United States v. Gila Valley Irrigation District

This is the latest iteration of a lawsuit originally brought by the United States in 1925 “seeking a determination of the rights and priorities of Indians and non-Indians to the waters of the Gila River.” United States v. Gila Valley Irrigation Dist., 961 F.2d 1432, 1433 (9th Cir.1992). The United States, acting on its own behalf and as trustee and guardian for the Pima and Apache Indians, negotiated a consent decree with private landowners that established the relative rights and obligations of Indian and non-Indian users of the Gila River. In 1935, the district court approved the Globe…