Navajo Water Rights

1058 Words3 Pages

The controversy over water rights has been a long battle that the Navajo Nation has endured for decades. This controversy which is complicated by numerous issues has only been increasing in recent years. For example the Navajo Hopi Little Colorado Water Settlement that has been in litigation for 33 years. Of particular note Navajo people and their elected officials are struggling to balance expectations with reality including legally mandated coordination with state and federal governments. As a result there has been notable conflict in resources associated with water management. These fundamental issues have been exasperated by a host of concerns: (1) deceased water availability due to drought or water development; (2) long litigation proceedings, (3) growing demands to use “Navajo Water” to meet non-Navajo energy needs in the southwest including coal consumption, uranium exploration-mining and natural gas fracking, and (4) the confusion of Indian Water Rights held separate from the United States water rights systems.
Navajo people have had to catch up quickly to understand western civilization’s concept of water rights. Navajo people’s perception of water rights greatly differed from settlers, and state, and federal governments. From past experience Navajos have become very weary of negotiations, but still have to face many obstacles to solidify its claims over water rights. This paper will discuss cases, compacts, and acts that effect the integrity of Navajo Nation water rights for past, present, and future claims.
Background
The Navajo Nation is located in the southwest spanning across the Northwest corner of New Mexico, Northern Arizona, and the Southeast corner of Utah. It is over 27,000 sq. miles, roughly the s...

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