This bill makes technical changes to the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians Water Rights Settlement Act. It revises the law's definition of the Pechanga Reservation to list specific lands and dates added, and it adds that contiguous land held in trust on the enforceability date or land in the Santa Margarita River Watershed placed into trust after that date counts as Reservation land. The bill also changes one permitted use of the Pechanga Water Quality Account from "groundwater desalination activities within the Wolf Valley Basin" to the broader phrase "activities to address water quality issues within the Wolf Valley Basin." The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to promptly execute amendments to the Pechanga Settlement Agreement and its exhibits to conform with these changes. It says these amendments do not affect the satisfaction status of certain conditions precedent, do not change the Secretary's October 1, 2020 finding that those conditions were satisfied, and do not alter any existing water rights.
If you are a member of the Pechanga Band or live near the Band's lands, this bill clarifies which parcels count as Reservation land and allows additional contiguous trust lands (including some in the Santa Margarita River Watershed) to be treated as Reservation. It also broadens what kinds of projects or activities within the Wolf Valley Basin can be funded from the Pechanga Water Quality Account by allowing work to address water quality generally, not just desalination.
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The bill states that the parties to the Pechanga Settlement Agreement have agreed to amend the agreement and directs the Secretary of the Interior to promptly execute those amendments so the settlement documents conform with the technical changes made by this Act.
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