White v. Weber Basin Water Conservancy District

CROCKETT, Chief Justice:

Plaintiffs brought this action against the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District claiming damages to their farm land, located at Farr West in Weber County, caused by the construction and operation of the Water District’s “Willard Gravity Canal” adjacent to their property.

The Whites bought their land from one Riley Taylor who had sold a portion of his land to the United States for the construction of the canal. Their theory for recovery is that this canal has a somewhat unu*135sual effect: It acts as a drain of the area when the canal is empty. But when it is filled and…