Views on Tipping Points, Resilience, and Long-Term Water - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Views on Tipping Points, Resilience, and Long-Term Water Availability Tribes and Pueblos Bernadette Benally Fontenelle October 17, 2018

Outline • Describe tribes and pueblos in New Mexico • My views on tipping point situation • Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project • Navajos resilience to water scarcity • Next steps

 19 Pueblos  Navajo Nation  Ute Mtn  Apaches • Jicarilla • Mescalero Source: Earth Data Analysis Center, University of New Mexico, 2011

New Mexico Tribes and Pueblos water rights settlement status Orange-negotiated/litigated Green- resolved/settled White- nothing done 1. Acoma 9. Jicarilla Apache 17. Cochiti 2. Jemez 10. Pojoaque 18. Isleta 3. Laguna 11. Mescalero Apache 19. Picuris 4. Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan) 12. Nambe 20. Santa Clara 5. Ute Mountain 13. Navajo Nation 21. Santa Domingo 6. Santa Ana 14. San Ildefonso 22. San Felipe 7. Zia 15. Taos 23. Sandia 8. Zuni 16. Tesuque Top 3 known Indian water right settlements: Aamodt, Taos, and San Juan River (SJR)

My views on tipping point situation For example, the Eastern portion of Navajo reservation: • Lack adequate potable water supply • Rely on drinking water that has to be trucked to their homes • Clean water source many miles away from home • Rural community no water infrastructure in place • Growing population demand for more housing, schools, stores • High unemployment rate • Poverty • No water available, no economic development

Tipping point situation (continued) • For livestock, nearby water sources (groundwater) contaminated or dried out • Four Corners is the bullseye for extreme drought conditions, livestock are dying or sold Source: Navajo Times reported on May 3, 2018 near Four Corners Area 200 horses dead • Meantime Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project is being built to resolve the tipping point situation • All this water coming from San Juan River, a matter of time

Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Indian Water Rights • Navajo Nation bound to SJR • Jicarilla Apache Features • 2 treatment plants • Massive water supply line • 280 miles of pipeline Current infrastructure • Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (yellow lines)

Reaching tipping point for Navajos • Settlement authorizes first- time construction of a massive water supply line • Area is undeveloped makes it more challenging to get water to the homes of people from the supply line Photo Credit: Old water tank west of Shiprock Bridge, the Navajo writing says “Water is Life”

Navajos resilience to water scarcity • U phold the strength of their culture • Lead by great leaders to acquire water rights • After years of court proceedings, negotiated and resolve claims to San Juan River water rights • Part of negotiation to construct a massive water supply line – Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project Photo credit: Navajo farmer pumping water from San Juan River • Little things add up: – Continue to haul water – Address and respond to drought conditions at Ch apter house meetings

Next steps • Now until the year 2024, await completion of Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project • “The Connection Plan”- get Navajo homes connected to the main water supply line, using and expanding Navajo Tribal Utility existing infrastructure which requires more funding • Goal - get water to the rural communities and begin economic development on Navajo reservation

Thank you Photo credit: Navajo girls going for water Found image online Google search for Navajo and water, 10/15/18