Photo By Luke Runyon/KUNC: Water from the Central Arizona Project spills onto a field in rural Pinal County.
Contributed Article
WASHINGTON – A total of $120,725,000 will be invested in fulfilling Arizona tribal water rights settlements from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law led by Senator Kyrsten Sinema and shaped by Senator Mark Kelly.
The Senators’ bipartisan infrastructure law provides $2.5 billion in funding to complete all currently authorized Indian Water Rights Settlements. The Department of Interior announced over $120 million for building out the infrastructure needed for the Ak-Chin’s Indian Water Rights Settlement Operations, Maintenance & Replacement, the San Carlos Irrigation Project Rehabilitation, Gila River Indian Community’s Pima Maricopa Irrigation Project, and San Carlos Apache Tribe’s Distribution System.
“Thanks to our leadership on the infrastructure law, historic investments strengthen tribes’ economic and water security by fully funding Indian Water Rights Settlements in Arizona and across the country – updating critical infrastructure and creating jobs,” said Sinema, co-author and lead negotiator of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law.
“The funding we secured to implement existing tribal water settlements will fulfill our obligations to tribal governments in Arizona, so they get the resources needed to use their water rights while also encouraging water conservation, creating jobs, and strengthening the economies of tribal communities,” said Kelly.
Below are the recipients and award amounts:
| Settlement | Total |
| Ak-Chin Indian Water Rights Settlement Operations, Maintenance & Replacement | $22,000,000 |
| AZ Water Settlements Act Implementation – San Carlos Irrigation Project Rehabilitation | $18,225,000 |
| Gila River Indian Community – Pima Maricopa Irrigation Project | $79,000,000 |
| San Carlos Apache Tribe (Distribution System) | $1,500,000 |
Sinema led bipartisan Senate negotiations with Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio that included Senator Kelly and senators from both parties.
The bipartisan infrastructure law was supported by groups including The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, The National Association of Manufacturers, The AFL-CIO, The National Retail Federation, The Bipartisan Policy Center, North America’s Building Trades Unions, the Outdoor Industry Association, The American Hotel and Lodging Association, The National Education Association, as well as hundreds of mayors across all 50 states.
