CLARK: The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement and the Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Agreement settle decades of water litigation for the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, and Yavapai-Apache Nation.
The agreements settle tribal water rights claims in the Colorado River, the Little Colorado River, and groundwater in Northeastern Arizona.
In 1922, the Colorado River Compact divided Colorado River basin water among seven Western states – but left tribes out of the agreement.
The new agreements came after the passage of bipartisan legislation, passed by lawmakers earlier this year.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren advocated for the measure at a hearing earlier this year before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
BUU NYGREN: Thousands of our people continue to haul water over 30 miles round trip on unpaved dirt roads to meet the daily water demands. And hauling water is incredibly expensive. Families that haul water on the Navajo reservation spend the equivalent of $43,000 per acre foot, compared with $600 per acre foot from a typical suburban water user in the region.
CLARK: The bill’s passage would also invest $5 billion in water delivery infrastructure for the settling tribes. Next, Congress will have to pass legislation to provide funding for the projects and to approve the settlements.
For KSUT and KSJD, I’m Clark Adomaitis.