- Five Tribes sign new agreements to conserve Colorado River water.
- Over $43.7 million invested to support sustainable water use.
- Projects aim to save thousands of acre-feet of water in Lake Mead.
December 5, 2024 — Joining the effort to preserve the dwindling waters of the Colorado River, five Native American tribes signed new agreements yesterday with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The deals, celebrated during the opening day of the Colorado River Water Users Association annual conference in Las Vegas, bring over $43.7 million in federal investment to support sustainable water use in the Basin.
“Throughout the Biden-Harris Administration, we’ve been committed to engaging the Colorado River Tribes in a consistent and meaningful way as we provide transformational investments to the region and to Indian Country at large,” said Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton
. “Today, we are proud to celebrate additional investments with our Tribal partners and honor the significant water savings in the Colorado River Basin yielded through existing partnerships.”
Extending Water Conservation Efforts.
The San Carlos Apache Tribe (Arizona) and the Quechan Tribe (Arizona, California) have extended their initial water conservation agreements, aiming to further reduce water use from Lake Mead, the reservoir that supplies water to millions in the Southwest. The Bureau of Reclamation is investing up to $12 million in the San Carlos Apache Tribe’s commitment to conserve an additional 30,000 acre-feet of water, enough to supply about 60,000 households for a year. The Quechan Tribe will receive up to $5.2 million to conserve another 13,000 acre-feet.
Investing in Future Projects.
The Colorado River Indian Tribes (Arizona, California) secured up to $5 million in funding for the planning and design of their Main Canal Re-Regulation Reservoir. This project aims to improve water management and efficiency on their lands along the river.
In a historic move, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe (Colorado) signed a repayment contract for the Animas-La Plata Project after 14 years of negotiation. The agreement provides the tribe with access to significant water resources, including 16,525 acre-feet of water depletion and approximately 38,000 acre-feet of storage in Lake Nighthorse.
The White Mountain Apache Tribe (Arizona) will receive $21.5 million to plan and design a new Rural Water System. This system will divert, store, and distribute water from the North Fork of the White River, delivering drinking water to over 15,000 residents on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona.
Broader Conservation Efforts in the Basin.
Beyond these tribal agreements, the Bureau of Reclamation is finalizing additional water conservation deals totaling $888 million with partners in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. In California alone, agreements with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the Coachella Valley Water District, and the San Diego County Water Authority aim to conserve over 332,000 acre-feet of water in Lake Mead.
These efforts are part of a larger initiative funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which have allocated billions toward addressing long-term drought and water scarcity in the West.
A Collective Move Toward Sustainability.
The new agreements highlight a collaborative approach between federal agencies and tribal nations to tackle water shortages in the Colorado River Basin. With Lake Mead and Lake Powell at historically low levels, conserving every drop has become critical.
Commissioner Touton emphasized the importance of these partnerships: “Supporting the resiliency of Tribes along the Colorado River for generations to come is essential. Together, we’re making significant strides toward a more sustainable and reliable water future.”
Leave a Reply