Pechanga Band of Indians Water Rights Settlement Technical Amendments Act

This bill introduces several key technical corrections to the original Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians Water Rights Settlement Act. A primary amendment redefines the Band's "Reservation" by explicitly listing lands set aside by various Executive Orders and specific dates of land additions. It also clarifies that the "Reservation" includes any contiguous land held in trust by the United States for the Band on the enforceability date, as well as future contiguous trust lands within the Santa Margarita River Watershed.

Furthermore, the legislation broadens the permissible uses of the Pechanga Water Quality Account, allowing funds to be used for general "activities to address water quality issues within the Wolf Valley Basin," rather than being restricted solely to groundwater desalination. Congress acknowledges that parties to the original settlement agreement will amend it to conform with these new provisions, and the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to execute these changes. Importantly, the bill explicitly states that these amendments do not affect the original settlement's enforceability date or the validity of existing water rights.