Agua Caliente Band and DOJ submit briefs in water rights case


A view of the Agua Caliente Reservation in southern California. Photo from Facebook

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and the Department of Justice submitted briefs in the tribe's water rights lawsuit.

The briefs argue that the creation of the reservation by executive order ensured water for the tribe for its future uses. The tribe and DOJ are now seeking to quantify those rights.

The defendants in the case are the Coachella Valley Water District and the Desert Water Agency. They argue that the tribe lacks aboriginal or reserved rights to its water.

The motions were filed on Tuesday. The parties will be able to submit replies in November and December, with a hearing scheduled for February 2015, The Palm Springs Desert Sun reported.

Turtle Talk has posted documents from the case, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians v. Coachella Valley Water District.

Get the Story:
Tribe, agencies lay out arguments in water lawsuit (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 10/22)

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