ADWR welcomes new tribal liaison, strengthening tribal water partnerships
Should Congress approve the water rights agreements recently negotiated by four Native American tribes, a majority of Arizona’s 22 federally recognized tribes at long last will enjoy adjudicated rights to water supplies – a major achievement that in most cases will conclude decades of negotiations and legal proceedings.
In early July, Arizona’s US Senators introduced legislation seeking congressional approval of water rights and funding for infrastructure projects involving three Arizona-based tribes.
If passed by Congress, the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024 authorizes a comprehensive settlement of the water rights claims of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe in Arizona.
Funding provided by the Act would include money for construction of a major pipeline project giving the Navajo Nation access to the main stem of the Colorado River.
Congress also is considering the Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024, which will settle the water-rights claims of the Yavapai-Apache Nation of north-central Arizona.
Similar legislation was introduced in the US House at the same time by a bipartisan group of Arizona representatives. That legislation is before the House Committee on Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
The water volumes legally allotted to tribes, in many cases, are substantial. All told, Arizona tribes now enjoy rights to nearly half of the state’s 2.8 million acre-foot Colorado River allocation. That dynamic has great significance for ADWR, the state agency that is responsible for administering groundwater and surface water rights in Arizona, as well as representing the State of Arizona in Tribal water rights settlements.
ADWR Director Tom Buschatzke stressed the importance of the agreements in written testimony submitted to the House subcommittee.
In support of the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024, the Director wrote:
“Settlement avoids the cost and uncertainty of litigation and provides certainty to both tribal and non-tribal communities in the State regarding available water supplies.
“In many cases, including here in the Act, settlement also provides critical funding for the water treatment and delivery infrastructure necessary to bring water to tribal nations and their members. Such infrastructure development often also enables much needed economic development projects.”
Recently, the Department took its commitment to the settlements a major step forward, adding an experienced tribal liaison to the ADWR staff.
Tribal liaison Donovan Carr, who started with the Department several months ago, has served in similar capacities for Governor Katie Hobbs, both in the Governor’s Office and during her tenure as Arizona Secretary of State. In the Governor’s Office, in particular, Carr worked with a number of state agencies on tasks that involved tribes. Crucially, Carr staffed the Governor on visits to tribal communities, as well as the reverse – planning and coordinating state visits of tribal principals to the Governor’s Office.
Carr will be taking on those tasks with ADWR, too. He will accompany Director Buschatzke on his planned visits to each of Arizona’s tribes with adjudicated water rights. The meetings remain in the planning stages.
“The Indigenous Tribes and Nations of Arizona are the first stewards of this land, and retain a unique understanding of the complexities around natural resources conservation and protection,” said Carr.
“We believe Indigenous peoples are Arizonans too, and water knows no boundaries. I'm excited to join Director Buschatzke and the team at ADWR to help protect and conserve Arizona’s water resources by fostering more collaborative relationships with our first communities.”
As Diné himself – Carr grew up on the Navajo Nation, graduating from Tuba City High - he is uniquely prepared for those tasks. In addition to having honed the diplomatic skills necessary to act as a tribal liaison, he also boasts high proficiency in reading, writing and speaking Navajo.
He has put his Native talents to good use outside of government as well.
Carr served as principal investigator for the Seattle Children’s Research Institute in 2018-2019 when it conducted genetics research in the Navajo Nation. He also has worked on translations of health insurance applications into the Navajo language.