Article Summary –
Governor Katie Hobbs announced her support for the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024, which aims to provide safe and reliable water supplies to the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. This settlement resolves extensive tribal water rights claims and ends decades of conflict and lawsuits, ensuring sustainable water resources for these communities while funding infrastructure projects to improve water delivery systems. Under Hobbs’ leadership, Arizona has revitalized tribal water rights settlement discussions by removing longstanding barriers and reversing policies that infringed on tribal sovereignty.
Governor Katie Hobbs voiced her support for the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024. The Act aims to provide access to safe and reliable water supplies to the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. Governor Hobbs emphasized the significance of this legislation, citing it as a new era of collaboration between the State, tribal partners, and Arizona communities.
“The State of Arizona is thrilled to support the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act which will, at long last, provide access to safe, reliable water supplies to the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “This legislation is a testament to the tireless efforts all parties have made as we usher in a new era of collaboration between the State, tribal partners, and all Arizona communities who will benefit from the certainty and security that will come from achieving this historic water settlement.”
The Act is the result of extensive efforts by the three Tribes, the United States, the State, municipalities, and other non-Tribal water users to settle some of the largest outstanding tribal water rights claims. These claims involve Colorado River water, in-state surface water, and groundwater supplies in Arizona. The settlement aims to end decades of conflict and lawsuits, ensuring reliable and sustainable water supplies to the involved Tribes.
Water delivery infrastructure projects funded through this settlement will help alleviate the lack of safe, clean water supplies and water delivery systems for members of all three Tribes. These projects will also contribute to ensuring that all Arizona residents have access to clean running water in their homes.
Under Governor Hobbs’ leadership, the State of Arizona has renewed tribal water right settlement discussions, removing barriers that have stalled agreements for years. Notably, Governor Hobbs reversed a policy that infringed upon tribal sovereignty and restricted lands from being taken into trust for Tribes through the federal administrative process as a condition of a water rights settlement.
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