In the Matter of Water Rights as Applied for by Meridian Service Metropolitan District Meridian Service Metropolitan…

Summary

The court held that the Commission had initial jurisdiction to determine whether the water Meridian sought to appropriate was designated ground water because the evidence presented a jurisdictional conflict. It affirmed the determination that precipitation runoff increased by Meridian’s development constituted, in part, designated ground water subject to Commission administration, and rejected Meridian’s preclusion and public-policy arguments. The court affirmed the district court’s order and remanded for further proceedings consistent with its opinion.