- Tribal leaders met federal officials in Washington on February 18, 2026.
- The Northeastern Indian Water Rights Settlement Act seeks congressional approval.
- The agreement was approved in Arizona in November 2024 but stalled in Congress.
- Supporters say reliable water supplies would strengthen regional stability.
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 — Last week, on February 18, 2026, leaders from the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe traveled to Washington, D.C., to press Congress to approve the Northeastern Indian Water Rights Settlement Act. According to information published on the Navajo Nation’s official website
, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and Speaker Crystalene Curley joined Hopi Chairman Lamar Keevama and San Juan Southern Paiute Vice President Johnny Lehi Jr. for a coordinated series of meetings with federal officials.
The delegation met with Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Andrea Travnicek, White House Office of Management and Budget Associate Director Stuart Levenbach, and staff from the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Tribal leaders emphasized that the proposal represents decades of negotiations and collaboration among the tribes and federal agencies.
Their message was straightforward. Congressional approval is needed to finalize and fund a long-negotiated settlement that would secure dependable water supplies for northeastern Arizona tribal communities.
What Is the Northeastern Indian Water Rights Settlement Act?
Water rights settlements involving tribal nations typically resolve longstanding claims to water under federal law. Many of these claims trace back to treaties and to the legal doctrine established in the 1908 United States Supreme Court case Winters v. United States, which recognized that tribal reservations carry an implied right to sufficient water to fulfill their purposes.
The Northeastern Indian Water Rights Settlement Act is designed to ratify and fund a negotiated agreement among the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, the State of Arizona, and the federal government. The agreement outlines how much water each tribe is entitled to use and identifies infrastructure projects necessary to deliver that water to homes and communities.
The settlement also ratifies a treaty providing the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe with 5,400 acres of land after sharing territory with the Navajo Nation for the last 160 years. Passage of this agreement is a monumental step in guaranteeing the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe has a homeland for generations to come.
Without congressional approval, the negotiated terms cannot be fully implemented or federally funded.
Why This Settlement Matters.
The settlement was approved at the state level in Arizona in November 2024, as previously reported by Western-Water.com. However, the federal legislation did not pass before the close of the last congressional session, and time expired before final approval.
As a result, the tribes have returned to Washington seeking renewed consideration.
Reliable water access remains a central issue in northeastern Arizona, where many tribal households still lack piped water. Securing funding for pipelines, treatment facilities, and distribution systems is often one of the most significant components of tribal settlements.
Navajo Nation President Nygren noted that passage of the Act could support economic growth not only for the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, but also for the State of Arizona and the broader regional economy. Water certainty can influence housing development, small business expansion, agriculture, and long-term planning.
Broader Colorado River Context.
Although the settlement focuses on northeastern Arizona, it unfolds against the larger backdrop of Colorado River Basin pressures. Arizona, along with six other basin states, continues to navigate reduced river flows, reservoir declines, and ongoing negotiations over post-2026 operating guidelines for Lake Powell and Lake Mead.
Tribal water rights settlements are often viewed as part of the broader effort to clarify who is entitled to use what water, and under what conditions. Clear allocations can reduce litigation risk and provide planning certainty for states, tribes, irrigation districts, and municipalities.
What Happens Next?
The settlement now depends on congressional action. Lawmakers would need to pass the Northeastern Indian Water Rights Settlement Act and authorize funding for the agreed infrastructure and water development projects.
If Congress approves the legislation, the settlement will need to be approved in the state’s water adjudication proceedings. The tribes could move forward with construction and implementation phases outlined in the agreement. If not, uncertainty would continue for communities that have waited decades for resolution.
As of February 24, 2026, tribal leaders remain unified in their effort to secure final approval and bring long-negotiated water certainty to northeastern Arizona.
