New Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne says tribes might have to forget about seeing cash as part of their water rights settlements.

Kempthorne says land transfers and habitat management deals could lower the cost of the settlements. His counselor, Michael Bogert, cited a recent settlement with the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho that involved non-cash provisions.

The Bush administration has balked at the cost of several water rights settlements involving tribes in New Mexico. The deals could cost $1.2 billion, much of which would be provided by the federal government.

But in Arizona, the Interior Department had no problem with providing $3.15 billion of the $4.7 billion cost of a tribal water settlement.

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Land swaps, deals could help clinch settlements (The Santa Fe New Mexican 11/1)
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Relevant Links:
New Mexico Office of the State Engineer - http://www.ose.state.nm.us

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