Cent. Utah Water Conservancy Dist. v. Upper East Union Irrigation Co.
Annotate this CaseThe Central Utah Water Conservancy District (CUWCD) entered into an agreement with three canal companies to improve irrigation structures belonging to the canal companies in exchange for rights to the increased water flow arising from the improvements. CUWCD failed to complete its obligations under the agreement and filed a declaratory action to establish its contractual rights. The district court determined that because CUWCD breached its obligations under the agreement, two of the canal companies were entitled to enforce the bargained-for damages provisions, which resulted in CUWCD's losing its prospective water rights. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that CUWCD's breach was material, and the breach was not excused by the doctrine of impracticability or CUWCD's tender of cash in lieu of performance.