The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs takes testimony on tribal water rights and natural resource legislation on September 25, 2024.

Five bills are on the agenda for the legislative hearing. They follow:

• S.4444, the Crow Revenue Act. The bill would transfer about 4,660 acres of subsurface rights to the Crow Tribe in exchange for other lands and subsurface rights in Montana.

• S.4633, the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024. The bill settles the water rights of the Hopi Tribe, the Navajo Nation and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe on the main stem of the Colorado River, the Little Colorado River and relevant groundwater sources in northeastern Arizona.

• S.4643, the Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024. The bill settles the water rights of the Pueblo of Zuni in New Mexico and authorizes $685 million in federal funding to support the tribe’s water resources, including Zuni Salt Lake, a sacred place.

• S.4705, the Yavapai Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act. The bill settles the water rights of the Yavapai-Apache Nation in the Verde River Watershed of Arizona.

• S.4998, the Navajo Nation Rio San José Stream System Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024. The bill settles the water rights of the Navajo Nation to the Rio San José Stream System in New Mexico.

More on Indianz.Com:

https://indianz.com/News/2024/09/24/senate-committee-on-indian-affairs-takes-up-water-rights-at-legislative-hearing/

Committee Notice:

https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearings/legislative-hearing-to-receive-testimony-on-s-4444-s-4633-s-4643-s-4705-s-4998/