Advertise:   ads@blueearthmarketing.com   712.224.5420

Environment
Settlement elusive in 38-year-old water rights case


The Santa Fe New Mexican takes a look at the Aamodt Indian water rights case that has gone on for 38 years without a settlement.

The suit was filed by the state in federal court in an attempt to quantify the rights of four Pueblo tribes and their non-Indian neighbors. At the time, state officials thought the case would move quickly and would serve as a model for other tribal cases.

But those expectations were dashed by the slow-moving federal system and other issues. Although water rights cases have been handled in federal courts for decades, the Pueblo situation is unique in that the tribes hold their land in fee. Earlier cases involved reservations that were set aside by treaty or statute so there were some legal questions that had to be resolved for the Pojoaque, Tesuque, Namb and San Ildefonso Pueblos.

The case seemed to have a turning point with the announcement of a proposed settlement earlier this year. One Pueblo governor said the tribes appear to be in support of the deal, but non-Indians are objecting. They have formed a group to lobby against provisions that call for them to give up their wells and join a regional water system.

The suit is named after the first family listed as defendants in the case.

Get the Story:
Troubled waters (The Santa Fe New Mexican 4/4)
No quick solution (The Santa Fe New Mexican 4/4)
Proposed pipeline would deliver water city doesn't have (The Santa Fe New Mexican 4/4)
The issues of Aamodt (The Santa Fe New Mexican 4/4)

Related Stories:
Group organizes to oppose tribal water settlement (4/1)
Non-Indians seek way out of water rights settlement (03/24)
Non-Indians opposing deal to end water rights case (03/10)
Non-Indians wary of settlement to water rights case (2/18)
Settlement expected in water rights case (12/10)
Pueblo's water usage won't be curtailed by judge (07/02)
Pueblo's water usage at issue in court case (02/20)
Pueblo fights limits to water usage (11/27)
Water talks call on non-Indians to change (11/22)
Court to move on Pueblo water issue (11/21)
Court asked to halt Pueblo water use (09/13)
Pueblo has major development plans (7/17)
Pueblo threatened with court action (7/12)
Pueblo plans questioned (5/9)
Pueblo warned on water usage (3/15)
Pueblo water usage questioned (10/29)
Pueblo talks about water rights (2/22)
Pueblo water rights limited by court (2/7)