Opinion ID: 1913609
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Interference with Senior Surface Water Rights

Text: The director found, under § 46-2,115(3), that CPNRD's instream appropriations would not interfere with any senior surface water appropriation. Wyoming correctly notes that CPNRD has the burden of establishing noninterference. See § 46-209. Wyoming contends that CPNRD failed to present evidence of noninterference and that therefore the director could not have found noninterference. The Court of Appeals found that the director's decision was supported by two pieces of evidence: exhibit 54, showing the senior appropriators and their respective priority dates, and a statutory declaration, see § 46-2,119, that instream appropriations are subject to the doctrine of prior appropriation. With somewhat different reasoning, we find that the director's decision is supported by competent evidence. Section 46-2,108 defines an instream appropriation as the undiverted application of the waters of a natural stream within or bordering upon the state for recreation or fish and wildlife purposes. An instream appropriation contrasts with a stream diversion; the former leaves the water in the stream, while the latter takes water out of the stream. An instream appropriation essentially sets minimum flow levels which must be met before junior appropriators can begin to divert water from the stream. Interference with senior water rights occurs when a junior appropriator's use deprives the senior appropriator of some part of his allotment. See State, ex rel. Cary, v. Cochran, 138 Neb. 163, 292 N.W. 239 (1940). Because an instream appropriation leaves the water in the stream, an instream appropriation does not create a physical interference with a senior appropriation right. In addition, to the extent that an instream appropriation is junior to other appropriations, an instream appropriation does not create a legal interference with a senior appropriation right. The issue then becomes how an applicant can establish noninterference. We find that an applicant can establish noninterference by showing that the sought-after appropriation meets the definition of an instream flow appropriation. That is, the applicant must establish that the appropriation will be (1) an undiverted application (2) of the waters of a natural stream within or bordering upon the state (3) for recreation or fish and wildlife purposes. See § 46-2,108. In the present case, there is no dispute regarding any of these three elements. First, CPNRD's applications do not propose any diversion of water from the Platte River. Second, the reaches identified in the applications on appeal are parts of the Platte, undeniably a natural stream within the state. Third, the purpose of the applications is to maintain various types of existing wildlife habitats. We conclude that CPNRD has established that its instream appropriation will not interfere with other senior surface water appropriations.