Opinion ID: 1913609
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Ground Water Depletion

Text: Wyoming next argues that the director should have adjusted the historic flow amounts by subtracting future and current ground water depletion. Ground water depletion, in this context, concerns wells which drain water from the aquifer. The aquifer, in turn, is recharged by the river. As a result of this depletion and recharging, the flows in the stream may be reduced. At the hearing, Wyoming offered the testimony of Vern Hinckley, a hydrogeologist. Hinckley reviewed a number of studies regarding future ground water depletion. These studies were predicated on varying projections regarding the extent of future ground water development. Based on his review of the studies, Hinckley offered his opinion that future ground water depletions will reduce the flows in the Platte River by 100 to 200 cfs. However, on cross-examination, Hinckley admitted that he had not made any effort to compare the studies' projections with actual ground water development. The director's opinion does not discuss ground water depletion. The Court of Appeals affirmed the director's decision, reasoning that the director, as fact finder, was entitled to determine the weight given to expert testimony. We find that the Court of Appeals reached the correct result for the wrong reason. To put this argument into perspective, we reiterate that the central issue is the proper definition of unappropriated water. Relying on Hinckley's testimony, Wyoming suggests in essence that ground water withdrawn from wells which are recharged by the Platte constitutes appropriated water. We disagree. We have faced this issue once before. In Long Pine Creek, the objectors raised the possibility of future ground water depletion. Based on the evidence then presented, we found that sufficient water existed in the creek to meet the application despite the possibility of increased ground water withdrawals. We reserved the question of whether the statute requires a finding that the availability of water for the instream appropriation will not be adversely affected by subsequent events. Long Pine Creek, 236 Neb. at 694, 463 N.W.2d at 607. We now answer the question reserved in Long Pine Creek by holding that the statute does not require the director to consider future ground water depletion. To the extent that ground water will be withdrawn in the future, this ground water remains, at the present, unappropriated water. In part II(1)(a)(i) of this opinion, we held that for purposes of an instream flow application, surface water which had not been diverted from the Platte River for a beneficial use constituted unappropriated water. It logically follows that ground water which has not been removed also constitutes unappropriated water. We therefore hold that the director was not obliged to reduce the historic flow records to account for future ground water depletions. To the extent that ground water is currently being withdrawn and recharged by the Platte, the ground water depletion is accounted for by the historic flow records. Hinckley testified that ground water depletion is not always immediately reflected by the level of flow; the depletion and recharge occur over a period of time, which can be as long as 17 years. Other than these general statements, however, there is no specific evidence establishing any depletions for which the historic flow records have failed to account. There is no evidence, in other words, that the historic flow records are inaccurate with respect to current ground water depletion. The director therefore did not err in relying on the historic flow records to account for current ground water depletion. We note that the relative rights of those using ground water and those using surface water are often unclear. The courts can begin to give outlines and shape to these rights, but only in a case-by-case, piecemeal fashion, and only when those rights are brought into direct conflict. Wyoming's evidence regarding ground water depletion does not establish a direct conflict, but, rather, an anticipated conflict. This anticipated conflict is best resolved by the policy-based decisionmaking process that is the province of our Legislature. In fact, the Legislature has recently created a system whereby public water suppliersmunicipalities, water districts, irrigation districts, and the likecan apply for appropriation rights and thus secure their priority. See 1993 Neb.Laws, L.B. 301. It is the Legislature, and not the courts, which can paint a water rights picture with broad strokes and bold colors. It is to the Legislature that Wyoming must direct its argument regarding future ground water depletion.