Aesthetic Water Feature Not Compensable

A recent decision by a governmental board denied an ALTERNATE water feature, an aesthetic design where the original plans called for an inlet pipe discharge and the contractor provided an upper pool and waterfall. Yet the government approved the revised design-the Board ruled the government did not direct the effort and there was no proof the original design was not possible to build...and frankly, the government did not ask for it. No overlapping design issues but an affirmative change that was done "gratuitously".  Hmmmmmmmmm....help me here..................