- 11 - Thus, if petitioners' partnership or if any of the other Harquahala Valley landowners had not agreed to relinquishment of the water rights, HID could not have disposed of the water rights relating to the land of the objecting landowners. Apparently, one Harquahala Valley landowner voted against relinquishment of the water rights, but the record does not disclose the subsequent history of that landowner and its receipt of Colorado River water. In late 1992, in exchange for relinquishment of its Colorado River water rights, HID received $28.7 million from the Interior Department. On January 5, 1993, HID's board of directors met and authorized distribution of $24.6 million to the Harquahala Valley landowners who had approved relinquishment of the water rights. As part of the distribution that occurred, petitioners' partnership received $1,088,132. Upon receipt of the above funds, each Harquahala Valley landowner entered into a distribution agreement and release (Distribution Agreement) with HID under which it was provided that the landowners would return to HID any “relinquishment funds” they received if an error in payment occurred or if HID incurred a liability necessitating the use of the funds. There is no express provision in the Distribution Agreement indicating that the distribution occurred in exchange for any right of the landowners in Colorado River water.Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011