Law Review and Bar Journal References:

Constitutionality of water rights regulations, John Scurlock, 1 K.L.R. 298, 313 (1953).

Modification or abolition of certain property rights under police power of state, Robert I. Guenthner, 15 K.L.R. 346, 362 (1967).

Land leveling for irrigation in Kansas, Jerry L. Bean, 19 K.L.R. 597, 598, 599, 609 (1971).

"Too Much of a Good Thing: Kansas Law on Unwanted Water," Robert W. Coykendall, 66 J.K.B.A. No. 7, 24 (1997).

"Flooding of Private Property by the Construction of a Public Improvement: Isn't It Time for Kansas to Call It What It Really Is--A Compensable Taking?" Nicole M. Zomberg, 38 W.L.J. 209 (1998).

Attorney General's Opinions:

Assignment of liability for damages caused by works of improvement. 86-158.

CASE ANNOTATIONS

1. Farmer may repel flood water flowing upon land from highway. The State, ex rel., v. Zerbe, 87 Kan. 300, 302, 124 P. 160.

2. Maintaining of insufficient culvert on highway may be enjoined. Murphy v. Fairmount Township, 89 Kan. 760, 766, 133 P. 169.

3. When injunction will lie to prevent injury hereunder considered. Freeman v. Scherer, 97 Kan. 184, 186, 154 P. 1019.

4. Levee to repel flood waters; damage to others; when maintainable. Thompson v. McDougal, 103 Kan. 373, 375, 175 P. 157.

5. Township officer cannot grant right to maintain dam prohibited hereunder. The State v. Wright, 103 Kan. 584, 585, 175 P. 381.

6. Common-law rule still applicable to lands within city. Liston v. Scott, 108 Kan. 180, 183, 194 P. 642.

7. Constitutionality of section upheld and section applied; lands "adjacent" even though separated by public highway; dam lawful when constructed; cannot be reconstructed after statute enacted. Martin v. Lown, 111 Kan. 752, 753, 754, 208 P. 565.

8. Section cited in considering jurisdiction over surface-water drainage within district. Schrag v. Blaze Fork Drainage District, 119 Kan. 169, 172, 237 P. 1047.

9. Section embodies civil-law rule; held constitutional. Skinner v. Wolf, 126 Kan. 158, 266 P. 926.

10. Dike preventing flow from upper lands ordered lowered. Gentry v. Weaver, 130 Kan. 691, 696, 288 P. 745.

11. Held natural watercourse defined; obstruction enjoined. Tompkins v. Brown, 134 Kan. 111, 112, 116, 4 P.2d 454.

12. Railroad not liable for obstruction of flow caused by its roadbed. Butts v. Atchison, T. & S. F. Rly. Co., 135 Kan. 85, 87, 9 P.2d 648.

13. Section substitutes civil law for common law. Dyer v. Stahlhut, 147 Kan. 767, 770, 78 P.2d 900.

14. Riparian owner may build levee to repel flood waters from natural watercourse. Jensen v. Buffalo Drainage Dist., 148 Kan. 712, 718, 719, 84 P.2d 961.

15. Injunction order compelling removal of embankment which diverted surface waters upheld. Bolinger v. Moorhouse, 154 Kan. 124, 126, 114 P.2d 853.

16. Inapplicable to city and its flood-control program. Cow Creek Valley Flood Prevention Ass'n v. City of Hutchinson, 166 Kan. 78, 83, 200 P.2d 299.

17. Petition in action to enjoin wrongful drainage considered and held sufficient. Goering v. Schrag, 167 Kan. 499, 500, 207 P.2d 391.

18. Injunction action to determine rights and limitations of rights between owners of riparian agricultural lands in dealing with surface waters, floodwaters, and overflow waters from a natural watercourse. Horn v. Seeger, 167 Kan. 532, 541, 542, 207 P.2d 953.

19. Landowner had right to construct levee to repel flood water from natural watercourse. Kraus v. Strong, 170 Kan. 459, 460, 461, 227 P.2d 93.

20. Right of owner to build levee; when permission of state engineer necessary. State, ex rel., v. Mills, 171 Kan. 397, 399, 401, 402, 233 P.2d 720.

21. State cannot maintain mandatory injunction proceeding for benefit of private parties. State, ex rel., v. Barnes, 171 Kan. 491, 492, 494, 233 P.2d 724.

22. Division of water resources engineer without power to supersede injunction granted hereunder. Horn v. Seeger, 174 Kan. 194, 197, 255 P.2d 997.

23. Inapplicable to plans which would discharge water upon land of lower landowner. Horn v. Seeger, 174 Kan. 224, 228, 229, 255 P.2d 997.

24. Cited; drainage system construction held exercise of city's governmental functions. Perry v. City of Wichita, 174 Kan. 264, 270, 255 P.2d 667.

25. Section cited in considering rights of riparian owners. Bellah v. Phoenix Utilities Co., 7 F.2d 406.

26. Provision against obstruction does not apply to railroad grades. Sandstrum v. Missouri Pac. R. Co., 39 F.2d 165, 166.

27. Mentioned; petition filed by individual held to state cause of action enjoining changing of watercourse. Reeder v. Board of County Commissioners, 193 Kan. 182, 187, 392 P.2d 888.

28. Individual landowner suffering damage may properly bring suit for injunction and damages. Simon v. Neises, 193 Kan. 343, 345, 346, 347, 395 P.2d 308.

29. Permanent injunction against lower landowner's keeping and maintaining dam affirmed. Rardin v. Marcotte, 194 Kan. 186, 188, 398 P.2d 351.

30. Chief engineer has authority to permit construction of levees to repel surface waters. Klassen v. Regier, 195 Kan. 61, 63, 403 P.2d 106.

31. Injunctive relief to correct violation of duty hereunder affirmed. Clawson v. Garrison, 3 Kan. App. 2d 188, 195, 196, 201, 202, 203, 592 P.2d 117.

32. Cited; denial of injunction to enjoin upper landowners from removing water by pumps and open ditches examined. DeWerff v. Schartz, 12 Kan. App. 2d 553, 556, 751 P.2d 1047 (1988).

33. Cited; district as governmental entity, exceptions in tort claims act (K.S.A. 75-6104(d)) as inapplicable where legal duty exists examined. Dougan v. Rossville Drainage Dist., 243 Kan. 315, 320, 757 P.2d 272 (1988).

34. Section held inapplicable to city's easement for storm sewer concentrating flow of water over plaintiff's land. Williamson v. City of Hays, 275 Kan. 300, 64 P.3d 364 (2003).