CRIT, which operates a large farm and casino, also plans to improve its canal system and conserve even more water.
By Debra Utacia Krol || The Arizona Republic
Five Arizona tribes celebrated after President Joe Biden signed legislation that secured water rights, funding to develop water infrastructure and historically important tribal lands.
Some tribes have been pushing for these bills for years, including the Colorado River Indian Tribes, which worked for more than two decades to secure the right to lease a portion of its Colorado River allotment. The bills were passed in the waning days of the 117th Congress.
The Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act, the Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act, and the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act were signed by Biden Jan. 5.
The Colorado River Indian Tribes, known as CRIT, had sought to lease part of its 719,248 acre-feet Colorado River allotment for more than 20 years, said CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores. The tribe has saved a portion of its allotment using conservation measures and will use the revenues from leasing it to help stabilize its economy and enable water service extensions to tribal members, she said.
CRIT, which operates a large farm and casino, also plans to improve its canal system and conserve even more water.
More importantly, Flores said, these measures will enable the tribe to help save the life of the river.
“The river’s the person. The river can’t speak for itself. And we as stewards need to step up and protect the river,” she said.
