Opinion ID: 2547313
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: ¶ 1 State Engineer Jerry D. Olds (the State Engineer) filed this interlocutory appeal challenging the district court's conclusion that the Green River Canal Company (GRCC) filed, in 1973, a timely objection to the Proposed Determination of Water Rights in the Price River and Lower Green River Drainage. To determine whether GRCC's 1973 objection was timely, we must decide whether section 73-4-11 of the Utah Code mandates that the state engineer serve proposed determinations of water rights only by regular mail or whether it allows personal service. Additionally, we must determine whether section 73-4-10 allows a district court overseeing a general adjudication of water rights to retroactively extend the time period in which objections can be filed. ¶ 2 In the proceedings below, the district court held that personal service of proposed determinations failed to meet statutory requirements. On the basis of that conclusion, the court imposed an equitable remedy that treated GRCC's 1973 objection as timely. This result made it unnecessary for the court to address GRCC's argument that section 73-4-10 allows for retroactive extensions to the objection time period. We find the district court's analysis unpersuasive and conclude that the state engineer may provide water claimants personal service of proposed determinations without offending section 73-4-11. That conclusion renders GRCC's 1973 objection untimely. However, we conclude that the district court may grant GRCC a retroactive extension if GRCC can show due cause excusing its late objection. Because our conclusion renders the district court's equitable remedy improper, we reverse and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.