Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2022
Jan 5, 2023
Statute: 136 Stat. 6225
Became law: Jan 5, 2023
Jan 5, 2023
Statute: 136 Stat. 6225
Became law: Jan 5, 2023
Summary
Approves a deal to give the Hualapai Tribe clear rights to water and money to build a water system in Arizona.
What problem does this solve?
The Hualapai Tribe and others had long-standing disagreements over rights to use water in Arizona, creating uncertainty. This law finalizes an agreement that defines the Tribe's water rights and provides money for a project to deliver water, ending the legal fights.
What does this law do?
Approves the Hualapai Tribe water rights settlement
Formally authorizes and confirms the water rights settlement agreement between the Hualapai Tribe, the United States, and other parties in Arizona.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Header:
Hualapai water trust fund account; construction of hualapai water project; funding
Creates the Hualapai Water Trust Fund Account
Establishes a trust fund of $312 million for the Hualapai Tribe to plan, design, and build a water project to deliver Colorado River water to its reservation.
Defines and protects tribal water rights
Specifies the water rights held in trust for the Hualapai Tribe and protects these rights from being lost due to non-use or abandonment.
Adds land to the Hualapai Reservation
Expands the Hualapai Reservation by adding several parcels of land, including the Cholla Canyon Ranch parcels, which are to be held in trust.
Requires the tribe to waive future water claims
As part of the settlement, the Hualapai Tribe must give up all past, present, and future claims to water rights beyond what is granted in the agreement.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Header:
Reallocation of CAP NIA priority water; firming; water delivery contract
Reallocates Central Arizona Project water to the tribe
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to reallocate 4,000 acre-feet per year of Central Arizona Project (CAP) water to the Hualapai Tribe.
Who does this affect?
- Hualapai Tribe members
- Allottees of the Hualapai Tribe
- Water users in Arizona
What is the real world impact?
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Provides water security for the Hualapai Tribe
Ensures the Tribe has a reliable and legally recognized water supply for its community and future economic development, ending decades of uncertainty.
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Clarifies water rights for all Arizona users
Resolves long-standing legal claims, which provides certainty for other water users in Arizona by defining how much water the Tribe is entitled to.
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Limits future tribal claims
In exchange for defined water rights and funding, the Tribe waives all past, present, and future water claims, permanently limiting its ability to seek more water rights.
When does this start?
The settlement becomes final on an 'Enforceability Date', which occurs only after several legal and financial conditions are met.
Deadline for enforceability
If all conditions for the settlement are not met by April 15, 2029, most of this Act is automatically canceled.
Land taken into trust
On the date the law was passed, the Secretary of the Interior was directed to take ownership of the Cholla Canyon Ranch parcels and hold them in trust for the Hualapai Tribe.
Groundwater withdrawal estimate
Within one year of the law's passage, the U.S. Geological Survey must issue its first estimate of groundwater withdrawals in the Truxton Basin.