Majority
Headnote
[1] Waters and Water Bights—Partition—Reservation op Water Rights—Quieting Title—Form op Decree.—Where easements to take and divert waters from a stream at a certain point are reserved in a deed partitioning land riparian to the stream, in an action to quiet title to the easements the decree is not objectionable in declaring that the plaintiff's right to take the water at the designated point is “part and parcel of” his land, that is, riparian in character, it being the obvious purpose and effect of the easements to provide a means whereby plaintiff could obtain his share of the water and carry it to his land for use thereon in the exercise of his riparian right.The above-entitled cases were tried separately and at different times. Separate judgments were given and separate appeals were taken. They both concern the same property and rights, and the points involved are so closely connected that it will simplify matters to decide them in one opinion. We will treat each case separately in the order of their respective numbers.
Case S. F. No. 9559.
This is an action to quiet the alleged title of the plaintiff to certain easements, against the claims of the defendants. This is the second appeal in the cause. The decision on the first appeal was made by the district court of appeal on February 26, 1919, reversing, in part, the judgment of nonsuit previously rendered by the trial court. ( 40 Cal. App. 68 [ 180 Pac. 351 ].) Thereafter a new trial was had in the court below and judgment was given for the plaintiff. The defendants Swett and Grange appeal.
The defendant Grange, by his answer, disclaimed all interest in the matter set up in the complaint. We are at a loss to understand why he joined in the appeal. But it is obvious that, as to him, the judgment must be affirmed. The matters involved in .the present appeal concern only the plaintiff Parker and the defendant Swett.
On or about May 7, 1890, Thompson and Chase, predecessors in interest of both parties, were the owners as tenants in common of the 722 acres of land to which the rights and easements here involved pertain. A small stream, known as Chase Creek, rising in the hills northeasterly of said tract, enters the land near the northeast comer and
3. “A right to take, use, appropriate, divert, lead and carry away, in pipes or otherwise, one-half of the waters flowing or that may flow, in the stream on said premises, to be taken at or near the point where the waters of said stream are now partially diverted in pipes leading to the dwelling on said premises”;
4. “The right of way for a line of pipe for water from the point where said waters may be diverted over, across, in and through said premises to the said adjoining tract on the south, such pipe to be laid so as not to interfere with the proper cultivation of said premises, and also the right at all times to enter in and upon said premises for the purpose of viewing, changing, repairing or preserving said pipe that may be so laid, and making and maintaining a proper division of said water.
The point of diversion of the water mentioned in number 3 is situated near the northeast corner of the tract
The judgment declares that the plaintiff, as against.the defendants, is the owner of the right to have Chase Creek flow naturally and undiminished to said point of diversion and to take out at that point one-half of the water thereof there flowing and carry it away in pipes or otherwise and use the same, and that said right is appurtenant to “and part and parcel of” plaintiff’s said land; that plaintiff is also the owner of a right of way for a pipe-line, to be laid in and along the bed of Chase Creek from said point of diversion to plaintiff’s tract of land, and of the right to enter on the Swett land to view, examine, change, repair, or preserve the pipe so laid, and to make and maintain a proper division of said water, which rights are also declared to be appurtenant to the plaintiff’s land.
The appellants claim that these provisions of the judgment assume that the partition deeds granted to the plaintiff, an interest in the stream, and that this is contrary to the decision of the district court of appeal on the previous appeal which has now become the law of the case. We do not so understand the previous opinion. That opinion shows that after this partition Chase acquired the tract designated in the record as “Tract 3,” being the land lying between tracts 1 and 2 set off to him by the partition, and it declares that the deeds show no intention to convey anything but a right to the use of the water which could be obtained on the northern half of the original tract of land at the place called the point of diversion, the northern one-half referred to being the aforesaid tract 1. This right would constitute an interest in the stream flowing at that point, and in the water to be obtained there. But this is not inconsistent with the fact that the right so secured to Thompson was a riparian right and a part of the riparian right in the stream which was part and parcel of the entire original undivided tract before the partition. Thompson was a half owner in these rights as well as of the land of which they were part. The intention of the partition being to divide the land between
The judgment proceeds to declare the quantity of water which constitutes the natural flow at the point stated and declares that the plaintiff is entitled to one-half thereof and the defendant to the other half. No complaint is made of this portion of the judgment.
[2] After the trial had closed and the cause had been submitted to the court for decision it was reopened at the request of the appellants for the sole purpose of introducing additional testimony to identify the location of the roads and the quarry mentioned in the reservations not here involved. The court did not err in refusing to allow
The appellants insist that the injunction against interference by defendants with the rights adjudged to the plaintiff should have been contingent upon the construction by the plaintiff of a pipe-line from the point of diversion to plaintiff’s land. It seems that no such pipe-line has ever been constructed. Inasmuch as these are all vested rights, we can perceive no reason why the court did not have the right'to declare that the defendants should be enjoined from interfering therewith. Even if we assume that the right of the plaintiff to take water from the stream does not come to him as a partition of the riparian right attaching to the land, but only by virtue of the reservations in the deeds, it would not be lost by disuse. [3] Where rights or easements are acquired by grant, or by a reservation having the effect of an implied grant (Wood v. Boyd, 145 Mass. 179 [ 13 N. E. 476 ]), the owner does not lose them by mere disuse. (Parker v. Swett, 40 Cal. App. 74 [ 180 Pac. 351 ]; Smith v. Worn, 93 Cal. 206 [ 28 Pac. 944 ]; Currier v. Howes, 103 Cal. 437 [ 37 Pac. 521 ]; Petitpierre v. Maguire, 155 Cal. 250 [ 100 Pac. 690 ]; People v. Southern Pac. Co., 172 Cal. 701 [ 158 Pac. 177 ]; Copeland v. Fairview L. & W. Co., 165 Cal. 166 [ 131 Pac. 119 ].). The decree, however, declares that plaintiff’s water right is not only appurtenant to his land, but is “part and parcel” thereof, which means that it is a riparian right and consequently, that it is, as such, not lost by disuse.
It appears from the findings that Swett has acquired the parcel of land known as tract 3, situated between the two parcels conveyed to Chase by Thompson in 1890, and that the stream in question passes through this tract. The appellant insists that the court should have decreed that the easements created by the deed from Thompson to Chase did not affect the water rights pertaining to tract 3. A sufficient answer to this point is that the decree does contain such a provision. Consequently, notwithstanding the other provisions of the decree, the defendant may make a reasonable use of the water on said intervening land, as riparian owner thereof, subject to the correlative and reciprocal rights of other riparian owners of land on the stream.
Case S. F. No. 9748.
In this action complaint alleged plaintiff’s ownership of the land claimed by him in ease S. F. No. 9559, aforesaid, that the defendants were in possession of the tract designated as tract 3, being the land situated between the two tracts of land belonging to Swett, designated as tracts 1 and 2, respectively, as aforesaid, and that Chase Creek flowed across defendant's tract 3 in a westerly direction to the point of diversion, hereinbefore mentioned, on said tract 1. In the record before us this point is called the "1890 point, ’ ’ and for convenience we will use that designation hereafter. It is alleged that the plaintiff owns the right to have said creek flow naturally and undiminished to said 1890 point, and there to take one-half of said natural flow and carry the same to the plaintiff’s said land for use thereon; that the defendants have diverted all the natural flow of the creek above said 1890 point, so as to prevent any water from coming down to said point and deprive the plaintiff of all use of said water, that they claim the right to do so by reason of their possession of said tract 3, and that said claim is without right.
The defendants answered averring that defendant Swett is the owner of tract 3, admitting that she is in possession of same, and alleging that the possession of the other defendants is subordinate to her possession and that their rights depend upon her rights. It also avers that the natural flow of Chase Creek does not reach the 1890 point and denies that plaintiff has any right to the water thereof at that point.
The findings are to the effect that plaintiff is the owner of the land as alleged in his complaint; that the defendant £>wett is the owner of said tract 3; that Chase Creek is a natural stream of running water arising easterly of tract 3 and flowing across the same into the defendants’ tract 1 to the 1890 point aforesaid; that said tract 1 and tract 2 and the plaintiff’s said land was, in 1890, a single undivided tract owned by Thompson and Chase as tenants in common, that all of said undivided tract was riparian to Chase Creek, that the same was partitioned between Chase and Thompson, as previously stated, that by said partition
The material portions of the judgment are that plaintiff is the owner of the land aforesaid together with the water right in said Chase Creek as aforesaid; that defendant Swett is the owner of tract 3; that tract 3 and tract 1 aforesaid, and also the land of the plaintiff, are riparian to said creek;. that defendant Swett is entitled to take of the water of Chase Creek a reasonable share and no more for use upon said tract 3, and not elsewhere or for any other purpose; that the only use for which it is available there is to supply water for stock pastured thereon during the period between January 1st and June 30th of each year, and that, except as to said rights of the defendant, the plaintiff is entitled, as part and parcel of his land, to have said creek flow naturally and undimipished to said 1890 point and there to take for use on his said ranch “the natural flow of said Chase
We learn from the briefs, although it does not appear in the record, that the diversion by the defendant on tract 3 complained of by the plaintiff was the collection of all the water of the stream at some point on that tract and carrying it down in a pipe to a concrete reservoir constructed by defendant on his tract 1 on which the 1890 point is situated, and there storing it for his own use on said tract 1 to the exclusion of any use thereof by the plaintiff. The record contains remarks and circumstances indicating that this is true and it is not disputed by the defendant.
We also infer from the briefs that after the decision by the district court on the former appeal in February, 1919, affirming the judgment of nonsuit as to tract 3, the plaintiff began the present action to quiet plaintiff’s title to the water of Chase Creek against claims of the defendant based on their possession of tract 3. The judgment appealed from in case S.> F. No. 9559 was rendered several months before the trial of the present action. At the opening of the trial of this action the plaintiff offered in evidence the judgment-roll in the action previously tried as aforesaid, claiming the right to do so and to have the same admitted and considered as a final adjudication between the parties, under a stipulation made in the other action on May, 3, 1920, as a part of a stipulation therein extending the time to file a transcript on appeal. The portion of the stipulation referred to is as follows: “In consideration for the foregoing extension of time, said defendants waive pendency of said appeal as an objection to use by plaintiff hereafter, whether in this action or in any other, of the judgment-roll in the case above entitled.” At the time of the trial of the present action, October 8, 1920, the appeal referred to was still undetermined. No objection was made to the introduction of the judgment-roll and the same was received in evidence. At the close of the trial, however, the defendant, moved to strike out the judgment-roll on the ground that it was not admissible as a final judgment, or as proof of the facts adjudicated thereby, because it had not yet become final, the appeal therein not yet having been decided. This motion was denied. In the course of the trial the defendant offered evidence to show the amount of water flowing in Chase
[4] Under section 4% of article VI of the constitution, the appellate courts cannot set aside a judgment rendered in the superior court for any error in the admission or rejection of evidence or in procedure, unless the court, upon examining the record, shall be of the opinion that the particular error complained of has resulted in a miscarriage of justice. The facts which we have recited with respect to the location and description of the land in controversy are not disputed. The defendant offered no evidence to indicate that the other facts stated in the findings in the other case and declared in the judgment were not true. His complaint, except as to the quantity of water flowing in the¡ creek, is altogether with respect to the conclusions of law found therein and embodied in the judgment. [5] While it is true that the judgment in question had not become final at the time it was admitted in evidence, it will be final when our decision herein affirming it becomes final. At that time it will be an adjudication and will constitute an estoppel. Under all these circumstances, we are unable to see how the ruling can result in a miscarriage of justice as to the defendant. She disputes the conclusion that the lands of the plaintiff are riparian to the stream but she does not dispute, that the stream runs through all the tracts in controversy, or that for a considerable period each year it carries water throughout its course, and the conclusion follows as matter of law. We have already shown that, under the facts found in case S. F. No. 9559, all the lands were, as matter of law, entitled to riparian rights in the stream at the time of the partition hereinbefore mentioned, and that the effect of that partition was to divide the riparian right and set off the one-half of that portion of the riparian rights which attached to said original tract to the tract now
We think, however, that errors appear in the decree, perhaps made through inadvertence, which, if allowed to remain, would substantially impair the technical legal rights of the defendant, though not otherwise of substantial importance. It declares that the plaintiff is the owner of the right to have the creek flow naturally and undiminished to said 1890 point and there to take “the natural flow” of said creek. This means the entire flow. The complaint asserts a right to only one-half thereof. This part of the judgment was evidently a mistake. Whether the taking of the half be accomplished by a division of the flow at all times or by a division of the time of taking it all is not material to our inquiry, and is not settled by the decree. Probably the latter is the only feasible method for so small a stream. [7] The decree also declares, in effect, that the defendant cannot use the water of, Chase Creek, or any part thereof,
Prom what we have said it necessarily follows that the judgment requires modification,. The defendant has not seriously complained of the features which we have mentioned, and which we find to be erroneous. Obviously, the appeal was not taken to correct these particular errors, and we are of the opinion that our judgment directing the modification of the judgment below should not carry the costs of appeal. Indeed, it seems to us from the entire record in both cases that this litigation is the result of the persistent and unfounded claim of' the defendant, Swett, that she has the right to take all of the water of the stream to the exclusion of the plaintiff, notwithstanding the effect of the partition of the land and the riparian rights attached thereto, whereby the title to one-half of the water flowing at the 1890 point remained attached to the plaintiff’s land.
The judgment in case S. P. No. 9748 is vacated with directions to the court below to enter a judgment on the
Richards, J., pro tem., Shurtleff, J., Waste, J., Wilbur, J., Sloane, J., and Lawlor, J., concurred.
Rehearing denied in S. F. No. 9559.
In denying a rehearing in S. P. No. 9559, the court filed the following opinion on April 20, 1922:
The appellant, defendant Swett, has applied for a rehearing in this case. She makes an entirely new objection to the judgment appealed from. We do not ordinarily notice a point made for the first time in a petition for rehearing. We depart from our rule solely because of a hope that an explanation of our view as to the effect of the judgment may prevent controversy between the parties.
The objection is to that part of the judgment which, in awarding to each party “one-half of the natural flow of. Chase Creek at said 1890 point,” proceeds to state, in connection with the- one-half allotted to plaintiff, the number of gallons, varying from ten thousand to fifteen thousand per twenty-four hours during specified months, as constituting one-half, and fixes a minimum of nine thousand gallons per twenty-four hours in the months not specified. The defendant suggests that nature may not produce water enough to make up these quantities and claims that the judgment is so framed that in the event of such shortage the plaintiff is adjudged the number of gallons daily as stated in the judgment, notwithstanding the deficiency, and that, consequently, the defendant will get less than the one-half to which she is in justice entitled.
We do not so understand the judgment. It does not purport to control the forces of nature. In the event that the natural flow does not supply the quantity designated, each party will nevertheless be entitled to the one-half of the quantity which nature furnishes and actually flowing, even
The petition for rehearing is denied.
Shaw, C. J., Lennon, J., Sloane, J., Richards, J., pro tem., Wilbur, J., Shurtleff, J., and Lawlor, J., concurred.
In S. F. No. 9748, on March 31, 1922, the court modified the judgment theretofore rendered as' follows:
It is ordered that the judgment of the su preme court set forth in the opinion filed March 24, 1922, be amended to read as follows:
It is ordered that the judgment of the superior court entered in case S. F. No. 9748 he modified by striking therefrom the whole of paragraph numbered 6 thereof, and by amending paragraphs numbered 4 and 5 thereof, respectively, so as to read as follows:
4. As part and parcel of said tract 3, defendant Swett is entitled as against plaintiff to take of the water of said Chase Creek a reasonable share, but no more than a reasonable share, for use upon said tract 3 and not elsewhere, and for the reasonable use of said tract 3 but for no other purpose.
5. Except as in the preceding paragraph (numbered 4) stated, plaintiff is the owner of, and he and his heirs and assigns are entitled to the use of the right, as part and parcel of said Thompson ranch, to have said Chase Creek flow naturally and undiminished to said 1890 point, where plaintiff, for use upon his said Thompson ranch, has the right to take one-half (%) of said flow.
As so modified, the judgment is affirmed. Neither party to recover costs on this appeal therefrom. The court below is directed on the going down of the remittitur to re-enter the judgment as thus modified.
Shaw, C. J., Shurtleff, J., Richards, J., pro tem., and Lawlor, J., concurred.
Rehearing denied.
All the Justices concurred.
Cases cited
- Parker v. Swett 40 Cal. App. 68 p. 476
- Smith v. Worn 93 Cal. 206 p. 480