… For Colorado River Indian Tribes, one way to be good stewards was to unanimously approve a resolution to give the river personhood status under tribal law. The resolution acknowledges the Colorado River as a living entity whose health and well-being are linked to the well-being of tribal members. CRIT’s water rights are some of the most powerful in the Colorado River Basin. The tribe is also near growing communities in Arizona looking for predictable water supplies in the face of potential water cuts and a changing climate. People have come to CRIT seeking agreements to lease the tribes’ water. Now, with the resolution, the tribal council can require them to acknowledge the river’s personhood as part of the agreement.  

Other Colorado River management news:

• Cowboy State Daily (Cheyenne, Wyo.): Engineers say Colorado River crisis could use Wyoming’s ‘godfather of water’ about now
• KJZZ (Phoenix): U.S.-Mexico water sharing should change under a dry Colorado River, new report argues
• Aspen Journalism (Colo.): The Runoff: Two of the biggest stories in Colorado River news
• The Salt Lake Tribune: Editorial: Every decision Utahns make has to be about our water supply
• Marketplace: Podcast: Saving water in the West is expensive. Can big companies help pay for it?
• KGNU (Boulder, Colo.): Podcast: Colorado River in spotlight at Southwestern Water Conservation District Annual Seminar