Environment | Law

DOJ supports Agua Caliente Band in litigation over water rights

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

The Obama administration is supporting the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in its water right lawsuit.

The Department of Justice filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit against two water agencies. Government attorneys say the United States has a strong interest in protecting the tribe's rights.

"This is a significant step in our fight to protect the future of Coachella Valley's water supply," Chairman Jeff L. Grubbe said in a press release. "For more than 20 years, the Tribe and the United States have raised concerns about the overdraft of the Valley's aquifer and degradation of the drinking water. We are working to ensure the Valley has a clean, abundant drinking water supply for generations. This move by the United States further proves the value and importance of our case against the water districts."

The defendants in the lawsuit are the Coachella Valley Water District and the Desert Water Agency. The tribe accuses them of failing to protect the water supply.

Get the Story:
US government supports Agua Caliente in water case (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 5/14)
U.S. Dept. of Justice files motion in support of Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (The Valley News 5/14)
Local tribe gets support in water rights lawsuit (KESQ 5/13)