Last month, the Yavapai-Apache Nation became the latest federally recognized tribe to settle its water rights with the state of Arizona. Now that settlement must be ratified by Congress.
Yavapai-Apache Nation Chairwoman Tanya Lewis shared this agreement has been five decades in the making, but it was accelerated by the Hobbs administration.
“We did this together,” said Lewis. “It took all of us to do it, and I’m just so happy that we’re here where we’re at today.”
This settlement would authorize more than $1 billion to build a pipeline from a reservoir north of Payson to the Nation nestled in the Verde Valley. Federal funding would also pay for the construction of a surface water treatment plant.
The C.C. Cragin Reservoir is managed by SRP. It can store up to 15,000 acre-feet. The tribe would be entitled to more than 4,600 acre-feet from the pipeline annually.
“Our common ground is to keep the Verde River flowing,” Lewis said. “We all agree to that. This is a very precious, free-flowing river in the state of Arizona.”
Sens. Mark Kelly and Krysten Sinema introduced the Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act in the U.S. Senate on Thursday, July 11. Congressman David Schweikert introduced the House version on July 8. This bill is co-sponsored by House Reps. Debbie Lesko, Juan Ciscomani and Greg Stanton.
The Yavapai-Apache Nation joins the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. All of their water settlements were introduced last week. Lewis plans to testify before federal lawmakers on Capitol Hill later this month.
