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<br />This was the first case in which the Riparian Dectrine which existed in
<br />the humi:l regians .of the East, was held ,to be nat applicable te the
<br />necessities .of an arid regien.
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<br />, The questien .of Riparian Ownership vs, The Dactrine .of Apprapria-
<br />',,:tien was definitely decided 10 years later in the ease .of Caffin vs. The
<br />!.e'thand Ditch Cltlllpany, wherein the Supreme Ceurt .of Calarada anneunced
<br />the Dactrine .of Apprepriatian as being the .only dectrine applicable te
<br />this State.
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<br />The faregeing previsians .of the Cansti tutian which are unique, con-
<br />stitute the basis ,upen whieh the irrigatien laws, Ceurt dscisiens and
<br />precedure relative te the administratian .of same, are founded.
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<br />In lB79, the LegislatUJ'e enacted the so-called "Irrigatian Statute" ,
<br />ta give effect ta the sf erementianed' pravisians .of our Cansti tuti.on.
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<br />In lBB1, theabave Act was supplemented by such additional pre-
<br />visiens as "experience had demonstrated te be expedient and necessary
<br />ta the welfare of the agricultural interests and the quiElt, .orderly and
<br />eecnomical distributian .of the waters .of the State."
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<br />Our Supreme Caurt has held that an apprepriation .of water, is an
<br />"Intent to take for scme useful purpose, aceompanied by ,some open physical
<br />demanstration .of the intent.", The Ceurt has also held that it ie an ' ,
<br />"Incarporeal hereditament;" that 'is, "sametiling that ,may be subject to
<br />being inherited." ,
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<br />'./ A water right in this State is, also a "usufruct" which means, "the
<br />r.1ght ta use semetiling belanging to another witheut materially impair-
<br />ing the substance'therea.t'." The Caurts have alse held that its can-
<br />tinued enjoyment is dependent upan reasanably continuous beneficial use
<br />thereaf. It ia a pI'<lperty right, and m&:y be lost through abandenment
<br />which, hawever, is a matter ,or questian of intent that must be praven,
<br />In Wyoming and some other western States; the established nan-use of
<br />water far irrigatian and pessibly far ather beneficial uses, aver a
<br />given peri ad of years, constitutes abandenment. '
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<br />In this State, a water right '1s not necessarily appurtenant .or
<br />.... attached ta any partiCular piece .of land to which it has been applied.
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<br />Undpr our COl)lltitutian, .one does not .own the water; he merely has
<br />the right ta take t'r0lll the: source .or supply~ -SUl'l'ic1ent w~~r '~~~~"t,
<br />~J>:-nEl!ds ....iHhilt, -ilhe-*im!,t.-<J,f-Ms-ciecree..:.:: ~!isl_~ ~ac~oZ:~QB-Wi th
<br />the date,,<:':f_p.tro~:I;.~~~:f'-ES"8ll'tllb11~QbJ: ,.:t4e_Court. ' Any time he
<br />daes nat nee<i the entire 8riici'imt- of wawr 'decreed to his ditchJ.he must,'
<br />leave the remainder in the stream fer the use .of others who ~ be in '
<br />need .of it.
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<br />Autharity ta dete:nnine questicns .of the relative rights oJ: apprO''-
<br />priatars, is vested exclusively in the several District Courts .of .our
<br />state, 'which have ar~ginal jurisdicticn over such matters. These '
<br />adjudicaticn proceedingS arB nat ordina.ry caurt prcaeedings', but are
<br />in the nature of what is known as "sui generis,l/ which means lIuiUqUB or
<br />peculiar in itself, or .of its .own Id.nd." '
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