Alexander v. Central Oregon Irrigation District

Plaintiffs, owners of lands within the boundaries of defendant Central Oregon Irrigation District, brought a declaratory judgment suit seeking to have certain water rights acquired by defendant district in 1958 impressed with a constructive trust in plaintiffs’ favor. The circuit court impressed such constructive trust and ordered the district to transfer the water rights to plaintiffs on payment of a specified amount per acre. Defendant appeals. We review de novo. ORS 19.125 (3).

The relevant history of this matter is long and detailed, but much of it is essential to an understanding of the…