… Tribal water rights are an important—and often poorly understood—component of California’s water rights system. These rights are essential to the economy and well-being of California’s Tribes in the same way that water rights are critical for its cities and agriculture. Tribal water rights also play an increasingly significant role in regional water management in California and on the Colorado River. … This report aims to shed light on Tribal water rights. To understand the current state of these rights, we provide an overview of their history, an analysis of the approaches that have helped Tribes succeed in quantifying their water rights, and a review of the contemporary exercise of these rights—including in basins where water is fully allocated. We conclude with a brief discussion of opportunities under federal and state law for other Tribes to quantify or otherwise protect their water resources. 

Other tribal water news around the West:

• High Country News (Paonia, Colo.): Treat water like family, not profit
• KOAT (Albuquerque, N.M.): New Mexico tribal communities getting $92.9 million