Opinion ID: 2602225
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Can Walton Claimants Rely Upon the Wind River Irrigation Project as Evidence of Diligence?

Text: [¶ 10] Federal reserved water rights were appurtenant to the allotments when they were sold, and the unsuccessful claimants argued they should be allowed to retain those rights because the properties were irrigated within a reasonable time and with due diligence through the federal government's development of the Wind River Irrigation Project. They contend the district court erred when it concluded as a matter of law they could not rely upon the construction of the Wind River Irrigation Project as evidence of due diligence. [¶ 11] The district court's order rejecting the unsuccessful claimants' claims as a matter of law because they relied upon completion of the irrigation project seems misguided for several reasons. First, the federal law of reserved rights relies upon the reasonable diligence standard established in state prior appropriation law to determine the validity of Walton right claims, and reliance upon the irrigation project met that standard. Second, as a matter of law, the doctrine of relation back deems irrigation commenced in 1905 upon the filing of the permit applications, and this legal fiction is capable of constituting diligent exploitation of the reserved rights. If the claimants are legally considered to have commenced appropriation in 1905, they were appropriating water in the eyes of the law when they acquired the allotments. Third, the evidence is undisputed that the irrigation project's proponents recognized the value of the Indian water rights and acted on behalf of the landowners, both Indian and non-Indian, to insure state law was followed to protect those rights. As a matter of law, development of the project can be considered as having been done on behalf of the allottees and their successors. Fourth, Wyoming law is clear that irrigation projects such as this are favored, and the courts have allowed significant time for such projects to be completed while protecting the water rights upon which they rely. Finally, equitable treatment of all the Walton claimants demands that those who acquired their lands early should not be penalized for that fact when claimants who acquired their lands later demonstrated no more diligence and relied on the irrigation project in the same fashion. While we agree with the arguments of the Indian tribes and the federal government that Walton rights must be narrowly construed, that is so because of the disruptive impact of reserved rights on the administration of water rights in general. The fact is, the courts have created these rights and established the rules for determining their scope. Now, we are bound to apply those rules with reason and fairness.