California’s largest AI data center project has filed a lawsuit seeking access to Colorado River water, according to reports. The facility, planned at 330 megawatts, would require about 287 million gallons of water each year for cooling, the company says. The project’s request for water through existing local arrangements faces opposition. Cities in the region and the Imperial Irrigation District rejected initial water requests, prompting the legal action. One report describes the dispute as tied to water-management proposals that would have involved changing how irrigation water is used, but the irrigation district declined. The lawsuit is framed against efforts to secure the water needed to move forward with the project. Local stakeholders raise concerns about potential effects on regional farming, jobs, and broader agricultural water supply, given the limited nature of Colorado River resources. The data center’s backers argue the project would bring economic benefits, including construction employment. Both outlets describe the core issue as the company’s need for large quantities of river water and the refusal by local authorities to provide it.