Opinion ID: 380389
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Dead Storage

Text: 11 The primary issue on appeal is whether the dead storage water in the Lake Cle Elum Reservoir is covered by the 1945 consent decree. Dead storage capacity is defined as that volume of a reservoir below the level of the lowest outlet. Dead storage water then is water that cannot be drained by gravity flow through outlets. 7 Waters and Water Rights 276 (Clark ed. 1976). 12 Under the consent decree, the total water supply available is defined as that amount of water available in any year from natural flow of the Yakima River, and its tributaries, from storage in various Government reservoirs on the Yakima watershed and from other sources to supply the contract obligations of the United States to deliver water and to supply claimed rights to the use of water on the Yakima River, and its tributaries, heretofore recognized by the United States. (Record at p. 170). This definition of total water supply available does not explicitly deal with the dead storage water. However, since the definition could be fairly construed to either include or exclude dead storage water, it was subject to construction by the district court. See, U. S. v. ITT Continental Baking Co., 420 U.S. 223, 233-238, 95 S.Ct. 926, 932-935, 43 L.Ed.2d 148 (1975). 13 In construing a consent decree, its scope must be discerned within its four corners. U. S. v. Armour & Co., 402 U.S. 673, 682, 91 S.Ct. 1752, 1757, 29 L.Ed.2d 256 (1971). However, a consent decree is in many ways like a contract and a court may consider surrounding circumstances as aids in construing the consent decree. U. S. v. ITT Continental Baking Co., 420 U.S. at 238, 95 S.Ct. at 935. 14 In interpreting contracts, factual findings of relevant surrounding circumstances are reviewed under the clearly erroneous standard. However, interpretation of the contract is a matter of law and is reviewable as such. Libby, McNeil and Libby v. City National Bank, 592 F.2d 504, 512 (9th Cir. 1978); see Republic Pictures Corp. v. Rogers, 213 F.2d 662, 664-665 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 348 U.S. 858, 75 S.Ct. 83, 99 L.Ed. 676 (1954). The same standard of review will be applied here to the district court's construction of the consent decree. 15 Before, during and after the filing of the consent decree, the only waters that had been put to beneficial use were waters that were made available through gravity flow. No beneficial use had been made of the dead storage water. It was not until 1977, when the United States installed pumps on the Lake Cle Elum Reservoir, that the availability of dead storage water for beneficial use became a reality. 16 Recognizing these facts, the district court, in its Memorandum and Order of July 13, 1978, determined that the withdrawal of dead storage waters from Lake Cle Elum was not within the contemplation of the parties when the 1945 decree was entered. (Record at 514). The consent decree was thus interpreted to exclude the dead storage water from its coverage. We find no error in the district court's reasonable interpretation of the consent decree and we affirm.