Document: 412 U.S. 534 93 S.Ct. 2763 37 L.Ed.2d 132 UNITED STATES of America, plaintiff,v.States NEVADA AND CALIFORNIA. No. 59, Orig. Supreme Court the United States June 11, 1973 Solicitor Gen. Erwin N. Griswold for plaintiff. E. Barrett Prettyman, Jr., Washington, D. C., defendant State Nev. Roderick Walston, Cal. On motion leave to file bill complaint. PER CURIAM. 1 The asks a complaint pursuant this Court's original jurisdiction against California and Nevada seeking declaration respective rights in Truckee River, navigable interstate stream. rises High Sierra, flows into Lake Tahoe, through which California-Nevada boundary runs, exits on side Lake, 20 miles before crossing Nevada. It then continues another 65 miles, Reno beyond, its termination Pyramid desert lake long five wide, with no outlet water level determined by balance or imbalance between inflow evaporation. 2 sought be filed states that 1859 created reservation Paiute Indian Tribe included an extensive area surrounding it. Allegedly, intended at time reserve sufficient from River maintain lower reaches river as viable fishery Indians could depend their subsistence livelihood. however, is said have declined some 70 feet since 1906, due chiefly upstream uses diversions make it imperative prior right judicially declared each States. 3 appears has several other interests waters chief among divert Derby Dam, distance large amounts transportation use connection Newlands Reclamation Project, initiated completed Act 1902, 32 Stat. 388.* Judicial approval diversion was 4 x suit brought 1913 District v. Orr Water Ditch Co., Equity A-3 (1944). decree entered action 1944 authorized Dam delivery Project; also irrigate 3,130 acres bottom land 2,745 bench Reservation. App. D Motion Leave File Complaint. 5 foremost purpose institute present litigation perfect all will current so prevent further deterioration habitat native fish historically thrived provided sustenance Tribe. 6 denied. compact respect shares water, subject pending bills Congress. H.R. 15, S. 24, 93d Cong., 1st Sess. There now controversy two River. complaint, therefore, concedes, not one alleging case within exclusive Court, under 28 U.S.C. § 1251(a), but dispute over 1251(b)(2). 7 We seek exercise our sparingly are particularly reluctant take where plaintiff adequate forum settle his claim. Illinois City Milwaukee, 406 91, 92 1385, 31 712 (1972); Ohio Wyandotte Chemicals Corp., 401 493, 91 1005, 256 (1971); Massachusetts Missouri, 308 1, 60 39, 84 L.Ed. (1939). Here, disputes any particular level. asserts bound private hundreds landowners who served Project whose dependent upon authorizing diversion, contract deliver project. This existence extent Reservation Court. need employ competing claims single State. individual users ordinarily would intervene New Jersey York, 345 369, 373-375, 73 689, 97 1081 (1953), opportunity participate own behalf if goes forward 8 recognize able join that, absent California's voluntary appearance, bind Hinderlider La Plata & Cherry Creek 304 92, 103, 58 803, 82 1202 (1938). But these determinative considerations. Under proposed compact, agreed water. wards charged Nevada's share For purposes dividing stream State, right, parens patriae, represent nonfederal insofar allocated concerned. therefore doubtful best there latter's claim Lake. supra, 372-373, 689; 106, 803; Nebraska Wyoming, 295 40, 43, 55 568, 79 1289 (1935); 325 589, 612-615, 629, 1332, 89 1815 (1945). true downstream priorities important considerations when judiciary equitably apportions stream, U.S., 102, 617, 1332; Wyoming Colorado, 259 419, 470, 42 552, 66 999 (1922), appear occasion object grounds interference only approved Nevada, such approval, disowns agreed-upon division In event, may arise, perhaps ground assert must reduced order accommodate prior, long-established Cf. Arizona California, 373 546, 83 1468, 10 542 (1963); supra. Any possible can settled federal courts California; possibility ripe too remote warrant granting Government's instant complant. deny motion, without prejudice refiling should posture change manner presents more substantial basis jurisdiction. 9 So ordered. Mr. Justice DOUGLAS dissents. * operates Washoe established 1956, 775. provides, inter alia, establishing facilities permit increased releases Tahoe restoration fishery, 43 614c. addition claimed seeks decreed national forests Tuckee watershed, reserved public holes hot springs, lands heretofore been put beneficial those lands, runoff wildlife refuge.

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