H.R. 2025
Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
This bill recognizes and settles certain water rights claims in Arizona of the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. It also provides funding for a water pipeline and three settlement trust funds.
Specifically, the bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms a specified water rights settlement agreement entered into by the tribes, the United States, Arizona, and others, thus satisfying claims to water rights in Arizona (including with respect to the Little Colorado River and the Colorado River).
Additionally, the bill outlines the water rights of the tribes. For example, the bill allocates and assigns Colorado River water from Arizona's share to the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe.
The bill establishes and provides funding for an implementation fund account for the Bureau of Reclamation to plan, design, and construct a pipeline to deliver water to the tribes.
Further, the bill establishes and provides funding for the Navajo Nation Water Settlement Trust Fund, the Hopi Tribe Water Settlement Trust Fund, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe Water Settlement Trust Fund.
The bill also establishes a reservation consisting of approximately 5,400 acres of land in Arizona and Utah for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe by ratifying and confirming the treaty entered into by the Navajo Nation and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.
The bill outlines waivers, releases, and retention of claims by the tribes and the United States under the settlement agreement.
Text of the bill
(a) Ratification and approval of the treaty. The Treaty and the Treaty Addendum are hereby approved, ratified, and confirmed.
(b) Approval of the secretary
(1) In general. The Secretary is authorized and directed—
(A) to approve and execute the Treaty and the Treaty Addendum, except that the specific findings stated under the heading APPROVAL shall not be binding on the Secretary; and
(B) to take all steps necessary to implement the Treaty and this Act.
(2) Approval and execution of amendments. The Secretary is delegated the authority, without a further Act of Congress, to approve and execute amendments to the Treaty agreed to by the Navajo Nation and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.
(c) Lands proclaimed a reservation for the san juan southern paiute tribe
(1) In general. All right, title, and interest, including Water Rights, to the approximately 5,400 acres of land within the Navajo Indian Reservation that are described in the Treaty as the San Juan Southern Paiute Northern Area and the San Juan Southern Paiute Southern Area are hereby proclaimed as the San Juan Southern Paiute Reservation and such land shall be held by the United States in trust as a reservation for the exclusive benefit of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, subject to the rights of access under subsection (d).
(2) No appraisal or valuation. Notwithstanding any other provision law, no appraisal or other valuation shall be required to carry out this subsection.
(3) Disclaimer of reserved water rights. Nothing in this Act constitutes an express or implied reservation of water or water rights for the San Juan Southern Paiute Northern Area in the State of Utah.
(d) Rights of access and easements. The Navajo Reservation and the San Juan Southern Paiute Reservation shall be subject to the rights of access and easements as identified in the Treaty.
(e) Surveying and fencing of land
(1) Requirement. The Secretary shall—
(A) as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, complete a survey and legal description of the boundary lines to establish the boundaries of the San Juan Southern Paiute Reservation;
(B) officially file the survey plat in the appropriate office of the Department of the Interior;
(C) mark and fence the lands as described in article V of the Treaty, where feasible; and
(D) study the feasibility of an access road to the San Juan Southern Paiute Southern Area from U.S. Route 89, as described in article XI of the Treaty.
(2) Legal description
(A) In general. The legal descriptions published in accordance with subparagraph (B) shall—
(i) be considered the official legal description of the San Juan Southern Paiute Reservation; and
(ii) have the same force and effect as if included in this Act.
(B) Publication. On completion of the surveys under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a legal description of the land comprising the San Juan Southern Paiute Reservation.
(C) Corrections. The Secretary may make minor corrections to correct technical and clerical errors in the legal descriptions.
(f) Repeal of paiute allotment procedures. Section 9 of Public Law 93–531 (88 Stat. 1716) is repealed.
(g) Publication; jurisdiction
(1) Publication. In accordance with article VI of the Treaty, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register separate notices of completion or boundary marking of—
(A) the San Juan Paiute Northern Area; and
(B) the San Juan Paiute Southern Area.
(2) Jurisdiction. On publication in the Federal Register under subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1)—
(A) the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe shall have full jurisdiction over all matters within that area of the San Juan Southern Paiute Reservation to the fullest extent permitted by Federal law; and
(B) the Navajo Nation shall not have jurisdiction over matters occurring within that area of the San Juan Southern Paiute Reservation except as agreed to by the Navajo Nation and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.