Opinion ID: 877976
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: district court's findings

Text: Are the District Court's findings supported by substantial evidence? Few cases that have reached this Court have had a longevity period greater than this case. Factwise it goes back to the decision of the federal government to build a dam in the early 1930s and to investigations made by federal and state agencies even prior to that time to prepare factual information on the feasibility of Kerr Dam. As previously noted, construction began in the early 1930s and ended in 1939, at which time appellant took over the operation of the dam. The respondents first noted a change in their land and complained to the appellant in 1941. A twenty-year period went by before a complaint was finally filed for the damages to the property. The files herein are numerous and the exhibits extensive. The trial court, facing the problem brought about by the case, bifurcated the the issues. In the first two-week trial, the court found Montana Power liable for damages to the Blasdel property. A second two-week trial established the extent of damages and just compensation. Montana Power appeals. This Court has had to consider a transcript of 2,670 pages, court files dating back to the early 1960s, and numerous exhibits. From all this, it can be seen that it has been a period of conflict for all parties involved. It is natural that there is a conflict of views on the evidence presented to the trial court upon which it made its decision. This Court's standard of review is whether the findings of fact and conclusions of law are supported by substantial evidence. See, Kearns v. McIntyre Const. Co. (1977), 173 Mont. 239, 567 P.2d 433. The evidence must be reviewed in a light most favorable to the prevailing party in the District Court. Johnson v. Johnson (1977), 172 Mont. 94, 560 P.2d 1331. Rule 52(a), M.R. Civ.P., provides: Findings of fact shall not be set aside unless clearly erroneous, and due regard shall be given to the opportunity of the trial court to judge the credibility of the witnesses. Appellant argues that there is no credible evidence to support the trial court's finding that the water table on the respondents' land had risen about 4.2 feet from 1938 to the present time. The holding of the trial court is as follows: As compared to the water table on plaintiffs' land prior to 1938, the 1959-1960 water table was about 4.2 feet higher. Of this higher water table, about 1.3 feet was due to precipitation factors, and 3 feet due to the operation of the Kerr Dam. Of the precipitation factors a substantial portion of the same was the result of the operation of Kerr Dam and higher water tables. During the 1930s, the USGS had Dr. Cady investigate the feasibility of Kerr Dam and the effect that the higher lake water level would have on ground water levels. The Cady report noted: If the annual stage of the lake is raised through regulation from 2,884 feet to 2,890 feet, the average annual stage of a well 2,500 feet from the lake or the river will be raised from about 2,887 feet to about 2,893 feet. It indicates likewise that at other points in the interior of the area the water ground levels will rise from about the same amount that the average lake level is raised by regulation. The appellant argues that the trial court erroneously relied heavily upon the respondents' expert, Dr. Robert Curry, a University of Montana geologist, who did not even see the respondents' farm until 1971. In addition, appellant contends that Dr. Curry relied upon a faulty 1938 study by the USGS known as the Cady report. Appellant further argues that in his report Dr. Cady assumed that the Flathead Lake would be full twelve months out of the year when it actually was full only four months of the year. Therefore, Cady's predictions are irresponsible, and Dr. Curry's opinions, based upon the Cady report, were totally inaccurate. Respondents, in replying to appellant's argument, note that the Cady report of 1941 was based on a presumed average lake elevation of 2,890 FASL, which is the 1941-1959 average lake level. Thus, as predicted, the water table rose to a point of 2,892. In addition, Dr. Curry in his study relied upon eleven observation wells near the respondents' farm. The eleven wells were monitored on a monthly basis from 1928 to 1976 and showed an average increase of 4.2 feet in the ground water level. An independent United States Department of Agriculture report issued in 1969 confirms this information. Further, a March 1960 report by the Montana Power hydrologist noted: In future years the effect of the lake regulation will become increasingly noticeable and eventually the preregulation water table will rise by an estimated 3-5 feet as a consequence of the regulation. The appellant's expert hydrologist, Keith Anderson, on examination testified concerning the water table: There certainly has been a rise in the water table, not only under his property, but practically under the entire area. With such a record before the trial court, we cannot say that it erred in finding that the water table had risen 4.2 feet. As a part of this issue, we have before us the question of whether the rise in the water table was due to the operation of Kerr Dam or, as argued by appellant, due to precipitation. Both parties presented expert testimony. Dr. Curry testified for respondents, and Keith Anderson testified for the appellant. The following facts appear undisputed: (1) Montana Power Company controlled the level of Flathead Lake; (2) the average level of the Flathead Lake rose 5.4 feet in 1959 and stabilized at an elevation of 2,890 feet; (3) for twenty-one miles upstream, to a point known as Foys Bend, the Flathead River is at the same level as Flathead Lake; (4) the lake and the river surround the Blasdel property; (5) the Wiley Slough (one-fourth of a mile northwest of the Blasdel farm) is connected to the backwaters of the Flathead River; (6) the lake is the outlet of the ground waters such that raising the lake raises the ground water tables; (7) a number of old river channels cut across the lower valley, including the area of the Blasdel farm; and (8) the soils in the lower valley area are fine grain, glacial deposits such that ground water movement is very slow. The experts did not agree on two issues: (1) whether the ground tables in the interior area, more than a half mile from the reaches of the lake or river, would be influenced by the higher lake levels; and (2) whether the Wiley Slough influences the water tables at the Blasdel property one-quarter of a mile away. The trial court had considerable expert testimony before it. Some of this testimony is conflicting and much can be interpreted either way. However, we can find no error with the basic findings of the trial court. It obviously accepted the testimony of respondents' principal witness, Curry, and rejected the testimony of appellant's witness, Anderson. The trial judge was entitled to accept one over the other in arriving at his ultimate decision. While there is a dispute as to whether the river and the lake (more than one-half mile away) and the Wiley Slough (one-fourth mile away) affect the water table on respondents' property, the inland water table was indeed affected by the high water on the river, lake, and slough. The appellant's entire defense on the water table issue seemed to be directed to the fact that 1941 through 1947 were wet years. It introduced testimony and charts showing that historically 1900 to 1917 were wet years, 1917 to 1941 were dry, and 1941 through 1970 were wet. Therefore, appellant argues that the rise in the water table was due entirely to increased precipitation. Credible testimony contradicting appellant's theory was accepted by the trial court. The court found: (1) unlike the 1950s, there was no water in the Grange Hall Slough during 1915-1920; (2) a new spring developed at 2893 FASL on the Blasdel farm in 1956; (3) maps and aerial photographs show far more surface water on the property in 1956 than was on the property in 1928; (4) there were no salt problems in the area in 1928; and (5) the water table dropped very little in dry years and rose dramatically in the 1950s. We find substantial credible evidence to support the court's findings in this matter.