Sinema Introduces Hualapai Chairman, Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act at Senate Indian Affairs Committee Hearing

Press Release

Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema introduced Hualapai Chairman Damon Clarke who testified in support of Sinema's Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act -- legislation she introduced this year with Senator Mark Kelly and Congressman Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) ratifying the Hualapai Tribe's Colorado River water settlement agreement and delivering approximately 4,000 acre-feet of water per year to the Tribe.

"Our legislation is the result of collaboration between the State of Arizona, Hualapai Tribe, and the Department of the Interior, and it has broad support among Arizona water stakeholders. I'm honored to introduce the Chairman of the Hualapai Tribe, Dr. Damon Clarke, to explain how our bill benefits the Tribe and our state," said Sinema.

The Hualapai Tribe has been working for a decade to secure an agreement with the U.S. Departments of State and Interior on this historic legislation. Sinema's Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act would approve Hualapai Tribe's water rights claims, as well as other allottees in Arizona, and authorize construction of a water project related to the water rights claims -- delivering 4,000-acre feet of water per year.

Additionally, the legislation establishes the Hualapai Water Trust Fund Account and the Hualapai Water Settlement Implementation Fund Account, with $180 million and $5 million, respectively, authorized until expended. These accounts are for construction, operations and maintenance, technical assistance costs, and environmental compliance costs associated with the pipeline from the Colorado River.

Currently, the Hualapai Tribe relies on groundwater alone to meet their water needs, which is not a permanent or sustainable solution.

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