Title V of P.L. 111-291 The Abeyta Water Rights Adjudication By - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 Title V of P.L. 111-291 The Abeyta Water Rights Adjudication By Nelson J. Cordova Director, Taos Pueblo Water Administration Department

Taos Pueblo – The Place of the Red Willows  A World Heritage Site and National Historic Landmark, which has occupied present location since time immemorial. Taos Pueblo people subsisted by hunting and farming.   The land base covers 111,000 acres. Current population is 3000. Water resources are Rio Pueblo, Rio Lucero, Rio Hondo,  and associated springs and lakes

Settlement Negotiation Parties: Taos Pueblo  Arroyo Seco Taos Valley Acequia  Village of Taos Ski Valley Association Arroyo Hondo  Town of Taos  El Prado Water and Sanitation District 12 Taos Area Mutual  Tract B Domestic Water Consumers Associations Blue Lake Wilderness  State of New Mexico Taos United States of America  Pueblo El Prado Land Grant Rio Grande Tract A Town of Taos 2 miles Ranchos de Taos

Water Rights secured to Pueblo through the Abeyta Settlement Historically Irrigated Acreage 7,883.64 AFY   Stock Ponds 114.35 AFY San Juan Chama Project 2,215.00 AFY  Deep Ground Water 1,300.00 AFY  Municipal, Industrial, and Domestic 300.00 AFY  Stock Wells 14.72 AFY   Rio Grande Depletion Credit 100.00 AFY Total 11,927.71 AFY (Depletion)

Negotiation begins (Convening and Contentious Period)  1989: George H.W. Bush announces policy to negotiate Indian water disputes through negotiations  Taos Valley Acequia Association proposal to negotiate Pueblo and acequia claims, accepted by Pueblo  Pueblo establishes Water Task Force, appoints two tribal councilmen as spokesmen and negotiators  Local parties approve negotiation schedule and set 1995 as year to complete negotiation  2007: Draft Settlement Agreement complete, Tribal Council approval process begins Early negotiations were highly adversarial and contentious  Parties agree to Pueblo’s Historically Irrigated Agriculture (HIA) claim 5,712.78 acres

Legislation (the Washington, D.C. process) Pueblo and local parties work to introduce Abeyta legislation,  supported by NM Congressional delegation 2008: Pueblo delegates testify before Congressional  Committees; 2008 election results improve chance of passage 2010: The Taos Pueblo Water Rights Settlement Act introduced  by Senator Jeff Bingaman and Rep. Ben R. Lujan Senate and House pass H.R. 4783, the Claims Resolution Act of  2010 -- includes Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 --

Taos Pueblo signs Settlement Agreement  2010: President Obama signs P.L. 111-291; process to conform Settlement Agreement Act begins  2012: Taos Pueblo Tribal Council approves conformed Settlement Agreement  2013: Governor Susana Martinez signs Settlement Agreement  2014: Pueblo and United States file Joint Memorandum in Support of Joint Motion to Approve and Enter Partial Final Decree on the Water Rights of Taos Pueblo  2016: US and State of New Mexico file notice that Federal and State Appropriations conditions have been achieved October 7, 2016: Federal Register publishes Notice to make the Settlement Final, Binding and Enforceable Governor Laureano Romero and Lt. Governor Gilbert Suazo sign the Settlement Agreement

Settlement Implementation Review Settlement Agreement  Implement water sharing agreements   Implement Mutual Benefit projects Preserve Buffalo Pasture groundwater and ecology  Continue coordination with local parties, NM OSE and  Federal entities Address Tribal priorities  Protection of the Buffalo Pasture wetland is a core Settlement principle Implementation of the Settlement Agreement is a long term endeavor

Tribal priorities Future Water Administration Department facility Enhance Pueblo water resource management  capabilities Implementation of early Settlement projects   Improving Pueblo’s irrigation system and infrastructure Implement Pueblo’s Water Code  Set up investment plan for water Settlement funds  Construct Water Administration Department facility  Conduct water supply and demand analysis to address  future needs 1908 Pipeline crossing Rio Lucero

Taos Pueblo Tribal Council

Thank you