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<br />" <br /> <br />-11- <br /> <br />system of water control which has existed in the <br />arid and semi-arid portion of tlIe western United <br />States for many years. Rights to the use of water <br />are acquired by compliance with state law. Each <br />state has the power to control the water flowing <br />within its boundaries, provided that every state <br />along an interstate stream is entitled only to its <br />equitable share of the benefits arising from such <br />stream flows. Private rights acquired in one state <br />cannot exceed that state's equitable portion. The <br />quantum to which each state is entitled may be <br />detennined either by an original suit in the United <br />States Supreme Court or by interstate compact. <br />When such a determination has been made, all wa- <br />ter users in the affected states are bound thereby. <br /> <br />The Colorado River Compact makes a division <br />of the waters of that stream between the upper <br />and the lower basin. Congress gave its approval <br />to this compact by the Boulder Canyon Project Act. <br />which pro\"idcd among other things for the con- <br />~truction of Boulder Dam and authorized the Secre- <br />tary of the Interior to contract for the use of stored <br />water. As required by the Project Act all the COIl- <br />tracts which have been executed by the Secretary of <br />the Interior provide that all rights thereunder <br />.. shall be subject to and controlled by the Colorado <br />River Compact." Both the Compact and the <br />Project Act recognize that the United States ma~' <br />find it necessary to pass defined quantities of water <br />to Mexico. Since the contracts are dependent upon <br />the availability of the water under the Compact <br />and since the Compact specifically provides that <br />water required to satisfy the Mexican right shall <br />be supplied first out of the surplus and then one- <br />half from the share of each basin, the only question <br />