Friday Top of the Scroll: Native American tribes give unanimous approval to proposal securing Colorado River water
The Navajo Nation Council has signed off on a proposed settlement that would ensure water rights for its tribe and two others in the drought-stricken Southwest — a deal that could become the most expensive enacted by Congress. The Navajo Nation has one of the largest single outstanding claims in the Colorado River basin. Delegates acknowledged the gravity of their vote Thursday and stood to applause after casting a unanimous vote. Many noted that the effort to secure water deliveries for tribal communities has spanned generations. Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley and other officials stood outside the chamber in Window Rock, Arizona, under a clear blue sky as the wind whipped. She recalled learning about the fight over water rights in school when she was a girl.
Related Colorado River articles:
- Newsweek: Colorado River water supply to decrease because of overlooked losses
- Desert Research Institute: New study - Rising temperatures will significantly reduce streamflow in the upper Colorado river basin as groundwater levels fall, new research shows
- Fortune Magazine: Native American tribes approve proposal to ensure their Colorado River water rights—a deal that could become the most expensive enacted by Congress