Leaders from three tribes in northeastern Arizona urged Congress on Wednesday to pass legislation settling their water rights, saying the agreement would ensure their access to the vital resource and provide greater certainty for water users across the Colorado River basin. The legislation, known as the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, was the focus of a panel discussion. … It featured leaders from the Hopi Tribe, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and Navajo Nation. A settlement would resolve the tribes’ outstanding water claims, fund a pipeline from Lake Powell to deliver water and create trust funds for the three tribes. It would also establish a reservation for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and allow the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe to lease their Upper Basin Colorado River water to other Arizona users — a provision that Upper Basin states oppose.

Other Colorado River management news:

• The Arizona Republic (Phoenix): Rain raises Lake Powell water levels, but snow will decide its fate
• KTAR (Phoenix): Central Arizona Project moves to join Colorado River lawsuit, warns of severe water cuts
• Arizona Capitol Times (Phoenix): Cities face financial, political obstacles in replacing lost Colorado River water
• Daily Independent (Miami, Ariz.): Central Arizona Project to join Nevada’s lawsuit over Colorado River water rights