Records of Rank v. Krug, 1877-2006.

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Records of Rank v. Krug, 1877-2006.

Records of Rank v. Krug, 1877-2006.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/781144945

The Rank v. Krug case originated with the construction of the Central Valley Project in California. Friant Dam was constructed on the San Joaquin River as part of the project with the purpose of diverting water from the river into the Madera and Friant-Kern Canals in order to irrigate lands in the Valley which had no nearby source of irrigation water. In 1947 Everett G. Rank and twelve other riparian landowners filed a lawsuit against Secretary of the Interior Julius Krug to stop the water diversions. Despite a temporary injunction issued by Judge Person M. Hall of the Fresno County Superior Court, the Interior Department continued to divert river water. In 1956 Judge Hall issued a decision in favor of the landowners. In response to this, the Bureau of Reclamation appealed the ruling, in addition to applying for a water rights permit from the State of California. The California Department of Fish and Game attempted to thwart the Bureau in this attempt but were overruled by the governor. In 1962, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard the Bureau's appeal (Dugan v. Rank) and decided the case was administrative in nature and could not be decided in court. In response to this, the City of Fresno and the Department of the Interior asked for a Supreme Court review. The Supreme Court heard the case and decided in favor of the Bureau of Reclamation, arguing that the federal government could seize the water rights of the landowners through eminent domain, though it would have to compensate the landowners for the loss in value of their property.

9 linear ft.

California State University, Fresno, Henry Madden Library