seeking facts demonstrating filing complaint "might preclude award relief [requested]. event, gravely add [the plaintiff] otherwise bear"). not, foreclose applicability cases, element recognition defense. Costello, 543. 38 knew known 1956, latest, 1968, number substantially. 37, 39. 1956 information potential call existed. 46. 39 1984, formal 155-156. Nevertheless, "deal Stateline," 161, "not officials] aware wells, extent pumping, flows," 164. explained difficulty assessing changing 1970's early 1980's: 40 "The 1970s dry reduction expected. Dam came line 1976 regulate native Transmountain imports increased, pumping. placed effect, alleges instituted. Moreover, quantitative specific entitlement judged. Nor agreed establishing usable." 162-163. 41 late refused permit produced 'suggest flows.' 163 memorandum Mr. William McDonald, chief delegation Administration). light conflicting diligence, part 42 43 prohibits "future basin" deplete[s]" existence parties allowable 182. allowance. "highest namely acre-feet, allowed [C]ompact." 200. challenge 66-73, 73-84. 44 years; rather, permitted 69-70. position, consider practice parties, centrifugal turbine VI-A(2) supports position.4 45 language refutes challenge. availability. ." falls prohibition "improved works," results "materia[l] deplet[ions] usable" Ibid.; Texas New Mexico, 462 554, 564, 2558, 2565, 77 ("[U]nless consented somehow unconstitutional, express terms"). phrase, "Except provided," read conjunction "new pumps, [pre-Compact] come [Article IV-D]." 194. 46 unreasonably faulty (USGS) Legislature greatest 73-74. 47 "There precise answer That simply remain affected general allocation states [C]ompact negotiated. Two responsible reports, published USGS prepared legislature, reached similar conclusions amounts 1940s. They I recommend 199-200. 48 ultimate deciding remains 467 310, 317, 104 2433, 2438, 247 (1984), instance, full agreement 1980, resolution Plan). 47. divides conserved separate accounts. allocated 40% conservation storage, remaining 60% divided specified percentages nine District 67. 173. therefore 180-181. takes ruling. 50 85. maintains "for more efficient control regime River," 91, "including [post-Compact] Kansas," 107 (Resolution Concerning Reservoir) ("WHEREAS, recognizes present features control"). acknowledges, adopting "does River." 88. fact, brief 1984." 32. stating "[a]doption ability ditch represent interest cases competent jurisdiction." 116. 52 for. There received ample consideration without waiver violations, case." 53 D 54 evidence. 91. relying Nebraska Wyoming, 507 ----, 113 1689, 123 317 (1993), proper enforcing 70. noted drawn distinction actions "modify" judicial decree "enforce" decree. Nebraska, 1695. ("[W]e merit [the] contention seeks modification rather enforcement, higher applies"). stood footing decree, subject 55 issue. applies" "no concluding ha[d] Compact." 263. determination, IV 56 reasons, remand unresolved issues manner opinion. 57 ordered. syllabus constitutes Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Lumber Co., 200 321, 337, 287, 499. An acre-foot equivalent 325,900 gallons water; represents volume cover land foot water. xvii. counterclaims grant motions counterclaims. 337. adopt address question is, third beneficiary repayment contract, otherwise." 408, 6. view question. provides: provided, nothing construed supplanting appropriators said decreed courts interfering distribution curtailing diversion irrigation

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