Cappaert et al. v. United States et al.

Decided June 7, 1976. Warren Earl Burger delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 74-1107 · 426 U.S. 128 (1976) · Cited 208 times

Holding

As of 1952 when the United States reserved Devil's Hole, it acquired by reservation water rights in unappropriated appurtenant water sufficient to maintain the level of the underground pool to preserve its scientific value and thereby implement the Presidential Proclamation.

The Court’s statement of the holding, from the opinion’s syllabus. The syllabus is prepared by the Reporter of Decisions and is not part of the opinion of the Court — read the official opinion for authority.

How the Justices voted

Decided 9–0.

“Concurring” means agreeing with the outcome; any split shown is the Court’s judgment, not each Justice’s reasoning. Source: the Supreme Court Database (Spaeth et al.), Washington University.

Precedents cited

Supreme Court decisions this opinion relies on, ordered by how often it cites each. Cases in our collection link through; others are named.

• Colorado River Water Conservation District v. United States · 424 U.S. 800 (1976)
• Arizona v. California · 373 U.S. 546 (1963)
• Nebraska v. Wyoming · 325 U.S. 589 (1945)
• Blonder-Tongue Laboratories, Inc. v. University of Illinois Foundation · 402 U.S. 313 (1971)
• Winters v. United States · 207 U.S. 564 (1908)
• California Oregon Power Co. v. Beaver Portland Cement Co. · 295 U.S. 142 (1935)
• United States v. Utah Construction & Mining Co. · 384 U.S. 394 (1966)
• United States v. Gerlach Live Stock Co. · 339 U.S. 725 (1950)
• Cameron v. United States · 252 U.S. 450 (1920)
• Ickes v. Fox · 300 U.S. 82 (1937)

Cited by

Later Supreme Court opinions in our collection that cite this case.

• Sturgeon v. Frost · 587 U.S. 28 (2019)
• United States v. New Mexico · 438 U.S. 696 (1978)
• Arizona v. Navajo Nation · 599 U.S. 555 (2023)
• Georgia v. Ashcroft, Attorney General · 539 U.S. 461 (2003)
• Arizona v. California · 460 U.S. 605 (1983)
• Maine v. Taylor · 477 U.S. 131 (1986)
• Nevada v. United States · 463 U.S. 110 (1983)
• Arizona v. San Carlos Apache Tribe of Ariz. · 463 U.S. 545 (1983)

Official text

Read the official opinion (U.S. Reports, govinfo.gov)

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Warren Earl Burger’s profile · All Supreme Court opinions · The Supreme Court

Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (1976). Citation count from the Free Law Project’s CourtListener bulk data. Data last verified 2026-07-03. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).