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<br />DECISIONS PERTIN'ENT TO PROPOSED WATER nIGHTS ACT
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<br />DECISIONS PERTI;,"E)~'T TO PROPOSE1> WATER RIGHTS ACT
<br />
<br />17
<br />
<br />to tIll) r,olltrul apprnprialioJ1, llSC, or dif'lrihut.ion o( water IIS~rl in irril!,l~tjon, or
<br />1\1\" '\'(,!:il.l~d ri~'ht :leqllin:d \.lll'[(~lllLdcr" (32 Slat. :~::-lS. 3f10). .
<br />\Vl: C:l1lJltlt twi.!>t t.hc~'~ wortl~ inlo an cledion on ih(~ part, of Conp;r.f'~8 undflf Its
<br />na\"iv:atioll power l~ Lald~ !-;llch \\':'l.~cr tights \\y.holl~ COl1lJlCII~:~t.IOIl.:> In t.he
<br />l:\II~\I:q:~c of 1\lr. .JIISt.Il:l~ }{olmc~. wnt.ll"IV; for the (.oml. III hllcrnlltlO1lu.ll a11er Co.
<br />v (inilt'd Slllk.q (282 U. S. 3!ln, -107), Congress "proceeded all l,he {ootlll,(!; Qf:\ full
<br />r~eOl!;lIiUOIl of [rip:Lriall~'] riJ..!:l1ts :Ult] (If t.he Governmellt's duly to P;"lY for ,t.lle
<br />takillJ!; th;d. lill pllTporlcr! to aecmnplish." :Vc concl~\fl(' th:~t. whet..hc!" rC{'lllJrcd
<br />to do so vr Hot" (;ollg;rct:is elected to reCt)glllzc fl.1l)" St:~tc~crcated n,;hts :~lId to
<br />take them \Jud('r its puwer or ('minent dom:lill.
<br />\\'e :lore ~nid\~(1 1.0 tlti~ ('onclll~ioll ,by I:he illt~rJ~rct:~t.ion p1acC(~ on C,on~re~8'
<br />acts by I.he Hcr.lamatioll Bure:l\l, WhiCh, 1Il :ldmllll:;tcrll\~ the pro]cct~ h,iS ,It ,111
<br />times 'pllr~ued a cour5C itnpo~5ib,lc to, rc('oncilc wit.h pJ"(~SCllt. contell,t,iOllS or t!le
<br />GOVCrllIllCllt. Vrom t.ile \)eglllllll1~, It lias :\cled on t.he :l~su,?ptlOn, th:\t ~ts
<br />Friallt ulld~rt.fl.killg was. a rccl:~m:~tiol\ pl.t1jeCt. Even a casual lnspectl,o,n or ..ts
<br />cOlllllliUee hrarill"s amI reports IC:l\"'::s II') doubt th:Lt Congress \\":LS f:1.111111:\r With
<br />and approvcd l,hi;'intC'rpre!;Ltion. Although th~ Solicitor ~icn~r:1.1 contends ~h:1.t,
<br />lJec:Lllsl~ of the n:l\';,g-:J.tiull purpm,e Tcmot.c-ly jn\'oln'd, dcprl\'atJoll of ~\'att'r rights
<br />along the San Joaquin is not COlllpCl1~:lblc, we h~~ve observed th:lt the plan 3.8
<br />originally adopted ami :\8 c:Lrricd out hy the Hurc:\u illduded replnccl11cnt a,~
<br />gre~t ex'pense of ~ll water formr.rly used ror crops and "controll~d gra:;s lan_ds
<br />and }Jllfeh:\se of thnt used on ma~ginn.1 pnst.urcl:Lnds. It ,hns consistently D..dv~scd
<br />the Congr('ss thn.t it was purchaslIlg San Juaqum water rlghts a.nd appropfl~tlOns
<br />hnye beell made accordinl:;ly. 1\Jorcover, Congress nnd t.hl~ \\'nter lIsers have been
<br />3.dyiscd that. in prosccut.ion of the work, existing water rights \\'ould be respected
<br />(pp. 736-740).
<br />6. F. P. C, v, Niagara Mohall,k Power Co, (347 U. S, 230 (1954)):
<br />Prior to constnlCt.ing its fnci1iti~s, the power company, 0. Federal
<br />licensee, bod purchased woter rights vnlid u.nd.cr New York law, fr?ffi
<br />two ot.her eompfiuies. In 1948 the CommlsslOn began a pro~cedlIlg
<br />unoer sect.ion ] 0 (b) oi the Federal Power Aet to determme the
<br />licensc("s nmort.izl1tioll r('s(~rvc liabilit.y. Thc CommIssion .l'ulc:d tbat
<br />pnyments by the licens('c t,o the ~wo componies,. fro~n wlllcb It pur-
<br />ch:lst:'d these ri~hts, should go mto t.he Ul~ort~zn.tlon rcse~V(~. It
<br />concluded that, Congrl'ss not only could consl-ltlltlOlllll~y abolish loct;l
<br />water rights on navigable streams wit.hout comrensotlO,n but t.hat It
<br />had done so, and that while the contested expenolture mlgut be lawiul
<br />or C\.('1l oblirrfltorv, ns bet.wr.en the pfl1ties, it could not be allowed In
<br />e.. ,.
<br />computing n lic(,ll~we's :ll~lt)l'lIzatlOTl rrsen-.e.
<br />
<br />The Supreme COllrt (/!::;,igrcl'd, .::ondudlllg t.hD.~ tJlOugh t.lw ,.vater
<br />
<br />rirrhls were of il kind within t he scope of thc Government's dOml1H~nt
<br />
<br />se~\'itlldc thc Govprnmcllt lwd not exerciscd its powel' to nbolIsh
<br />
<br />t.h('nl. ~\c('ordingly, it held that ..he Fcdt:'fil.l :,Yntcr ~ower Act .of
<br />
<br />1930 (41 Slat.. 1Oo:l), as umended, had not ubohsheo pm'ute pl'opne-
<br />
<br />tal'\" rights, f'xisting lIndt'l' Stnlr law, to use w:ltr-r~ ?f n:lvlgable
<br />
<br />str;'llm~ fOl' 1'0\\"('1" pll(,pO~(~S. Thl'rd?lT~, the c;Olllm]S~IOn Wil:i, not
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<br />iU:;1 ifi('d ill di:-;l\II{,willg t hr l'x}H',llses pllld IIY 1.11: liC(:I~S('ll for lobe J'Ig!lts
<br />
<br />pul't:h:l~l'd from Ot..ht'l' corp("j'll,ll\lllli, III eOllllceLlOll Wlt.h thc operfLt.IOD
<br />
<br />of t.he lIccnsed proJcct. b:ud the Court:
<br />
<br />WI"' ::,.re !lOt. r~quir('d j 0 ddt~rll\illc t.he n.'I.turc of t.I.1C rights claimed by respondent
<br />excc'pt to recog"ni7.c th:~t. thC',\' ~re lI:.;urructu:u:,>" rights to use the w~te~ for the
<br />g<:lwr;\fion of pO\\"I~r, a:-i di"tingui...;hed [rom cbims to the lC',l:::\1 o\\'IlCr;;hlp or the
<br />runlling watcr itst'lf. They :ue righf:.; to lI:-iC 1he force .of the rail of t.I,l? w:~t.er,
<br />coupled with :~n obli!!;\l ion to rdnrn the w:\ter 10 the: rI\'er undcr ~'pL'(~l,tip.d cou-
<br />ditions, The riJ-',hll'i ulH]('r con,.;idemt.ion origill:l.lIy were 3.tt.~eht'd to np:mn.n lands
<br />nbO\'I' and hl'low the bUs. Howcver, they long h:\\'c been ~cpfl.r:\tcd rrom such
<br />1311d~ and, 1 hus sepn.r~ted, they have been tr:l.llsferred or lea.!icd to respondent.
<br />Under the l:\w of New York, they con:.;t,itutc a form of real estate known fl.S
<br />corporml ht'rcdit.a.mcnts_ .The Commission do_es not now contco,t _~hc, pUreho.5e
<br />pric\~:-i which ha\'f~ bccn pn.Hi for any or th('.5e right.5, The COm~lls:'lOn.s present
<br />ohjf'cliun i:,= limilC'ct to rL't'.polld(~n1.'s rlr:dllctioll, in the computl\tlOn or Its al!lor-
<br />
<br />tiz:1.1ion re~l:l'\'l~S, or t.he r!.llnual p:~Yll1(~lltS :loud di:,>collnts it h:\s ll1:lodc :llld which
<br />it. propUSt'S 10 makl: ror the u:-;t' or sueh ri1;hl,~. The COl\lluis.:;ioll eO[llt'IH:i~ (I) th~~t
<br />COll~l"l'::'S !lot ollly may t'ulI:-.(.jt,1l1 ion:dly aholish ::,Il{~h IOl:al W:d.,'l' ri~ht:-: \\"it,ho~t
<br />CornJlI~II~:~(joll IJllt t 11:1.1 it alrl.':llly h:t~ dOl1t~ ~o, :~IlJ (2) 111al, :Llthollt.h 1,llc' licC'lh"C s
<br />conlt':4t'd ;'xpclldilolII'CS 111:1.:,>" lJe hwfnl, or 1:\'1:11 olJlig:l.t,or.\', ul'I\\"l,t'll 1he p:Lrlies,
<br />the.\' IlllJ."t 1)(: dis:dlo\\"cd il~ computing the licellsce's :~fIIurt.ilalion rCi;en;c llllder
<br />section 10 (d),
<br />Wl~ eOll(;luc!t:, :l:'> did the COllrt of npPcJ.ls, t1l:1.1., C'V(~1l thou~h rt'~p,),ltl,~nt.'.s w;jter
<br />righi,s :\r,~ of:l kind t,h:\t is wilhin the scope or the GO\'l..:rnlrlent.':.; (\!lmilln:lt S0rd-
<br />tude, the GO\'t:rnll1t'llt has not eXI:rcif'cd its puwer to .1.boli~h them lPp, ;3.1G----2-lS)..
<br />7. U. S. \", Twin Cily Power Cn. (350 U, g, ~~? (105G)) i11\'ol\'ed
<br />appe:lls from t,wo eircuiL court. decisiolls holding- t,hat just eompcnso.-
<br />tioll illeludes lhe value of the lnud flS" potelltin' power site whero the
<br />United St:l.tcs exercist's the power of eminellt uOllwill to obt:till il
<br />prinLLc'ly owned powcr site on 11 11:1vig:1Llp. rivcr. (Soe U. S. v. TlUi-n
<br />City Power Co" 315 F. 3d 593 (IlJ54) nnd U. S. y, T,cI" City ]',,,<'er
<br />Co., 331 F, 3d 'lOG (1955),) These two decisions were occ,,,ionol{ by
<br />the f'let thM (,he hlllds ill displlte bordel'eo t\\'o eircllits,
<br />By a 5-4 d{'('i~ioll, t,hl' SUpn'IlH' COllrL Ill'lll (,h:ll, t,he lifdj nIlWIHI1!1~'llt
<br />did not r:'qnil'e ('ompl'lls:ltioll for t,lw "Hid's Y:llw,',ts:t sitr for }l\-t!I'O-
<br />('led.ric. po \\'(' 1", wh('n~ Congn'ss h:ltlllul,horizl'd ('ollsl-rll('(lOIl of t\.' d:lIn
<br />for ll1ult.ipiP purpOS('5, nile of wldeh was impro\.plllt'lll, l)f 1l,~\-il.Jilti,:lU_.
<br />As to t}ll~ Ilt't'd fot' (.his impro,-('melll'l the COllrt. s,li(l it. would (lot 511b-
<br />st,jt,lll.(~ it::; judgmC'lIt. fnr tll:lt. of Ct1ngrt'Ss, citing ~'lri:ona Y. Calljorrlia
<br />(10:1I) (~S;; F S, .!3:l, -!,j5-4"i),
<br />\Vith respC'et to t.he cOllsl.itut.ionrJ powe'i", t.!lC' lll:~jol'iIY 5:lid:
<br />The. intcl'..:'st of tile UniteJ SL1.t€'5 in the 1Iow or n. na.\'iorable stre:1.m origin;nes
<br />in thc COllln1l'rCe cbll~e. That cl:"lUSC spe:lks in terms of I~o\\'er, not of propert.y.
<br />But thc }JO\\"I'r i.~:l ctolllil1:\nt one which c:\n be :l.:i'ierl.ed 10 {,he CXClll::ilOll of :U1\' COIll-
<br />p('t.ing: or cOllllictill~ OIlC. The power is:\ pri\'ilet;e which we h:L\"C c~lk'd ";1. dom-
<br />in;]'llt servitude" (:>,~c United Slales v, Commodore Park Inc., J:1! li. S_ 380, 301;
<br />Fcdaal Power COlllmissiorl \'. Xia.gara Mohall'k Powe,' Corp., 3-17 li, S_ :.?:j\), 2!9)
<br />01' ";l "lIpcrior n:\\'i~n.t.ion e;lsr~nlellt" (U,.il"d Slales Y. r;,~rlllch J"ilJe Slor.h Co.. 339
<br />U, 8, 7:!..'), 7:3G). The lep;i.;;i:1.ti\"e history :lrld consl,rtlct.inn C)f p:Lrticubr cnnctllkllts
<br />m:\\" le:ld to lhr~ conclusion Ih:lt. COll!.!reS:i ex(~r(;is('J less til:LlI its eon:>tiWlioll:l.l
<br />pO\'-I'r, fdl shon ur :\ppropri:l.till!!: the llo\\' or the rivt'r to the public domain, and
<br />pro\"id~d th:lt prh':tte ri.!!hts exi5tin~ under SLUt' l~l\\' ~hOllld b,: l'Olllpr'llS:"lhlL, or
<br />othcf\\'j::e ret'()!.!;llizl'~1. :-illC!! were [;ut/cd .)'/alcs v, (;[j"lach Live Sloel: Co" Sllpra,
<br />and Fer/crrll PIJil'f.'r Comlllis.~ion \-, J\"iaaara .'l,Johawk Power Cor}J.. supra. \\~e
<br />have :l. dirTen'llt. sitllalion hcre. One where the United St:Ltes disphcc::i all com~
<br />pctin~ inLere5ts and appropri:l.tes thc entire flow or the rinr for the d~('bred public
<br />purpose.
<br />On the spccinc qucst.ion of just cmn!)('.nsllt,ion, the m,ljol'it,y si1.id:
<br />~ * * The holdin~ in Ch:\Ildlcr-Dunb:1.r .teous t.:-. S;\y in United Slare~ v. Appala~
<br />cltlan. Po1t'cr Co., SIl}Jra, :\t .l~.t, lh:Lt lil(~ l't'xclllsioll of rip:lri:1.11 owner:)" rrom the
<br />bCJldiLi or the !l.)\n;r ill :1 n:\\'i!.!;:Lhll~ ~1,rt'~l.ln "wit.hollt. (,Olnpl;ll~:\litlll ji "ll!in'lv
<br />wilJdll l,hr~ CO\'t:nllllcllt.'S di,,,cret.jl)ll." Alld a~:Lill, "If llll~ (;'O\"'l'llIlH~l\t WVl'(' Ilm\-
<br />to build tlLl~ dam, !L \\"\lllltlll:~n: 10 p:lY the f:Lir \'n!lH:, judici:dly dd..:'rmin,:d, for
<br />thp. f:l:::;L hud; nUlIllll/!: ror tIll.: w:lterpower" (ilL, .J~7).
<br />The: POW(:I' company in the pTl~sent ca!Sc i:i cert:1.illly in no stronger po:-,;ilion
<br />than the OWller of the hydroelectric site in the Challdler-Dullb:lr e:LSC. While
<br />the latter \\':::lS, deprived of .1. going private owner project by (.he Gov('rnment,
<br />the pr<:sent pnv:1.tc power never hart a power project on the ~l~V:.J.Il11:.J.h :\I\d as
<br />a result of Lilt' GO\'(~rnlHcnt'3 preemption nc\'er call have Olle,
<br />It i::; lIO answer to .say that these private ('Wllers l1nd intp.rests in the water
<br />th3.t we~c recogllized by State luw. We deal here WiLh t,he Fcdcr:1.! domain, un
<br />area whLeh Congre::i.::) can completely preempt, leaving" no vested privatc el:;.i1l13
<br />that constitute "private propert....." within the menning: of the fifth allleudlll,-'nt.
<br />Location of the lands might under some circumstances gh-e them spcci.:l.l value,
<br />~s our c:1.se::l. h:\\'c illustrated, But to Atta.ch a vll.luc of WAter power of the
<br />~ll.vnnna.h Rl\-cr due to location a.ud to euforce thnt v:\lne ng:till.5t the liniicd
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