INTERSTATE COMPACT

States administer water rights within their own political boundaries; however, the process becomes more complicated when involving an interstate body of water (Interstate Water). Under these conditions there are three possible ways to achieve an interstate allocation of water: (1) A suit for equitable apportionment brought by the states in the U.S. Supreme Court; (2) a Congressional act; and (3) an interstate compact. An interstate compact is an agreement negotiated between states, adopted by their state legislatures, and then approved by Congress. Once an allocation of interstate water is determined by such a means, the individual states may then issue water rights to its share of the water through their normal administrative process. Interstate compacts have been traditionally used in making water allocations in the western states. Also see Interstate Allocation (Nevada and California).