Arizona brought suit under the original jurisdiction of the U.S.
Supreme Court in 1952 to resolve its dispute with California over
rights to use the Lower Basin apportionment of the Colorado River
Basin Compact.
Arizona brought suit under the original jurisdiction of the U.S.
Supreme Court in 1952 to resolve its dispute with California over
rights to use the Lower Basin apportionment of the Colorado River
Basin Compact.
Much to California's dismay, the Supreme Court
held that by passing the Boulder Canyon Project Act, Congress
had, in effect, apportioned the mainstem of the Colorado River
with California receiving 4.4 million acre-feet, Arizona 2.8
million acre-feet, and Nevada 0.3 million acre-feet.
Furthermore, the Court found that the Boulder Canyon Project Act
allowed Arizona and Nevada the exclusive use of their
tributaries, which did not support the Upper Basin states'
position that the Mexican Treaty obligation should be satisfied
from flows in the Lower Basin in excess of their apportionment,
much of which was intended to come from Lower Basin tributaries.
