Opinion ID: 380389
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Withdrawal of Dead Storage Water

Text: 18 The district court was aware that the withdrawal of the dead storage water could adversely affect the rights of the users under the 1945 consent decree. The district court, in administering the consent decree, therefore, set out procedures for the withdrawal of the dead storage water. The procedures were designed to protect parties to the consent decree from interference with their rights to the use or the delivery of those quantities of water which are recognized under the consent decree. 2 (Record at 172). 19 The only issue raised regarding those procedures relates to the authority granted to the watermaster in monitoring the withdrawals. Appellees Union Gap Irrigation District and Yakima Valley Canal Company voice concern that the authority granted to the watermaster is too broad. While we do not believe that the watermaster's authority is too broad, we emphasize that the discretion the watermaster has in monitoring and allowing the withdrawal of the dead storage water is limited by the priority rights under the consent decree and is subject to the supervision of the district court. The district court's order is thus 20 AFFIRMED.