Department of Ecology v. Adsit

Circle C Ranch, and various parties representing it, appeal from a finding of the trial court that cer tain water rights claims made under the 1967 water rights act by the ranch were improperly filed and that no water rights accrued to the ranch by virtue of the improper filing. We reverse the trial court and hold that, under some circumstances, the doctrine of substantial compliance may be used to meet the requirements of the act.

The 1967 water rights act was designed to eliminate uncertainty as to the existence of private water claims and to assist in enforcement of the beneficial use of…