Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
Description
This bill would settle water rights claims for three tribes in Arizona and fund a water pipeline and several settlement trust funds.
Summary
What it does
This bill would ratify a water rights settlement agreement between the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, the United States, and the State of Arizona. It proposes to allocate Colorado River water to the tribes and would authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to plan and construct a water delivery pipeline. Additionally, the legislation would establish three tribal water settlement trust funds and create a 5,400-acre reservation for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.
Who is affected
This legislation primarily affects the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe by settling their water rights claims in Arizona and establishing trust funds for each tribe. The Bureau of Reclamation is tasked with planning and constructing a water delivery pipeline, while the state of Arizona and the United States government are parties to the ratified settlement agreement. Additionally, the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe is affected by the establishment of a new 5,400-acre reservation in Arizona and Utah.
Key provisions
- Settlement of Tribal Water Rights Claims. The bill ratifies a settlement agreement between the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, the United States, and Arizona to resolve water rights claims involving the Little Colorado River and the Colorado River.
- Allocation of Colorado River Water. The legislation assigns specific portions of Arizona's share of Colorado River water to the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe.
- Water Infrastructure Development. The bill authorizes the Bureau of Reclamation to plan, design, and construct a pipeline to deliver water to the participating tribes and establishes an implementation fund for this purpose.
- Establishment of Tribal Trust Funds. The bill creates and provides funding for three separate settlement trust funds dedicated to the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.
- Creation of San Juan Southern Paiute Reservation. The bill establishes a reservation of approximately 5,400 acres in Arizona and Utah for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe by confirming a treaty between that tribe and the Navajo Nation.
- Waiver and Release of Claims. The bill outlines the specific legal waivers and releases of water-related claims that the tribes and the United States must agree to under the settlement.
Fiscal impact
Not applicable: No CBO cost estimate available
Effective dates
Not applicable: Official Summary does not address effective dates
Relationship to existing law
The bill ratifies and confirms a specific water rights settlement agreement between the United States, the State of Arizona, and the affected tribes to resolve claims regarding the Little Colorado River and the Colorado River. It also implements a treaty between the Navajo Nation and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe to establish a new reservation and allocates water from Arizona's existing share of the Colorado River.
Stated purpose
The bill aims to recognize and settle water rights claims in Arizona for the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe by ratifying a formal settlement agreement. It seeks to provide reliable water access through the construction of a pipeline and the establishment of dedicated trust funds for the tribes.