Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2026

The Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2026 aims to resolve decades of legal disputes regarding water rights in Arizona's Verde River Watershed. The bill proposes to ratify a settlement agreement between the Yavapai-Apache Nation, the State of Arizona, and several local municipalities. If enacted, it would confirm the Nation’s right to 4,610 acre-feet of water annually and allow the tribe to store, lease, or exchange water from the Central Arizona Project. In exchange for these guaranteed rights and infrastructure investments, the Nation would waive its remaining legal claims for water-related damages against the United States and other water users in the region.

To support these water rights, the bill proposes to authorize approximately $1.039 billion for major infrastructure projects. This includes the construction of the Cragin-Verde Pipeline to transport water from the C.C. Cragin Reservoir and a new surface water drinking plant to serve the Nation and surrounding communities. These projects are intended to provide a reliable, renewable water supply to the Verde Valley, reducing the region's dependence on groundwater pumping and helping to maintain the natural flow of the Verde River.