The Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is in full support of legislation recently introduced in Congress that creates a negotiated settlement agreement over water rights claims on the Colorado River between Utah and the Utah Navajo Nation. The legislation was recently introduced in by Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Congressman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah.
“This agreement is complex and required significant collaboration and compromise by everyone involved, but we’ve shown our willingness and ability to collaborate with our partners to solve difficult challenges,” said DNR Executive Director Mike Styler. “I firmly believe we have come out of this process with a balanced agreement that benefits the Navajo Nation, state of Utah, federal government and all water users in the Colorado River Basin.”
The proposed federal legislation is a significant milestone in solving a complex challenge. For more than a decade, the states of Utah, through the Utah Division of Water Rights, and the Navajo Nation have worked collaboratively to reach consensus on water right claims for the portion of the Nation located in Utah. When approved, this agreement will help the Nation meet many of its most critical water infrastructure needs and will also clarify the challenges facing the Colorado River Basin and Utah’s water allocation.
This legislation is the next step in recognizing the hard work put forth by all parties involved and ensuring the settlement agreement will be evaluated by the federal government.
# # #