U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) has introduced H.R. 4924, the Bill Williams River Water Rights Settlement Act of 2014 and made this comment:
“Water in our arid state is critical to our continued economic stability and is, of course, a limited resource on which there are many existing demands that need to be met. The settlement of tribal water rights claims is a priority in the State of Arizona.
“This bill is good for private property owners, settles an outstanding water rights settlement, and will result in a net water benefit to the basin.”
Background:
Reps. Trent Franks (R-AZ), Matt Salmon (R-AZ), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Ron Barber (D-AZ), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Ed Pastor (D-AZ), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ) are all original cosponsors of the bill.
U.S. Sens. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and John McCain (R-AZ) introduced a companion bill in the Senate (S.2503).
The bill would facilitate the achievement of a fair, equitable and final settlement of certain claims within the Bill Williams River watershed among the Hualapai Tribe, the U.S. Department of the Interior acting on behalf of itself and as trustee for the Tribe, its members and allottees, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission and Freeport-McMoRan.
In addition to securing certain water rights for the Tribe, the Tribe will also benefit from two non-Federal contributions provided by Freeport-McMoRan to: 1) support a tribal water supply study necessary for the advancement of a settlement of the Tribe’s claims for Colorado River water; and 2) enable the Tribe to purchase and secure Colorado River water rights to help facilitate a future comprehensive settlement.
As part of the agreement codified by this Act, Freeport-McMoRan will also transfer portions of Planet Ranch for use in the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program. The agreement will result in a net water benefit to the basin as Freeport-McMoRan has agreed to cap its use of water from the Wikieup Wellfield.