Not Justiciable: Federal District Judge Rules in Favor of Water Agencies on Latest Issues in the Agua Caliente Litigation

Earlier this month, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California issued a decision in “Phase #2” of Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians v. Coachella Valley Water District et al., United States District Court for the Central District of California (District Court), Case No. 5:13-cv-00883-JGB-SP, finding that the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (Agua Caliente or Tribe) lacked standing to seek adjudication of its claim to quantification of its reserved groundwater right and its claim regarding groundwater quality.  A copy of the District Court decision is available here.  Although the Tribe may seek review in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the District Court decision is a victory for the local water agencies. … Read More Written by Richard S. Deitchman