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Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-2025| House 
| Updated: 3/11/2025
Juan Ciscomani

Juan Ciscomani

Republican Representative

Arizona

Cosponsors (6)
David Schweikert (Republican)Yassamin Ansari (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Elijah Crane (Republican)Greg Stanton (Democratic)Adelita S. Grijalva (Democratic)

Natural Resources Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This legislation aims to achieve a fair, equitable, and final settlement of all water rights claims for the Navajo Nation , the Hopi Tribe , and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe , along with their allottees, and the United States acting as trustee. It authorizes and ratifies a comprehensive settlement agreement, directing the Secretary of the Interior to execute its duties and obligations and appropriating necessary funds for its implementation. The settlement allocates significant Arizona Colorado River Water to the Navajo Nation (44,700 AFY Upper Basin, 3,500 AFY Fourth Priority, plus Cibola Water) and the Hopi Tribe (2,300 AFY Upper Basin, plus amended Cibola Water), primarily for use within Arizona, alongside confirmed water rights for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. A central component is the iina ba - paa tuwaqat'si pipeline , a major water infrastructure project the Secretary is directed to plan, design, and construct. This pipeline will deliver potable water to communities within the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Southern Area, with tribal representatives involved in its oversight and eventual ownership transfer. This project addresses critical municipal and industrial water needs for the participating tribes. The bill establishes several trust funds for the pipeline and each tribe, mandating over $5.1 billion in federal appropriations. These funds are designated for water projects, operation and maintenance, agricultural conservation, renewable energy, and water acquisition. A portion of tribal funds may be reserved to supplement pipeline funding if necessary, ensuring project completion. The Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe are authorized to lease and exchange their allocated Colorado River water, both on and off-reservation, for terms up to 100 years. The NAIWRSA System Conservation Program allows them to store 17,050 AFY in Lake Powell for 20 years, generating revenue and benefiting the Colorado River System. These provisions offer flexibility in water management and economic development. A crucial aspect involves mutual waivers and releases of claims for water rights and injury to water rights by the tribes and the United States against each other and the State of Arizona. These waivers become effective on the Enforceability Date, bringing finality to long-standing legal disputes, though specific claims are retained for enforcement of the agreement and decrees. The legislation also ratifies a Treaty creating the San Juan Southern Paiute Reservation from approximately 5,400 acres of land. The settlement's Enforceability Date is contingent upon conditions like agreement execution, water delivery contracts, court decree approvals, and full funding appropriation, with potential repeal of the Act if conditions are not met by June 30, 2035 (excluding the Paiute Reservation creation). Important savings provisions clarify that this Act does not quantify or affect the water rights of other Indian Tribes or Public Domain Allottees, nor does it establish precedent for other water rights settlements. An antideficiency clause limits federal liability if appropriations are insufficient. The bill explicitly states it does not modify existing Colorado River compacts or related laws, emphasizing the unique circumstances of this comprehensive settlement.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-8940
Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024
Mar 11, 2025
Introduced in House
Mar 11, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Mar 11, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-953
Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-8940
    Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024


  • March 11, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • March 11, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.


  • March 11, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-953
    Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.

Native Americans

Related Bills

  • S 119-953: Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-2025| House 
| Updated: 3/11/2025
This legislation aims to achieve a fair, equitable, and final settlement of all water rights claims for the Navajo Nation , the Hopi Tribe , and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe , along with their allottees, and the United States acting as trustee. It authorizes and ratifies a comprehensive settlement agreement, directing the Secretary of the Interior to execute its duties and obligations and appropriating necessary funds for its implementation. The settlement allocates significant Arizona Colorado River Water to the Navajo Nation (44,700 AFY Upper Basin, 3,500 AFY Fourth Priority, plus Cibola Water) and the Hopi Tribe (2,300 AFY Upper Basin, plus amended Cibola Water), primarily for use within Arizona, alongside confirmed water rights for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. A central component is the iina ba - paa tuwaqat'si pipeline , a major water infrastructure project the Secretary is directed to plan, design, and construct. This pipeline will deliver potable water to communities within the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Southern Area, with tribal representatives involved in its oversight and eventual ownership transfer. This project addresses critical municipal and industrial water needs for the participating tribes. The bill establishes several trust funds for the pipeline and each tribe, mandating over $5.1 billion in federal appropriations. These funds are designated for water projects, operation and maintenance, agricultural conservation, renewable energy, and water acquisition. A portion of tribal funds may be reserved to supplement pipeline funding if necessary, ensuring project completion. The Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe are authorized to lease and exchange their allocated Colorado River water, both on and off-reservation, for terms up to 100 years. The NAIWRSA System Conservation Program allows them to store 17,050 AFY in Lake Powell for 20 years, generating revenue and benefiting the Colorado River System. These provisions offer flexibility in water management and economic development. A crucial aspect involves mutual waivers and releases of claims for water rights and injury to water rights by the tribes and the United States against each other and the State of Arizona. These waivers become effective on the Enforceability Date, bringing finality to long-standing legal disputes, though specific claims are retained for enforcement of the agreement and decrees. The legislation also ratifies a Treaty creating the San Juan Southern Paiute Reservation from approximately 5,400 acres of land. The settlement's Enforceability Date is contingent upon conditions like agreement execution, water delivery contracts, court decree approvals, and full funding appropriation, with potential repeal of the Act if conditions are not met by June 30, 2035 (excluding the Paiute Reservation creation). Important savings provisions clarify that this Act does not quantify or affect the water rights of other Indian Tribes or Public Domain Allottees, nor does it establish precedent for other water rights settlements. An antideficiency clause limits federal liability if appropriations are insufficient. The bill explicitly states it does not modify existing Colorado River compacts or related laws, emphasizing the unique circumstances of this comprehensive settlement.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-8940
Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024
Mar 11, 2025
Introduced in House
Mar 11, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Mar 11, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-953
Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-8940
    Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024


  • March 11, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • March 11, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.


  • March 11, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-953
    Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
Juan Ciscomani

Juan Ciscomani

Republican Representative

Arizona

Cosponsors (6)
David Schweikert (Republican)Yassamin Ansari (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Elijah Crane (Republican)Greg Stanton (Democratic)Adelita S. Grijalva (Democratic)

Natural Resources Committee

Native Americans

Related Bills

  • S 119-953: Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted