Opinion ID: 1224377
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Role of Arizona Department of Water Resources

Text: ¶ 45 Section 45-256(B) provides that DWR's report shall list all information that is obtained by the director and that reasonably relates to the water right claim or use investigated. The report must also include the director's proposed water right attributes for each water right claim or use investigated. If no water right finding is proposed, DWR's report shall so indicate. Objections are permitted, but they must specifically address DWR's recommendations. Objections not in compliance must be dismissed with prejudice. ¶ 46 We follow Judge Bolton's analysis and uphold § 45-256(B). DWR has considerable expertise in the investigation and reporting of water rights, claims, and uses. See San Carlos II, 144 Ariz. at 279, 697 P.2d at 672 (noting that DWR's most important task is to provide technical assistance during adjudication proceedings). In preparing hydrographic survey reports (HSRs), DWR conducts an extensive historical review of all water right claims and uses, performs field investigations, and reviews appropriate treaties, filings, and all other documentation of the water right, claim, or use. Unlike the sections discussed above, § 45-256(B) does not dictate DWR's findings or require the court to accept or decree its HSR. But when DWR's investigation discloses water right attributes, or their absence, DWR is allowed to make the appropriate recommendation. This type of quasi-judicial function is constitutionally permitted of agencies such as DWR, so long as judicial review is permitted. See, e.g., Cactus Wren Partners v. Arizona Dep't of Bldg. & Fire Safety, 177 Ariz. 559, 562-64, 869 P.2d 1212, 1215-17 (App. 1994) (holding that department's hearing and resolving of landlord/tenant disputes does not usurp judicial authority so long as judicial review is available as critical check on administrative power). We realize in this case DWR is acting as a technical advisor and not as an administrative agency, but we believe the concerns are similar. Under § 45-256(B), claimants are permitted to file timely, specific written objections to DWR's recommendations and have a fair and reasonable opportunity to present evidence supporting or opposing the recommendations. The final adjudication still resides in the court. So long as DWR and the court are not required to make predetermined factual findings or decree certain rights, the statute does not violate due process or separation of powers. ¶ 47 New subsections (C), (D), (E), (F), and (G), which concern the evidentiary use of parts of the HSR, have also been added to § 45-256. If the claim or use described in the report is 500 acre-feet or less, the information describing that water right claim shall be summarily admitted into evidence, and in the absence of conflicting evidence, the report's proposed attributes are to be deemed correct and incorporated into the decree. If conflicting evidence is presented, however, DWR's proposed attributes are given the weight deemed appropriate by the master and the court. If the claim or use described in the report is more than 500 acre-feet, the HSR shall not be summarily admitted into evidence or given any presumption of correctness. Those portions of the report that do not contain DWR's recommendations are not summarily admitted, though they may be offered in evidence if relevant. ¶ 48 We have already determined that separation of powers principles prevent the Legislature from directing that the court decree certain facts or water right attributes without any opportunity for review. Thus, those provisions of § 45-256(D) that require the director's proposed attributes to be deemed correct and incorporated into the decree cannot be upheld. The remaining portions of § 45-256(C), (D), (E), (F), and (G) are valid because they do not mandate a particular conclusion by the court; thus the evidentiary admission of the HSR for the court's consideration is a lawful exercise of legislative power in this statutorily created action. See Seidel, 142 Ariz. at 591, 691 P.2d at 682 (under some circumstances, court will recognize reasonable and workable statutory rules that do not conflict with judicial rules of evidence or procedure). The HSR may be admitted in evidence under the conditions stated in § 45-256(C) through (G) and given whatever weight, if any, the court deems appropriate.