Yavapai News

Washington, DC — This morning, Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) cosponsored legislation to ratify the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement. The agreement aims to address a persistent water issue by securing water rights for the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.

The settlement would provide clean water for the impacted Tribes and authorize them to lease their water and create economic opportunities in Northern Arizona. Additionally, the legislation authorizes funds to acquire, build, and maintain essential water development and delivery projects, including a distribution pipeline. In total, the Tribes would be guaranteed access to over 56,000 acre-feet of water from outside the State of Arizona.

The ratifying bill also includes legislation authored by Rep. Crane—The San Juan Southern Paiute Tribal Homelands Act—establishing a reservation for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. The Tribe is currently the only federally recognized Tribe in Arizona without a homeland.

“I’m proud to be part of a bipartisan and bicameral coalition of lawmakers who are working to provide life-sustaining water delivery systems for the involved Tribes in Arizona. As the representative for the impacted communities, I’ve worked with Tribal leaders, in addition to State, County, and city officials in the district during the formation of this legislation,” said Rep. Crane. “The final passage of this legislation would be a meaningful win for Northern Arizonans, who I’m proud to fight for on a daily basis.”