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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2002

Secretary of Interior Gale Norton signed an order on Monday to force the state of California to abide by a multi-state Colorado River water rights agreement.

Since the 1920s, California has been taking more than its fair share of the river. By January 1, it work to limits its use to 4.4 million acre-feet or Norton will shut them off.

Norton is seeking to enforce the Arizona v. California Supreme Court decision. The litigation has lasted decades and impacts tribal water rights.

The Supreme Court in 2000 issued another decision in the long-running case and upheld the Quechan Nation's rights to seek additional water from the river.

Get the Story:
U.S. tightens taps on state's water (AP 12/17)
COLORADO RIVER: Norton draws line in the sand (The Las Vegas Review-Journal 12/17)
Interior Chief Tells California To Cut Colorado River Intake (The Wall Street Journal 12/17)
Norton threatens Calif. water cut (The Denver Post 12/17)
U.S. Moves to Cut California Water Supply (The New York Times 12/17)

Relevant Documents:
Norton Speech to Colorado River Water Users Association (DOI 12/16)

Related Stories:
Babbitt praises tribal involvement (12/15)
Western water rights plan reached (12/15)
Court upholds water rights (6/20)
Court set to rule on water rights (6/19)