Arizona v. California
Encyclopedia
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| data2 = State of Arizona v. State of California
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| data11 = California gets a maximum of 50% up to 4400000 acre.ft of Colorado River water a year or less according to certain formula; Nevada gets 4% and Arizona gets the remainder
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Arizona
v. California
is a set of United States Supreme Court cases, all dealing with water distribution from the Colorado River
.
When a dispute arises between two states, the case is filed for original jurisdiction with the United States Supreme Court. This is one of the very limited circumstances where the court acts as original jurisdiction; that is, as a trial court. In all other cases the court acts as the highest level appellate court in the United States.
The cases involved were all named Arizona v. California, and were decided in 1931, 1934, 1936, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1979, 1983, 1984, and 2000.
The original decision, , specified the amount of water to which Arizona was entitled under the Colorado River Compact
of 1921.
Since then, the case has been relitigated several times because of Arizona's claims of California using more water than it is entitled to.
In summary, as long as at least 7500000 acre.ft of water is available from the Colorado River, California is allocated 4400000 acre.ft; Nevada, 300000 acre.ft; and Arizona, the remainder. If more water is available, California is entitled to 50% of the water from the Colorado River, Arizona to 46%, and Nevada to 4%. If less water is available, the Secretary of the Interior must allocate the water according to various formulas (which were the subjects of the court cases) to ensure that each state receives a specified amount, with California receiving an absolute fixed maximum of 4400000 acre.ft per year (547 U.S. 157). Some of the adjustments involved rights of the U.S. Government with respect to supplying water to Indian tribes pursuant to Executive Orders signed by the President of the United States
as far back as 1907.
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Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
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| header1 =
| label2 = Full case name
| data2 = State of Arizona v. State of California
| label3 = Docket nos.
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| label4 = Citations
| data4 =
| label5 = Claim
| data5 =
| label6 = Prior history
| data6 = Original Jurisdiction
| label7 = Procedural history
| data7 =
| label8 = Subsequent history
| data8 =
| label9 = Argument
| data9class = plainlinks
| data9 =
| header10 =
| data11 = California gets a maximum of 50% up to 4400000 acre.ft of Colorado River water a year or less according to certain formula; Nevada gets 4% and Arizona gets the remainder
| header12 =
Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
v. California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
is a set of United States Supreme Court cases, all dealing with water distribution from the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
.
When a dispute arises between two states, the case is filed for original jurisdiction with the United States Supreme Court. This is one of the very limited circumstances where the court acts as original jurisdiction; that is, as a trial court. In all other cases the court acts as the highest level appellate court in the United States.
The cases involved were all named Arizona v. California, and were decided in 1931, 1934, 1936, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1979, 1983, 1984, and 2000.
The original decision, , specified the amount of water to which Arizona was entitled under the Colorado River Compact
Colorado River Compact
The Colorado River Compact is a 1922 agreement among seven U.S. states in the basin of the Colorado River in the American Southwest governing the allocation of the water rights to the river's water among the parties of the interstate compact...
of 1921.
Since then, the case has been relitigated several times because of Arizona's claims of California using more water than it is entitled to.
- Arizona argued that the Colorado River Compact was unconstitutional.: Arizona requested that the Supreme Court:
-
- specify an amount of Colorado River water for Arizona's use
- limit the amount allotted to California: The court specified the amount of water to which each state in the Colorado River Compact was entitled.: The court adjusted the amounts of water specified in 373 US 546.: The court adjusted its previous decree.: The court adjusted the specified amounts of water for all parties to the case.: The court issued a decree regarding unadjudicated rights of Indian tribes to Colorado River water.: The court adjusted its previous decree.: The court adjusted the specified amounts of water for several parties to the case.
-
In summary, as long as at least 7500000 acre.ft of water is available from the Colorado River, California is allocated 4400000 acre.ft; Nevada, 300000 acre.ft; and Arizona, the remainder. If more water is available, California is entitled to 50% of the water from the Colorado River, Arizona to 46%, and Nevada to 4%. If less water is available, the Secretary of the Interior must allocate the water according to various formulas (which were the subjects of the court cases) to ensure that each state receives a specified amount, with California receiving an absolute fixed maximum of 4400000 acre.ft per year (547 U.S. 157). Some of the adjustments involved rights of the U.S. Government with respect to supplying water to Indian tribes pursuant to Executive Orders signed by the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
as far back as 1907.
See also
- Wyoming v. ColoradoWyoming v. ColoradoWyoming v. Colorado is a set of court cases, all dealing with water distribution from the Laramie River. Petition for rehearing was granted which revised the original decision. A motion to dismiss was later denied....
- List of United States Supreme Court cases: volume 283, volume 292, volume 298, volume 373, volume 376, volume 383, volume 439, volume 460, volume 466, volume 531
- List of United States Supreme Court cases
- Lists of United States Supreme Court cases by volume