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Thursday, December 18, 2003

A proposal to settle the water rights of the Navajo Nation came under fire at a public meeting in New Mexico on Monday.

The tribe, the state of New Mexico and the federal government have reached tentative agreement on claims in the San Juan River. The tribe would get 322,000 acre-feet a year and $900 million in public works projects, including a water pipeline.

At the meeting, non-Indian water users in the San Juan Basin said they were excluded from the talks. They also said it was difficult to comment on a 120-page settlement they hadn't seen. A 10-page summary was passed out at the meeting, The Farmington Daily Times reported.

The state and the tribe are taking public comments on the settlement. The deadline is January 15.

The deal needs Congressional approval.

Get the Story:
Criticism of Navajo water rights agreement mounts (The Farmington Daily Times 12/17)

Relevant Links:
Navajo Nation - http://www.navajo.org

Related Stories:
Deal would settle Navajo Nation water claims (12/08)
Navajo Nation paid $192K to 'stay out' of deal (06/13)
State, feds accept water sharing agreement (6/11)
Navajo Nation approves water use agreement (04/18)
Navajo Nation panel to vote on water agreement (4/17)
Editorial: Navajo farmers should cut back on water (04/04)
Navajo farmers offered money for water usage (4/2)
Navajo water agreement not dead, local officials say (03/24)
Navajo Nation panel turns down water deal (3/19)

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