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Show PART ONE I. Introductory Statement of the Case The record of this action is another chapter in the long history of controversy relating to the Colorado River. Suit was initiated by Arizona on August 13, 1952, by filing a motion for leave to file a bill of complaint against the State of California and seven public agencies of the State.1 On January 19, 1953, the motion, unopposed, was granted.2 The complaint invoked the original jurisdiction of the Court under Article III, Section 2, Clause 2 of the Constitution. It alleged that pursuant to the Colorado River Compact3 and the Boulder Canyon Project Act4 Arizona was entitled annually to a certain quantity of water from the Colorado River System. It further alleged that various claims asserted by the defendants adversely affected the rights asserted by Arizona and that unless and until such rights were confirmed various existing projects in Arizona could not be operated at present levels and prospective projects could not be financed and constructed. Arizona requested, inter alia, that her title to the annual beneficial consumptive use of 3,800,000 acre-feet6 of water of the Colorado River System be forever confirmed, that title of the State of California to the annual beneficial consumptive use of Colorado River System water be forever fixed at and 1Palo Verde Irrigation District, Imperial Irrigation District, Coachella Valley County Water District, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, City of Los Angeles, City of San Diego and County of San Diego. *344 U. S. 919 (1953). •For the complete text of the Compact see Appendix 2. M5 Stat. 1057 (1928). For the complete text of the Project Act see Appendix 3. eAn acre-foot of water is water sufficient to cover an acre of land to a depth of one foot. It is approximately 325,850 gallons. Ariz. Ex. 1000, p. 17 (Pre-Trial Order). |
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Original Report: State of Arizona, complainant v. State of California, Palo Verde Irrigation District, Imperial Irrigation District, Coachella Valley County Water District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, City of Los Angeles, California, City of San Diego, California, and County of San Diego, California |