Leaders from the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe appeared before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs this week to urge congressional approval of the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement.
Tribal officials told lawmakers the agreement represents decades of negotiations among tribal nations, the State of Arizona, water users, and the federal government. If approved, the settlement would resolve longstanding water rights claims and provide funding for critical infrastructure to bring reliable water to communities across northern Arizona.
Navajo Nation Speaker Crystalyne Curley told the committee many Diné families still lack consistent access to clean water and said the legislation would help support future economic development and stability. The settlement would allocate water from the Colorado River basin and other sources to the Navajo Nation while also securing rights for the Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute tribes.
The legislation has bipartisan support in Congress and has been introduced by Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and Representative Juan Ciscomani.
