Opinion ID: 2320694
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Drainage Easement

Text: [¶ 17] Easements are presumed to be appurtenant if there is a dominant tenement and there is nothing to show that the parties intended the easement to be personal. See Anchors, 1998 ME 152, ¶ 10, 714 A.2d at 138. Unlike the utility easement, the dominant tenement with respect to the drainage easement is Coulthard Farms. The drainage easement benefits many lots in Coulthard Farms via the swales that create a controlled pathway for surface water runoff through the development. In the absence of these swales, the lots in Coulthard Farms may become eroded or flooded with surface waters. Paragraph five of the restrictive covenant within the deeds to Coulthard Farms provides support for the view that the drainage easement benefits the Coulthard subdivision: 5. Surface Water. No owner of a lot, his agents or employees shall alter the natural course of surface water on any lot in a way which would materially alter the natural flow of such water across any other lot unless such alteration is approved by the owners of all lots affected. This provision shall not be construed to prevent the proper improvements or maintenance of drainage easements shown on said plan. [¶ 18] The reference to the drainage easement in a restrictive covenant that is to run with the land and the drainage easement's important benefit to the Coulthard Farms lots confirm its status as an appurtenant easement. Accordingly, we affirm the Superior Court's determination that the drainage easement is appurtenant to Coulthard Farms and may not be used by ALC for the benefit of the Wiley Farms property.