Wyoming v. Colorado (286 U.S. 494)/Opinion of the Court
This is a suit brought by the state of Wyoming against the state of Colorado to enforce a decree of this court (259 U.S. 419, 496, 42 S.C.t. 552, 66 L. Ed. 999; 260 U.S. 1, 43 S.C.t. 2, 66 L. Ed. 1026) rendered in an earlier suit between the same states respecting their relative rights to divert and use for irrigation the waters of the Laramie river, a stream rising in Colorado and flowing northward into Wyoming.

In the present bill, shortly described, Wyoming alleges that Colorado is departing from that decree by permitting the diversion and use within her territory of waters of the Laramie in quantities largely in excess of those accorded to her by the decree; that these excessive diversions are preventing Wyoming from receiving and using the amount of water which the decree accorded to her; that Colorado, unless restrained by this court, will continue to permit such excessive diversions and thereby will largely or entirely deprive Wyoming of the use of the water accorded to her in the decree; that the measuring devices installed by Colorado to measure the waters diverted within her territory do not accurately show the full quantities so diverted; and that Colorado refuses, although duly requested, to permit Wyoming to install other suitable devices or participate in the measurements.

The bill construes the decree as determining the rights of the two states in the waters of the Laramie by according to Colorado

1. 18,000 acre-feet of water per annum by reason of the      Skyline ditch appropriation;

2. 4,250 acre-feet of water per annum by reason of certain      meadowland appropriations;

3. A relatively small amount of water appropriated prior to      1902 through the Wilson Supply ditch from the headwaters of      Deadman creek, a Colorado tributary of the Laramie; and

4. 15,500 acre-feet of water per annum by reason of the      Laramie-Poudre tunnel appropriation, making an aggregate of      37,750 acre-feet per annum, apart from the Wilson Supply      ditch appropriation;

and by according to Wyoming 272,500 acre-feet of water per annum by reason of appropriations in that state.

The relief sought is the protection and quieting of Wyoming's rights under the decree; provision for accurately and effectively measuring and recording the quantities of water diverted in Colorado; an injunction restraining Colorado from continuing or making any diversion in excess of the quantities of water accorded to her by the decree, in the event the injunction in that decree is held to relate only to diversion by reason of the Laramie-Poudre tunnel appropriation; and such other and full relief as may be just and equitable.

Colorado challenges the bill by a motion to dismiss in the nature of a demurrer. The principal grounds of the motion are: (1) That the bill proceeds upon the theory that the prior decree determined, as against Colorado and her water users, the full quantity of water which rightfully may be diverted from the stream within that state, and likewise the quantity which Wyoming and her water users are entitled to receive and use from the stream within that state-all of which, it is insisted in the motion, is refuted by the record, opinion and decree in the prior suit. (2) That the bill shows that the acts complained of are not acts done by Colorado, or under her authority, but acts done by private corporations and individuals not parties to the present suit and with respect to which no relief can be had against Colorado. And (3) that, in any event, the bill fails to show with certainty any violation of the decree or any damage to Wyoming or her water users.

In the bill, Wyoming does take the position that the decree in the earlier suit determines the rights of each state as against the other, including their respective water users, respecting the diversion and use of the waters of the interstate stream; in other words, that the decree fixes and limits the quantities of water which Colorado, including her water users, is entitled to divert and use within that state and thus withhold from Wyoming, and likewise determines the amount of water which Wyoming, including her water users, is entitled to receive and use within her territory. Counsel for Colorado, recognizing that such is the position taken in the bill, say in their brief: 'The principal purpose of the motion to dismiss is to join issue with the contention of the complainant that the whole matter has already been adjudicated by the former decree. The problem so presented is a law question and it is apprehended that this should be determined in limine.' And, after indicating Colorado's purpose to answer if so required, they further say: 'We insist, however, that the cause will be greatly accelerated and confusion be avoided by determining at the threshold the issues of law tendered by the complainant, and thereupon the issues of fact should be defined, if any are considered to stand for adjudication after passing upon the construction problem, which is the only substantial controversy in the case.' Evidently therefore the construction of the decree in the earlier suit is the chief matter in dispute.

That suit was brought by Wyoming against Colorado and two Colorado corporations. The corporations, with Colorado's authority and permission, were proceeding to divert water from the Laramie in Colorado and to conduct it through a proposed tunnel into to the valley of the Cache la Poudre in Colorado, there to be used in irrigation. The project was designed to divert from the Laramie 56,000 acre-feet per annum at first and 15,000 more later on. The purpose of the suit was to prevent the proposed diversion, and to that end the complaint set forth, among other things, that the doctrine of appropriation for beneficial use whereby priority in time gives priority in right, was recognized and applied by both Colorado and Wyoming in adjusting conflicting claims to the use of waters of natural streams; that Wyoming and her citizens had been for many years irrigating and thereby making highly productive very large amounts of land along the Laramie and its tributaries in that state through the use of waters appropriated for that purpose from those streams, and expenditures running into millions of dollars had been made in the construction of reservoirs, canals, and other appliances for the purpose of so using such waters; that these appropriations and this use had been maintained from a time long prior to the commencement of the Laramie-Poudre tunnel project in Colorado; that the date when that project was commenced was 'on or about the first day of December, 1909'; that before that project was commenced Colorado and certain of her citizens had appropriated water from the Laramie in Colorado for the irrigation of lands (meadow lands) in that state adjacent to that stream, but that the total amount of water reasonably and beneficially used upon such lands did not exceed 6,000 acre-feet per annum; that 'no other appropriations or use of said waters of said Laramie River or its tributaries had been made by the State of Colorado or its citizens, or within the said State of Colorado, prior to the appropriations of said waters by your orator and its citizens as herein set forth'; that prior to the commencement of the Laramie-Poudre tunnel project in Colorado, Wyoming and her citizens had appropriated all of the available waters of the Laramie and its tributaries for the actual irrigation of lands in Wyoming aggregating hundreds of thousands of acres and supporting thousands of people; that without the use of the waters so appropriated these lands would be to a large extent valueless and incapable of supporting any considerable population; and that the consummation of the proposed Laramie-Poudre tunnel diversion would deprive Wyoming and her citizens of a very large amount of water to the use of which they were rightly entitled in virtue of their appropriations, and would take from many of their lands much of their value.

The prayer was for an injunction preventing the defendants and each of them from making the proposed diversion, and for general relief.

Colorado, in answering the complaint, admitted that before the commencement of the Laramie-Poudre tunnel project certain of her citizens had appropriated water from the Laramie and its tributaries in that state for the irrigation of adjacent lands (meadow land), but averred that these appropriations amounted to about 8,000 acre-feet per annum; alleged that 'other appropriations of said waters of said Laramie River and its tributaries had been made by the State of Colorado and its citizens within the State of Colorado prior to the appropriations of said waters by complainant and its citizens'; averred that the right to the proposed Laramie-Poudre tunnel diversion was initiated, by commencement of construction, August 25, 1902, and that at the time of such initiation there was abundant water in the Laramie to satisfy all prior appropriations then in existence in Colorado any Wyoming; denied that Wyoming and her citizens had appropriated all of the available waters of the Laramie and its tributaries prior to that threatened diversion, and averred that there was ample water in those streams to supply the threatened diversion and all prior rights in Wyoming; alleged that when the right to make that diversion was initiated, the appropriations effected or initiated in Wyoming did not exceed 50,000 acre-feet; averred that the maximum diversion which could be made through the Laramie-Poudre tunnel project did not exceed 70,000 acre-feet annually, and the topographical and physical conditions were such that 'by the system sought to be enjoined herein, and all other available means, no more than 90,000 acre-feet annually can be diverted from said stream and its tributaries for usc upon lands lying within the State of Colorado'; and denied that the consummation of the threatened diversion would work any injury to Wyoming or her citizens or the lands in that state.

Thus the pleadings directly put in issue the priority and measure of the appropriations in each state as against those in the other state, and also the extent of the available supply of water whereon all of the appropriations depended.

Evidence was produced by both states directly bearing upon these issues. Colorado's evidence was addressed to showing all appropriations in that state, not merely the Laramie-Poudre tunnel appropriation; and that evidence dealt in detail with the dates and measure of the meadow-land appropriations referred to in the complaint and answer; with the existence, date, and measure of the Skyline ditch appropriation and the Wilson Supply ditch appropriation; and even with an appropriation from Sand creek, a small interstate steam nominally but not actually a tributary of the Laramie. Colorado's state engineer gave 4,250 acre-feet per annum as the measure of the meadowland appropriations, 18,000 acre-feet per annum as the measure of the Skyline ditch appropriation, and 2,000 acre-feet per annum as the measure of the Wilson Supply ditch appropriation. Some of her witnesses gave different measures. All who spoke of the Wilson Supply ditch agreed that it was used to divert water from the headwaters of Deadman creek, a Colorado tributary of the Laramie, into Sand creek, from which that water, or its equivalent, was rediverted at a lower point, along with other water from Sand creek, through the Divide ditch and ultimately carried into the Cache la Poudre Valley. Colorado's evidence indicated that the meadowland, Skyline, and Wilson Supply appropriations were earlier than the Laramie-Poudre tunnel appropriation and many of the Wyoming appropriations; and Wyoming recognized this difference in the dates of appropriation, although raising some question as to the quantity of water in the earlier appropriations so recognized.

In their briefs in that suit counsel for Colorado, while urging that the doctrine of appropriation was not applicable to a controversy between the two states, but only to controversies between private appropriators within the same state, recognized that the court might hold otherwise; and on that basis they presented what they termed 'a complete review of the evidence showing the respective priorities of diversion from the Laramie River in Colorado and Wyoming.' In that review they listed the aforementioned meadowland, Skyline, Wilson Supply, and Sand creek appropriations and the proposed Laramie-Poudre tunnel appropriation, as constituting the 'diversions and use by Colorado and her citizens,' and urged that Colorado be recognized as entitled to all of them under the rule of priority, if that rule was given effect.

With the issues, evidence, and propositions of law here outlined submitted to it, the court proceeded to a decision.

The influence to be given to the doctrine of appropriations was much considered, as the opinion shows, and in disposing of the question the court said (259 U.S. 467, 468, 470, 42 S.C.t. 552, 558, 66 L. Ed. 999):

'The lands in both states are naturally arid, and the need      for irrigation is the same in one as in the other. The lands      were settled under the same public land laws, and their      settlement was induced largely by the prevailing right to      divert and use water for irrigation, without which the lands      were of little value. Many of the lands were acquired under      the Desert Land Act, which made reclamation by irrigation a      condition to the acquisition. * * *

'In neither state was the right to appropriate water from      this interstate stream denied. On the contrary, it was      permitted and recognized in both. The rule was the same on      both sides of the line. Some of the appropriations were made      as much as 50 years ago, and many as much as 25. In the      circumstances we have stated, why should not appropriations      from this stream be respected, as between the two states,      according to their several priorities, as would done if the      stream lay wholly within either state? By what principle of      right of equity may either state proceed in disregard of      prior appropriations in the other?

'Colorado answers that this is not a suit between private      appropriators. This is true, but it does not follow that      their situation and what has been accomplished by them for      their respective states can be ignored. As respects Wyoming,      the welfare, prosperity, and happiness of the people of the      larger part of the Laramie valley, as also a large portion of      the taxable resources of two counties, are dependent on the      appropriations in that state.

Thus the interests of the state are indissolubly linked with      the rights of the appropriators. To the extent of the      appropriation and use of the water in Colorado a like      situation exists there. * * *

'We conclude that Colorado's objections to the doctrine of      appropriation as a basis of decision are not well taken, and      that it furnishes the only basis which is consonant with the      principles of right and equity applicable to such a      controversy as this is. The cardinal rule of the doctrine is      that priority of appropriation gives superiority of right.      Each of these states applies and enforces this rule in her      own territory, and it is the one to which intending      appropriators naturally would turn for guidance. The      principle on which it proceeds is not less applicable to      interstate streams and controversies than to others.  Both      states pronounce the rule just and reasonable as applied to      the natural conditions in that region, and to prevent any      departure from it the people of both incorporated it into      their Constitutions. It originated in the customs and usages      of the people before either state came into existence, and      the courts of both hold that their constitutional provisions      are to be taken as recognizing the prior usage rather than as      creating a new rule. These considerations persuade us that      its application to such a controversy as is here presented      cannot be other than eminently just and equitable to all      concerned.'

Respecting the available supply of water the court found from the evidence that Sand creek is nominally but not actually a tributary of the Laramie, and therefore not to be considered; that at Woods, a gauging station near the Colorado-Wyoming state line, the natural flow of the Laramie after the 'recognized Colorado appropriations' are satisfied is such as to afford an available supply of 170,000 acre-feet per year, but not more; that the stream receives below Woods contributions of 93,000 acre-feet from the Little Laramie and 25,000 acre-feet from smaller affluents, making the entire available supply 288,000 acre-feet, apart from the quantities required to satisfy the 'recognized Colorado appropriations'; and that:

'The available supply-the 288,000 acre-feet-is not sufficient      to satisfy the Wyoming appropriations dependent thereon and      also the proposed Colorado appropriation,  so it becomes      necessary to consider their relative priorities.

'There are some existing Colorado appropriations having      priorities entitling them to precedence over many of the      Wyoming appropriations. These recognized Colorado      appropriations are  18,000 acre-feet for what is known as the      Skyline Ditch, and 4,250 acre-feet for the irrigation of that      number of acres of native hay meadows in the Laramie valley      in Colorado; the 4,250 acre-feet being what Colorado's chief      witness testifies is reasonably required for the purpose,      although a larger amount is claimed in the state's answer.      These recognized Colorado appropriations, aggregating 22,250      acre-feet, are not to be deducted from the 288,000 acre-feet;      that being the available supply after they are satisfied. Nor      is Colorado's appropriation from Sand creek to be deducted;      that creek, as we have shown, not being a tributary of the      Laramie.'

From the evidence bearing upon the relative priorities of the proposed Colorado appropriation and the Wyoming appropriations the court found that work on the former was begun in the latter part of October, 1909, and was prosecuted with such diligence that the appropriation should be accorded a priority as of the date when the work was begun; that some of the Wyoming appropriations were senior and others junior to that appropriation; that those which were senior to it and dependent on the common source of supply amounted to 272,500 acre-feet per annum; and that: 'As the available supply is 288,000 acre-feet, and the amount covered by senior appropriations in Wyoming is 272,500 acre-feet, there remain 15,500 acre-feet which are subject to this junior appropriation in Colorado.'

After stating these findings, the court's opinion concluded: A decree will accordingly be entered enjoining the defendants from diverting or taking more than 15,500 acre-feet per year from the Laramie river by means of or through the so-called Laramie-Poudre project.'

Thereupon a decree was entered declaring (259 U.S. 496, 42 S.C.t. 552, 66 L. Ed. 999):

'It is considered, ordered and decreed that the defendants,      their officers, agents and servants, be, and they are hereby,      severally enjoined from diverting or taking from the Laramie      River and its tributaries in the State of Colorado more than      fifteen thousand five hundred (15,500) acre-feet of water per      annum in virtue of or through what is designated in the      pleadings and evidence as the Laramie-Poudre Tunnel      appropriation in that State,

'Provided, that this decree shall not prejudice the right of      the State of Colorado, or of any one recognized by her as      duly entitled thereto, to continue to exercise the right now      existing and hereby recognized to divert and take from such      stream and its tributaries in that State eighteen thousand      (18,000) acre-feet of water per annum in virtue of and      through what is designated in the pleadings and evidence as the Skyline Ditch appropriation in that State;      nor prejudice the right of that State, or of any one      recognized by her as duly entitled thereto, to continue to      exercise the right now existing and hereby recognized to      divert and take from such stream and its tributaries in that      State four thousand two hundred and fifty (4,250) acre-feet      of water per annum in virtue of and through the meadow-land      appropriations in that State which are named in the pleadings      and evidence; nor prejudice or affect the right of the State      of Colorado or the State of Wyoming, or of any one recognized      by either State as duly entitled thereto, to continue to      exercise the right to divert and use water from Sand Creek,      sometimes spoken of as a tributary of the Laramie River, in      virtue of any existing and lawful appropriation of the waters      of such creek.'

Colorado and her codefendants presented a petition for rehearing on stated grounds, one of which was that the Wilson Supply ditch appropriation was inadvertently omitted, in both opinion and decree, from the recognized early Colorado appropriations. As the omission was in fact inadvertent, the decree was then so modified as to include that appropriation among the others which Colorado was recognized as having a right to continue. 260 U.S. 1, 43 S.C.t. 2, 66 L. Ed. 1026. A change in the provision respecting costs also was sought in the petition, and was included in the modified decree. In other respects the original decree was adhered to and a rehearing denied. In that petition Colorado and her codefendants construed the decree as allotting the available supply between the two states according to priority in appropriation and limiting Colorado's allotment 'to 37,750 acre feet annually-Skyline 18,000, plus Colorado meadows 4,250, plus Laramie-Poudre 15,500.'

We are of opinion that the record, opinion, and decree in the prior suit, here reviewed at length, show very plainly that the decree must be taken as determining the relative rights of the two states, including their respective citizens, to divert and use the waters of the Laramie and its tributaries. These rights were put in issue by the pleadings, displayed in the evidence, and considered and resolved in the opinion. Not only so, but the question of priority in time and right as between the appropriations in Colorado and those in Wyoming was directly presented by the pleadings and evidence and distinctly dealt with and resolved in the opinion.

As appears from the opinion, the court held that the doctrine, long recognized and enforced in both states, whereby priority of appropriation gives superiority of right, furnished the only equitable and right basis on which to determine the controversy between them shown in the pleadings and evidence.

And as further appears from the opinion, the court made specific findings showing the amount of water in the available supply, its insufficiency to satisfy all asserted appropriations, the date when the proposed tunnel appropriation in Colorado was initiated, the names and amounts of the appropriations in Colorado which were senior to that appropriation, the amount of water included in the Wyoming appropriations which were senior to it, and the amount which would remain in the supply and be subject to that appropriation after deducting what was required to satisfy the senior appropriations in both states.

These findings were pertinent to the issues, and upon them the court pronounced its decree. Under a familiar rule the facts thus determined are not open to dispute in a subsequent suit between the same states. 

As before shown, the modified decree (1) restricts diversion under the Colorado tunnel appropriation to 15,500 acre-feet, the amount which under the findings would remain in the supply after deducting the quantities included in the senior appropriations in both states; (2) recognizes and protects the Skyline appropriation of 18,000 acre-feet, it being a senior Colorado appropriation; (3) similarly sustains the meadow-land appropriations of 4,250 acre-feet, they being senior Colorado appropriations; (4) recognizes and protects the small Wilson Supply ditch appropriation made prior to 1902, it being a senior Colorado appropriation inadvertently omitted from the list in the opinion but given its proper place by a modification of the original decree; and (5) saves from prejudice all appropriations of the waters of Sand creek, found not to be a tributary of the Laramie.

The decree enjoins any diversion through the tunnel appropriation in excess of the 15,500 acre-feet accorded to it-and this doubtless for the reason that there had been a declared and real purpose to divert from 56,000 to 71,000 acre-feet under that appropriation. No showing appears to have been made indicative of any occasion at that time for a broader injunction. Of course, in the absence of such a showing, a broader injunction was not justified. Certainly the limited injunction which was granted does not warrant any inference that it marks the limits of what was intended to be decided. Such an inference would be inconsistent with other parts of the decree and with the opinion and the findings therein.

Construing the decree in the light of the record and opinion, to which counsel for both states appeal, we think it was intended to and does define and limit the quantity of water which Colorado and her appropriators may divert from the interstate stream and its tributaries and thus withhold from Wyoming and her appropriators.

But it is said that water claims other than the tunnel appropriation could not be, and were not, affected by the decree, because the claimants were not parties to the suit or represented therein. In this the nature of the suit is misconceived. It was one between states, each acting as a quasi sovereign and representative of the interests and rights of her people in a controversy with the other. Counsel for Colorado insisted in their brief in that suit that the controversy was 'not between private parties' but 'between the two sovereignties of Wyoming and Colorado'; and this court in its opinion assented to that view, but observed that the controversy was one of immediate and deep concern to both states and that the interests of each were indissolubly linked with those of her appropriators. 259 U.S. 468, 42 S.C.t. 552, 66 L. Ed. 999. Decisions in other cases also warrant the conclusion that the water claimants in Colorado, and those in Wyoming, were represented by their respective states and are bound by the decree. 

The contention that the present bill shows that the acts complained of are not acts done by Colorado, or under her authority, but acts done by private corporations and individuals not parties to the present suit, is shown by the bill to be untenable. It is there alleged that Colorado in 1926 permitted a diversion from the Laramie through the Laramie-Poudre tunnel appropriation materially in excess of the 15,500 acre-feet specified in the decree; that in 1926, 1927, and 1928, with the knowledge, permission, and co-operation of Colorado, diversions were made from the Laramie and its tributaries through the Skyline ditch appropriation in stated amounts materially in excess of the 18,000 acre-feet specified in the decree; that in 1926, 1927, 1928, and 1929, with the knowledge, consent, and co-operation of Colorado, diversions were made from the Laramie and its tributaries through the meadow-land appropriations in various amounts pronouncedly in excess of the 4,250 acre-feet specified in the decree; and that Colorado has permitted other diversions from the Laramie and its tributaries in violation of the decree through the Bob creek and other designated ditches, none of which were recognized or named in the findings or decree.

The contention that the bill fails to show with certainty any violation of the decree or any damage to Wyoming or her water users is largely refuted by the allegations just noticed, and is further refuted by an allegation that annually since the entry of the decree the amount of water in the Laramie available to Wyoming for its water users has been less than the 272,500 acre-feet specified in the court's findings, and this shortage has been caused by the excessive and otherwise unlawful diversions before described. It is true that some of the allegations purporting to state violations of the decree are uncertain and indefinite, but there are many which are not subject to this criticism, and plainly there is enough in the bill to require that the defendant be called upon to answer it.

An order will be entered overruling the motion to dismiss, permitting Wyoming to amend her bill within thirty days by making some of its allegations more definite and certain, if she be so advised, and permitting Colorado to answer the bill or amended bill, as the case may be, on or before the 1st day of September next.

Motion to dismiss overruled. 

Notes