Native America Calling: What do tribal water rights mean if there’s no water?

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Friday, February 17, 2023

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What do tribal water rights mean if there’s no water?

If there’s an epicenter of the more than 20-year drought in the west and Southwest, it’s the Colorado River.

It’s a significant water source for nearly 30 tribes that call the river basin home. Many of those tribes fought hard to secure water rights that were handed out to states and municipalities a century ago without regard for the tribes’ concerns.

Now, the Colorado River is in a worsening crisis.

Friday on Native America Calling, we learn how tribes are part of the discussions to reach a drastic water use reduction plan and find out if the stakeholders can all reach consensus.

Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River in Arizona. Photo: Charles Wang

Guests on Native America Calling

Jason John (Navajo), director of the Navajo Department of Water Resources

Daryl Vigil (Jicarilla Apache), former water administrator for the Jicarilla Apache Nation and co-facilitator of the Water & Tribes in the Colorado River Basin

Dr. Karletta Chief (Diné), Professor & Extension Specialist in Environmental Science at the University of Arizona and director of the Indigenous Resilience Center

Dr. Crystal Tulley-Cordova (Navajo), principal hydrologist for the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources.