Historic Water Rights Agreement Reached Between Agua Caliente Tribe and Coachella Valley Water Agencies

A historic water rights agreement has been reached in the Coachella Valley, marking the end of a lengthy legal battle between the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and two regional water agencies. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2013, challenged the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) and the Desert Water Agency over the use of groundwater located beneath the Agua Caliente Reservation.

Under the newly announced settlement, the tribe is guaranteed 20,000 acre-feet of water per year, enough to supply 20,000 residents. This recognition of tribal water rights ensures that the Agua Caliente Band can manage and regulate its federally reserved water in cooperation with the agencies, without negatively affecting the water supply for the broader Coachella Valley.

Tribal Chairman Reid Milanovich left a statement breaking down what this mean for the tribe, it reads in part, "The agreement affirms the Tribe's right to manage, regulate and govern the use of Tribal water right in the Coachella Valley, and at the same time will provide a real benefit to the entire Coachella Valley,"

The agreement now awaits Congressional approval and requests $500 million in federal funds, along with $15 million from the state, to support vital water conservation and infrastructure projects like stormwater capture and recycling.