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Congress Proposes $5 Billion Settlement to Provide Drinking Water for Three Arizona Tribes

Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

12 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
Senate
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Key Points

  • This bill settles long-standing legal battles over who owns the water in Northeastern Arizona. It officially gives the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe legal rights to specific amounts of water from the Colorado River and local groundwater.
  • The government will spend $1.7 billion to build a massive new pipeline to bring clean, drinkable water from Lake Powell to tribal communities. This project will provide a reliable water source for homes and businesses that have struggled with water access for decades.
  • Beyond the pipeline, the bill sets aside $3.4 billion in trust funds for the three tribes. This money is intended for local water projects, fixing old infrastructure, protecting farm and grazing land, and building renewable energy facilities to help power their water systems.
  • The bill officially creates a 5,400-acre reservation for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. This gives the tribe their own recognized homeland and exclusive jurisdiction over their land, which was previously part of the Navajo Reservation.
  • In exchange for the $5.1 billion in total funding and guaranteed water rights, the tribes agree to drop their current and future lawsuits against the state of Arizona and the federal government regarding water. This provides long-term legal certainty for all water users in the region.
Energy EnvironmentInfrastructure TransportationAgriculture

Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Mar 11, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Mar 11, 2025

Introduced in Senate

Related News

2 articles
Arizona Mirror·12 months ago

Bipartisan bill provides $5.1 billion for tribal water settlement

Arizona lawmakers reintroduced the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, a $5.1 billion measure to secure water for the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. The bill would fund a pipeline from Lake Powell and establish a tribal homeland.

CL=
ICT·over 1 year ago

Tribes' long fight for share of Colorado River water nears resolution

A historic $5 billion settlement is nearing resolution, promising to bring running water to Navajo and Hopi communities. The act also sets aside over 5,000 acres to create a long-awaited reservation for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, ending their status as a landless nation.

C+

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

Bill NumberS 953
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)
D: 1

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.