Ellis
Draft for Discussion


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The Conservation Foundation


.I


Symposium on the Law of Water Allocation


in the Eastern United States


Cosmos Club, Washington, D. C.
October 4-6, 1956


SOME LEGAL ASPECTS OF WATER USE IN NORTH CAROLINA
by
Harold H. Ellis


Production Economics Research Branch,
Agricultural Research Service,
U. S. Department of Agriculture
in cooperation with
The Conservation Foundation
30 East 40th Street
New York City


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X(..V.









SOME LEGAL ASPECTS OF WATER USE IN NORTH CAROLINA

by Harold H. Ellis


Table of Contents


The Applicable Laws 1

The State's Policies Regarding Water Resources 2

Types of Water Sources 5

Natural Watercourses 5

Definition 5
Classification 8
General Natur _Atlpr iandlghts 8
Geneaji tDvelopment of the Riparian Doctrine 11-
nime of Use and Effect,.of Nonuse 23
ADefinition of Riparian Land and Use of Water on
r _-d 25
SPriorities or Preferences Based on Type of Use 31
jDomestic or Other Natural Uses 32
-Irrig tion 37
A inistrative Permits for Irrigation 41
.Other agricultural Purposes 49
r ining 50
Municipal or Public Water Supply 52
Water and Sewer Authorities 59
Sanitary Districts 61
Joint Municipal Water Supply Facilities 62
Other Public Water Supply Functions 62
Vendibility and Location of Use 63
Other Consumptive Uses 63
Detention or Obstructiop t. Water, with, Dams etc. 65
Damage to Propertyor. Use of Propeprty Below 65
Damage to Property or Use of Property Above 70
Significance of Ownersip of' Bed and Banks 72
Legislation '' 75
Legislation 75
SFishing 77
Legislation 79
Other Nonconsumptive Uses 80
S,4avigable Waters


C










Classification
Riparian Rights as Between Riparian Owners and
j as Against Navigation and Other Pblic.Rights
Dams and Other Obstructions
Floatable Streams
Floating Logs in Nonfloatable Streams
Rights and Regulation of Navigation
Navigation vs. Other Public Rights
Fishing Rights
Significance of Private Ownership of Bed of
Navigable Watercourse
Federal Interest in Navigable Waters
Additional Considerations
Natural Lakes
Place of Diversion
Boundaries of Watercourse and Related Matters
Instances Where Prior Use May Receive
Preferential Treatment
Flood Waters
Watershed Protection and.Flood Prevention
*! 1 *


artificial and Developed Watercourses-
Artificial Watercourses
Rights in and to Use Ponds or Lakes
Dam in Watercourse

otherr Artificial Ponds or Lakes
trFadnwaters-
f Percolating Groundwaters
, Definite Underground Streams


Created by


Springs
Surface Waters
/--RIgts of Use

Drainage
Levee or Drainage Districts
Drainage by Counties,

/Pollution ;|
SLegisdltLve Protection of Public Drinking Water Supplies
f\yi Protection of Fish
' Other Special Privileges or Protection
Tax Inducements
agencies and Organizations Having Pollution Control
SPowers and Related Duties


Page


82

87
92
97
99
99
99
100

103
105
111
111
111
112

117
119
120

124
124

128

130
131
131
138
140

141
142
143

145
150
153

154
159
163
165
166

167


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State.Board of Health
State Stream"Sanitation Committee "-
Sanitary Districts
Water and Seyer Authorities :


/Other g qcal Agencies and Organiz
S special State Lay" Relati -to Pollut
Part1gular Streams

a'iiterrelationships Among Water Sources
/ d Assig-men or a e'R a
*\jI Tfr sfer or Assignment of Water Rights
-3*


nations;
ion,


L...T,


Other Contractual Arrangements

S Legl Remedies
- -.. Money Damages- '' "'
Injunction"
Balancing of Interests, Equities, or Codveniences :"
Liability Even Though awful.YJu ,
f DeterminigLe'Il-- hi 4i~er Agreed Facts".
Declaratory Judment

Estoppel


r, \


190
196


Condemnation and Related Proceedings 201
Condemnation For or By Various Purposes, Persons, Agencie. ,
or Organizations .... .'. 6
Municipal or Public Water Supplies and Sever Systems 0
Hydroelectric Power Dams and Related purposess .: 205
Milldams and Related Purposes : 207
Mining ?10
Drainage .210
SRelated Proceedings
Emergency Water Supply 212
Permanent Damages 214
Determination of Amount of Compensation 219
Use of Property or Water Rights Acquired by Condemn.tion, etc. 225


/'r --Prescriptive Rights


Funetions of Certain State and Local Agencies and Organizations
State Boafi-Bd-ih'dert~ of conservationn and Development
SState Board of Water Ccmmissioners .
SState Wildlife Resources Ctsd"ii" iii : :
State Ports Authority.
State Recreatio Commission :
Public Utilities Commission
Soil Conservation Districts
Corporations and Cooperatives
/ ---Neuse River Watershed Authority
John H. Kerr Reservoir Development Commission
State Planning Board
LIselation on Water Rights Proposed in 1955


226

T233
S233
. 235
: 236
237
238
238
238
240
241
243
243


/,


4/


Page

167
168
173
175
175

177

178

180

182


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