Series 165
Attorney General's Office Colorado River Commission case files

Dates: 1925-1963.

6.45 cubic feet and 12 microfilm reelsSkip to Containers

These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.

Historical Note

An agency history is available.

Scope and Content

This series contains assorted legal records, correspondence, and reports pertaining to Utah's role in the Colorado River Commission. There are two distinct set of records present in this series, split between paper holdings and microfilm. Much of the physical paper content include the legal records created in the federal Arizona V. California case. It is this case (heard by the U.S. Supreme Court) that is primarily responsible for establishing water rights between states engaged in the Colorado River Compact. In addition to records that help to clarify interactions between states and their rights to water from the Colorado River, there are also records that help clarify transnational agreements concerning water use between the United States and Mexico.

The microfilm holdings in this series are comprised of a variety of legal records and published court reports from early in the 20th century. These records help to spell out the legal precedents and decisions that have impacted the useof the Colorado River in Utah. The records present on these reels include court records, published transcripts, and published decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court. It appears that a majority of the records present on these microfilm reels were document stamped (a practice engaged in by the Utah State Archives early in the agency's history). The whereabouts of the physical holdings found on these microfilm reels (created in 1974) is currently unknown. The records that appear on the microfilm do not appear to replicate the physical holdings attached to this series.

But while the majority of the records in this series detail the Arizona V. California case there are other records present that help to provide valuable historical insight on a host of other significant issues related to the human regulation and use of the Colorado River. This includes engineering and historical information about dam development on the Colorado River, and the actions of the Upper and Lower Colorado RiverCommissions in citing and coordinating the management of massive construction efforts (such as the construction of Hoover Dam which was completed in 1936). Among the most controversial of these reclamation activities was the 1956 decision to move a proposed dam site from the Echo Park region of the Unita Basin (near Dinosaur National Monument) to Glen Canyon (creating Lake Powell). This action (still highly controversial among environmental groups) set a precedent that prevents any federal reclamation activity from taking place within the boundaries of any National Park or National Monument.

Arrangement

Alphabetical by subject.

Related Records

Upper Colorado River project case files from the Governor Clyde, Series 200, contains assorted legal records, correspondence, and reports pertaining to Utah's role in the Colorado River Commission.

Colorado River Compact subject file from the Governor Dern, Series 206, contains assorted legal records, correspondence, and reports pertaining to Utah's role in the Colorado River Commission.

Administrative records from the Water and Power Board, Series 2559, contains an assortment of records from the state-level agency directly involved with many of the Colorado River issues discussed in this series.

Correspondence from the Water and Power Board, Series 2561, contains a variety of opinions and primary source records that provide deeper insight into many of the larger issues that appear throughout this series.

Water Committee's records from Salt Lake City (Utah). Water Commission, Series 4927, also contains records that detail use of the Colorado River in Utah.

Colorado river basin transcripts from the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, Series 11926, contains legal records related to the formation and administration of the Upper Colorado River Commission.

Minutes from the Water and Power Board, Series 12314, contains minutes of the state-level water agency that had direct interaction with many of the issues that appear throughout this series.

Colorado River project records from the Department of Natural Resources. Division of Water Rights, Series 13912, contains assorted legal records, correspondence, and reports pertaining to Utah's role in the Colorado River Commission.

Interstate compacts from the Lieutenant Governor, Series 20221, contains assorted legal records, correspondence, and reports pertaining to Utah's role in the Colorado River Commission.

Publications from the Water and Power Board, Series 22695, offers published information from the state government level that may mirror some of the information and issues found in this series.

Additional Forms

This series is available on microfilm.

This series is available online as part of the Utah State Archives Digital Archives.

Copies of these records are located at University of Utah J. Willard Marriott Library View Online.

Access Restrictions

This series is classified as Public.

Preferred Citation

Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.

Processing Note

This series was processed by Jim Kichas between October and December 2011.

Indexing Terms

  • Water resources development--Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico)--Records and correspondence
  • Utah--Water rights.
  • Utah--Attorneys general--Correspondence
  • Utah--Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico)
  • Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico)--Records and correspondence
  • Civil Procedure and Courts
  • Environmental Conditions
  • Water and Water Rights

Container List

BOX FOLDER DATE DESCRIPTION
1 1 1961 U.S. Supreme Court - Arizona Versus California - Answering Brief for Arizona
1 2 1961 Hall Versus St. Helna Parish School Board
1 3 1961-1962 Arizona Versus California
1 4 1960 Arizona Versus California
1 5 1960 Arizona Versus California
1 6 1960 Arizona Versus California
1 7 1959 Arizona Versus California
1 8 1959 Arizona Versus California
1 9 1958-1960 In the Matter of Arizona Power Authority
1 10 1954-1959 Colorado River and Upper Colorado River Commission
1 11 1954-1959 Colorado River and Upper Colorado River Commission
1 12 1954-1959 Colorado River and Upper Colorado River Commission
1 13 1955-1957 Arizona Versus California
2 1 1955-1957 Arizona Versus California
2 2 1955-1957 Arizona Versus California
3 1 1948 Nov 29 Engineering Advisory Committee to Upper Colorado River Basin Compact Commission - Final Report
3 2 1950-1951 Reports to Upper Colorado River Commission by R.D. Goodrich, Chief Engineer
3 3 1938-1950 Upper Colorado River Commission Monthly Financial Statements
3 4 1952-1956 Upper Colorado River Commission Annual Reports
3 5 1951-1952 Upper Colorado River Commission Annual Reports
3 6 1938 Colorado River - NRA Bulletins
3 7 1946-1951 U.S. Department of the Interior - Bureau of Reclamation
3 8 1949 National Reclamation Association
3 9 1950 National Reclamation Association
3 10 1950 National Reclamation Association
3 11 1950 National Reclamation Association
3 12 1951-1952 National Reclamation Association
3 13 1937-1951 Miscellaneous Pamphlets, Comments, Etc. by States
3 14 1952-1959 Upper Colorado River Commission
3 15 1952-1959 Upper Colorado River Commission
3 16 1952-1959 Upper Colorado River Commission
3 17 1937-1957 Arizona
3 18 1946-1951 California
3 19 1945-1951 Colorado
3 20 1945-1951 Colorado
4 1 1958 Upper Colorado River Commission Official Record - Volume 10
4 2 1938-1951 Utah
4 3 1950 Idaho
4 4 1950 New Mexico
4 5 1944 Six State Committee Reports
4 6 1944 Six State Committee Reports
4 7 1938-1952 Wyoming
4 8 1944 Colorado Water Conservation Board - Treaty with Mexico Relating to the Utilization of the Waters of Certain Rivers
4 9 1945 Water Treaty with Mexico - Federal Hearing Report
4 10 1945-1949 Water Treaty with Mexico - Federal Hearing Report
4 11 1938-1946 Mexican Treaty - Miscellaneous Papers
4 12 1938-1946 Mexican Treaty - Miscellaneous Papers
4 13 1936-1945 Mexican Treaty - Correspondence
4 14 1961-1962 Southern Rocky Mountain Area Local Service Case
4 15 1961-1962 Southern Rocky Mountain Area Local Service Case
4 16 1961-1962 Southern Rocky Mountain Area Local Service Case
4 17 1960 Amicus Cuiae Briefs
4 18 1961 Southern Rocky Mountain Area Local Service Case - Direct Exhibits
4 19 1961 Southern Rocky Mountain Area Local Service Case - Direct Exhibits
5 1 1961 Civil Aeronautics Board - Trans Pacific Route Case
5 2 1960 State of California - Department of Water Resources
5 3 1955 File 576-A: U.S. Versus State of Utah (Colorado River)
5 4 1933 File 576-B: U.S. Versus State of Utah (Colorado River)
5 5 1933 File 576-B: U.S. Versus State of Utah (Colorado River)
5 6 1928-1933 File 576: U.S. Versus State of Utah (Colorado River)
5 7 1938-1952 Colorado River Basin States Committee - General Records
5 8 1938-1946 Colorado River Basin States Committee - Correspondence
6 1 1956 Upper Colorado River Commission - Official Record
6 2 1946-1951 Colorado River Basin States Committee
6 3 1938-1941 Colorado River State Engineer Fact Finding Committee
6 4 1938 Dec 14 Colorado River Basin Report by E.B. Debler - Submitted to the Conference of Colorado River Basin States at Phenix, Arizona
6 5 1949-1952 Colorado River Water Users Association
6 6 1947-1951 Colorado River - Development Fund
6 7 1951-1952 Colorado River Storage Project
6 8 1949 Vermejo Reclamation Project, New Mexico
6 9 1951-1952 All American Canal Pilot Knob
6 10 1937-1940 Boulder Dam Correspondence
6 11 1939-1942 Boulder Dam - Miscellaneous
6 12 1937-1939 Boulder Dam - Miscellaneous
6 13 1929-1939 Boulder Dam - Miscellaneous
6 14 1932-1947 Boulder Dam - Miscellaneous
6 15 1947 Bridge Canyon Project
6 16 1931-1939 Bridge Canyon Project
6 17 1939-1951 Bridge Canyon Project
6 18 1949 Central Arizona Project
6 19 1949 Central Arizona Project
6 20 1951 Central Arizona Project
6 21 1950-1951 Dinosaur National Monument - Echo Park and Split Mountain Resevoir
7 1 1949 Nov Dixie Project - Project Planning Report
7 2 1950 Dixie Project
7 3 1946 Gila Project - Reports
7 4 1946 Gila Project - Reports
7 5 1937-1938 Gila Project
7 6 1970 Gooseberry Project
7 7 1949-1950 Gunnison-Arkansas Project: Roaring Fork Division
7 8 1939-1948 Utah Projects
7 9 1941 Columbia River
8 1 1954-1957 Goverment Documents: Supreme Court - Arizona Versus California
8 2 1954 Goverment Documents: Colorado River Storage Project - Hearings
8 3 1955 Goverment Documents: Colorado River Storage Project - Hearings - Part I
8 4 1955 Goverment Documents: Colorado River Storage Project - Hearings - Part IGoverment Documents: Colorado River Storage Project - Hearings - Part II
8 5 1953 Upper Colorado River Commission - Fourth Annual Report
8 6 1955 Upper Colorado River Commission - Official Record
8 7 1957 Upper Colorado River Commission - Official Record
8 8 1957 Upper Colorado River Commission - Miscellaneous Records
8 9 1955-1958 United States Exhibits - lower Colorado River Litigation
8 10 1944-1952 New Mexico Exhibits - Volume I
8 11 1955 New Mexico Exhibits - Volume II
8 12 1958 New Mexico Exhibits - Nox. 701-852
8 13 1955 Government Documents: Colorado River Storage Projects - Hearings
9 1 1957 Government Documents: Supreme Court of U.S. - Arizona Versus California
9 2 1955 Upper Colorado River Commission - Sixth Annual Report
9 3 1956 Upper Colorado River Commission - Seventh Annual Report
9 4 1953 Maps of the Colorado River Basin
9 5 1953 Maps of the Colorado River Basin
9 6 1938-1940 U.S. Supreme Court - North Platte River Case: Nebraska Versus Wyoming
9 7 1953 U.S. Supreme Court - Arizona Versus California
10 1 1958 Colorado River Case - Nevada Exhibits 1-50
10 2 1958 Colorado River Case - Nevada Exhibits 51-801
REEL DATE DESCRIPTION
1 1929-1931 Vol 1 (pg 1) to Vol 12-13 (pg 937)
2 1929-1931 Vol 12-13 (pg 938) to Vol 6 (pg 1869)
3 1929-1931 Vol 6 (pg 1870) to Vol 4 (pg 2693)
4 1929-1931 Vol 4 (pg 2694) to Vol 9 (pg 3665)
5 1929-1931 Vol 9 (pg 3666) to Vol 13 (pg 4437)
6 1929-1931 Vol 13 (pg 4438) to Vol 18 (pg 5346)
7 1929-1931 Vol 18 (pg 5347) to Vol 25 (pg 6321)
8 1929-1931 Vol 25 (pg 6322) to Vol 30 (pg 7241)
9 1929-1931 Vol 30 (pg 7219) to Vol 32 (pg 7558)
10 1925-1931 Letter of Sec. of War to Times Independent (09-17-1925)
11 1925-1931 Times Independent (10-1-1925) to No. 14 - Vol 2 (pg 1005)
12 1928-1931 No. 14 - Vol 2 (pg 1006) to No. 14, pg 6

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