Even though tribes in the West have some of the best water rights on earth, they still don’t have a complete right over it. Given that they don’t get to make use of their rights as they like, or still must consult with professionals to be able to use it the way they’d like to.

They will often find themselves having to negotiate settlements, all of which require approval from the federal government, as well as by the U.S. Senate.

Who are the Tribal Nations?

These tribes include tens of thousands of individuals, all of which are living on Navajo Nation and doesn’t have running water connected to their homes. There are projects set in place for this to change in the next few years, in which the initiative is a part of the project, the Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project.

The project is thought to deliver the required water to all reservation areas by the year 2024, which also forms a distinctive part of the Navajo Nation Water rights settlement with New Mexico and have been confirmed by the U.S. Congress in 2009.

There are also three separate Native water settlements, who are all awaiting approval from Congress and were initiated from federal legal decisions, which are recognised due to many tribes holding water rights in the West. It includes rights that are designated to all non-Native settlers.

These tribal nations are also holding onto their rights, to ensure economic vitality, ensure sovereignty, as well as provide the necessary and basic services which might be lacked in certain communities.

Many regions, however, still find it difficult to enforce these rights, which are predominantly solved by a settlement, which is also more affordable than a lawsuit and will ensure their rights over the water on these lands.

The Importance of a Settlement for Tribal Water Rights

Native water rights were set in place in 1908, in the U.S. Supreme Court, which also included agricultural irrigation, to add to the U.S. economy. Due to this reason, as well as the initiation of reservation, U.S. tribes have a right to water on their land.

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