H.R. 1322 would approve water-rights settlements for the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna in the Rio San José system and the Pueblos of Jemez and Zia in the Jemez River system. It would direct the Interior Secretary to carry out the settlement agreements, recognize the Pueblos’ water rights, and establish rules for managing and leasing those rights. The settlements would take effect after required court approvals, funding deposits, state actions, and other conditions are met. The Pueblos would give up certain past water-related claims in exchange for the settlement benefits, while specified rights and claims would remain protected.
The agreements would fund water infrastructure, water-rights management, watershed work, and related projects for the four Pueblos. The bill also sets aside state contributions for named community water and irrigation projects and for mitigating effects on certain non-Pueblo groundwater rights. It does not describe a direct benefit for the general public.
The bill would provide $1.34 billion in base federal funding for settlement trust funds and the Acomita Reservoir Works Trust Fund. The amounts may be adjusted for cost changes. It also sets out state contributions totaling $56.059 million before inflation adjustments: $36 million for the Acoma and Laguna settlement and $20.059 million for the Jemez and Zia settlement.
The bill states that its purpose is to achieve fair, final settlements of the water-rights claims and to fund their implementation. No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.