Background

Because Arizona never ratified the Colorado River Compact, hostility was launched between Arizona and California. When Congress finally ratified the Boulder Canyon Project Act, Arizona feared that the reservoir created by Hoover Dam would be used to provide more water for California at Arizona's expense.

Arizona argued that Congress lacked the power to take control of the waters of the Colorado River within Arizona and divert it to California through the construction of the Dam. In other words, Arizona stated that the Boulder Canyon Project Act was an act of Congress that attempted to force upon Arizona the terms of a compact it refused to agree to.

The other states moved to dismiss Arizona's suit, and the dismissal was what the Supreme Court was reviewing.

Explore the 1931 Decision in Arizona v. California, 283 U.S. 423.

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