• Senate committee unanimously advances Tribal water bills.
• Legislation aims to resolve longstanding water rights disputes.
• Bills support water infrastructure and supply projects in New Mexico.
• Next step: full Senate consideration.

March 6, 2025 –– Legislation addressing Tribal water rights in New Mexico took a significant step forward this week as a set of bills passed unanimously out of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. The proposed laws, introduced by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján, along with U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández, Gabe Vasquez, and Melanie Stansbury, are designed to settle water disputes, ensure water security, and provide essential infrastructure for Tribal and non-Tribal communities alike. The bills now move to the Senate floor for further consideration.

Key Legislation and Its Impact.

The legislative package includes several settlement acts addressing specific Tribal water rights disputes, including:

• The Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Rights Settlements Act: This bill establishes two separate water settlements—one for the Pueblos of Jemez and Zia, and another for the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna. It has broad support from all involved parties, including the U.S. government and the State of New Mexico.
• The Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act: This bill creates a trust fund to help implement a negotiated settlement involving Ohkay Owingeh, the State of New Mexico, and local water associations. The funding will be used to develop water resources and infrastructure, ensuring the Pueblo has the ability to access and use its rightful share of water in the Rio Chama Basin.
• The Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act: This bill authorizes $685 million to support water management and infrastructure development for the Zuni Tribe. It also protects the culturally significant Zuni Salt Lake while ensuring that the Tribe has sufficient water for irrigation, livestock, and domestic use.
• The Navajo Nation Rio San José Water Rights Settlement Act: This bill finalizes a water rights settlement for the Navajo Nation and other involved non-Tribal parties in the Rio San José watershed.

Infrastructure and Funding for Long-Term Solutions.

Beyond resolving disputes, the legislative package also includes amendments and funding for critical water projects:

• Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments: This bill ensures that the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, which aims to provide drinking water to roughly 250,000 people by 2040, receives the resources and time needed for completion. The project will deliver water from the San Juan River to Navajo communities, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and the City of Gallup.
• Technical Corrections to Rural Water Projects and Settlements: This bill authorizes additional funding for Tribal water development projects, including $6.3 million for the Navajo Nation Water Resources Development Fund, $7.8 million for the Taos Pueblo Water Development Fund, and $4.3 million for the Aamodt Settlement Pueblos’ Fund, which benefits the Nambé, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, and Tesuque Pueblos.

Congressional Support.

The legislation has drawn strong support from New Mexico lawmakers, who emphasize its importance for both Tribal and non-Tribal communities.

“These settlements are supported by all parties involved, including Tribal and non-Tribal communities. Congress should pass these urgently needed bills to help communities manage their precious and limited water resources,” said Senator Heinrich.

Representative Stansbury underscored the historical significance of the legislation, stating, “Indigenous people have been stewards of the land and water since time immemorial, and now is the time for them to lead these efforts.”

Representative Leger Fernández highlighted the collaborative nature of the settlements: “This legislation upholds our trust responsibility to Tribes and helps bring certainty to disputes about water across the Southwest.”

As the bills move to the Senate floor, they mark an important step in fulfilling longstanding obligations to Tribal nations while addressing critical water infrastructure needs across New Mexico.

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Image:

The Rio Grande bordering the property of the Los Luceros ranch complex near Alcalde, New Mexico, by Matthew Kowal.  Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

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