Sen. Kyl helped pass largest Indian water rights deal in history

Friday, February 11, 2011  

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Arizona), who announced his retirement on Thursday, played a major role in Indian water rights settlements, including the largest in U.S. history.

Kyl negotiated the Arizona Water Settlements Act of 2004. It settled the water rights of the Gila River Indian Community and the Tohono O'odham Nation.

"He was there every day, every week, to answer questions and to guide the process," Herb Guenther, the director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, told The Arizona Republic.

Kyl's most recent work came with the enactment of a settlement for the White Mountain Apache Tribe. The deal was included in the bill that settled the Indian trust fund lawsuit.

Get the Story:
Kyl key in tribal water-rights deals (The Arizona Republic 2/11)

Sen. Jon Kyl from Arizona announces decision to retire in 2012 (2/10)