Opinion ID: 1865465
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: erroneous decision

Text: The Board determined, inter alia, that Landers' use of water by means of a series of low head dams, dikes, and levees, constitutes an unreasonable, inefficient and wasteful use of this state's water which deprives downstream landowners of water for domestic uses and thus interferes with vested rights. Landers contends that such determinations are clearly erroneous and a misinterpretation of South Dakota water law. We disagree. Our standard of review of administrative agency decisions is outlined in Kienast v. Sioux Valley Co-op, 371 N.W.2d 337 (S.D. 1985), and Stavig v. South Dakota Highway Patrol, 371 N.W.2d 166 (S.D.1985), and need not be reiterated herein. To support his contention that the Board misinterpreted and misapplied South Dakota water law, Landers now contends that Black Banks Creek is a dry draw across which he may construct dams. See SDCL 46-4-1. Landers personally testified, however, that Black Banks Creek is not a dry draw. It is settled law in South Dakota that a party to a lawsuit cannot claim the benefit of a version of relevant facts more favorable to his own contentions than he has given in his own testimony. Connelly v. Sherwood, 268 N.W.2d 140, 141 (S.D. 1978). See also, Swee v. Myrl & Roy's Paving, Inc., 283 N.W.2d 570 (S.D.1979), and Drier v. Perfection, Inc., 259 N.W.2d 496 (S.D.1977). Thus, Landers cannot advance his misinterpretation/misapplication of the law contention on the basis of Black Banks Creek being a dry draw. As for Landers' contention that the Board's decision is clearly erroneous, we disagree. SDCL 46-5-2 provides: Any person owning land through which any nonnavigable stream passes, may construct and maintain a dam across such nonnavigable stream if the course of the water is not changed, vested rights are not interfered with, and no land flooded other than that belonging to the owner of such dam or upon which an easement for such purpose has been secured. Here, the record reveals that after the construction of 35 dams by Landers, on the north and south branches of Black Banks Creek, downstream water rights were interfered with. Romey, the adjacent property owner, did not have enough water for calving season and he lost an alfalfa seed crop. Vested rights include use for domestic purposes, SDCL 46-1-9(2), and livestock watering is a domestic use. SDCL 46-1-6(4). Water does not flow as it did before the construction of these dams and the dams interfere with downstream irrigators. Pictures introduced in evidence reflect on May 12, 1982, a great amount of water impounded behind the structures on Landers' property, whereas in comparison, there is a small amount trickling down to Romey's land. Upon a review of the record, we cannot say the Board's decision is clearly erroneous. Having interfered with vested rights, Landers may not maintain his present system of dams. We therefore affirm the Judgment from which Landers appeals. This does not mean, however, that on-channel dams are prohibited or that Landers is precluded from constructing future dams which do not interfere with vested rights and comply with all relevant statutes and regulations. On the contrary, on-channel dams are statutorily approved, see SDCL ch. 46-4. Affirmed. FOSHEIM, C.J., and WUEST, J., concur.