Water Settlements

What this funds

BIA implements provisions of enacted water rights settlements that authorize appropriations. These investments improve the health and well-being of Tribal members and preserve existing economies and over the long-term, bring the potential for jobs and economic development. Currently, the Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement is the only water rights settlement requiring BIA payment through discretionary appropriations. The Hualapai settlement was enacted in 2023. Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2022 (Pub.L. 117-349): The Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2022 settles the Tribe's water rights claims in Arizona and is the result of over a decade of dedicated, good-faith negotiations among the Tribe, the Federal government, the State of Arizona and other parties. The bill approves a settlement agreement that will provide much needed water to the Tribe. The enacted settlement establishes the Hualapai Water Trust Fund Account with authorized funding of $312 million plus indexing that the Tribe can use to develop water infrastructure on its Reservation. The Act's provisions provide certainty to the Tribe and surrounding communities regarding access to water resources, enable Tribal economic growth and promote Tribal sovereignty and self-sufficiency. The Settlement has an enforcement date of April 15, 2029.

Extracted from Bureau of Indian Affairs, p. 179. Verbatim; nothing here is paraphrased.

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