Bill Overview
Title: Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2022
Description: 2022 This bill modifies and ratifies the Hualapai Tribe water rights settlement agreement negotiated between the tribe, the United States, Arizona, and others, thus satisfying the tribe's claims for groundwater and surface water rights to water in Arizona, including the Verde River, the Bill Williams River, and the Colorado River. The bill outlines the tribe's water rights, including the right to divert, use, and store 4,000 acre-feet of agricultural priority water of the Central Arizona Project that was previously allocated to nontribal agricultural entities, but retained by the Department of the Interior for reallocation to tribes in Arizona pursuant to the Central Arizona Project Settlement Act of 2004. Amounts deposited in an established trust fund account shall be made available to the tribe for specified purposes, including to construct the Hualapai Water Project. The project must be designed to divert, treat, and convey up to 3,414 acre-feet of water per year from the Colorado River for municipal, commercial, and industrial uses on the Hualapai Reservation. The bill authorizes Interior to take specified land into trust for the benefit of the tribe. In the future, land located outside the reservation may only be taken into trust through an act of Congress. The bill outlines (1) waivers, releases, and retentions of claims by the tribe and the United States under the settlement agreement; and (2) a limited waiver of sovereign immunity by the United States and the tribe with respect to certain claims.
Sponsors: Rep. O'Halleran, Tom [D-AZ-1]
Target Audience
Population: individuals associated with the Hualapai Tribe
Estimated Size: 2300
- The bill directly affects the Hualapai Tribe, as it settles their claims to water rights in Arizona.
- The settlement impacts the water distribution and rights concerning the Colorado River, Verde River, and Bill Williams River.
- The construction of the Hualapai Water Project will impact the municipal, commercial, and industrial water uses on the Hualapai Reservation.
- The bill includes certain land to be taken into trust for the benefit of the tribe, impacting land ownership and management rights.
- Allocation of 4,000 acre-feet of the Central Arizona Project previously held by nontribal agricultural entities now benefit the Hualapai Tribe.
- Many U.S. federal and state agencies, including the Department of the Interior, along with other stakeholders collaborating on water management are impacted.
Reasoning
- The primary impact of the policy is on the Hualapai Tribe, who will benefit directly from more secure water rights and resources for development on the reservation.
- The general U.S. population may see little direct impact unless they are involved in managing resources, policy implementation, or are part of agricultural entities affected by water reallocation.
- Some individuals in Arizona outside the tribe might experience changes to water access if they are involved with the former holders of the Central Arizona Project water rights.
- Impacts on well-being will vary: tribe members stand to gain security and development potential, while others may notice changes in resource allocation.
- The budget constraints ensure focused impacts primarily benefiting the Hualapai Tribe but slightly affecting other stakeholders involved in water distribution.
Simulated Interviews
Community Leader (Hualapai Reservation, Arizona)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a long time coming for us. Securing water rights means securing our future.
- It's about more than water. It's about development, health, and hope for the younger generations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Water Resource Manager (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy means reallocating resources and ensuring fairness across different sectors.
- It’s tricky balancing tribal rights with existing agricultural commitments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Entrepreneur (Hualapai Reservation, Arizona)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy opens up opportunities for small businesses like mine.
- Water access could be a game-changer for economic development.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 5 |
Farmer (Tucson, Arizona)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reallocating water affects our farming operations, causing potential setbacks.
- We hope there'll be compensatory measures or adequate replacements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Environmental Scientist (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like this are crucial for sustainable management of water resources.
- It's great to see tribal rights being recognized in practical terms.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Policy Analyst (Washington D.C.)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a significant victory for tribal rights and sets a precedent for future settlements.
- Monitoring the implementation will be critical.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
University Student (Flagstaff, Arizona)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's inspiring to see the empowerment of local communities through water rights.
- Hope to see more equitable water policies in the future.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Hotel Manager (Kingman, Arizona)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might boost local tourism with potential benefits for businesses.
- Excited to see possible growth and collaborations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Agricultural Consultant (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Navigating water reallocation will be challenging for some clients.
- It's necessary to keep an eye on cost efficiency and environmental effects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Social Justice Advocate (San Francisco, California)
Age: 44 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a promising framework for Indigenous resource empowerment.
- It's crucial the implementations align with the settlement goals.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $13000000, High: $17000000)
Year 2: $25000000 (Low: $23000000, High: $27000000)
Year 3: $20000000 (Low: $18000000, High: $22000000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 10: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2500000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The construction and operational costs of the Hualapai Water Project.
- Long-term maintenance and operation implications.
- Re-assigned water rights' impacts on previous stakeholders.
- Local economic development and job creation potential.