Contact Congress about S. 953: Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
The bill would settle water rights for three tribes in northeastern Arizona. It would fund a Lake Powell pipeline, tribal water trust funds, and rules for Colorado River use. Most of the bill would disappear if the deal is not final by June 30, 2035, unless all sides extend the deadline.
Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.
Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025 is a Senate bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
Latest action on S. 953: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects Navajo, Hopi, and San Juan Southern Paiute communities that need clear water rights and better drinking water systems. It also affects Arizona water users, federal water agencies, and Colorado River managers because the bill adds new rules for using, tracking, storing, and leasing tribal water.
Why this matters: Many tribal communities in northeastern Arizona still lack reliable drinking water, and old water fights have left rights unclear. This bill would trade many lawsuits and claims for defined water rights, federal funding, and new water systems. It could improve daily water access and give tribes, Arizona, and river managers clearer rules. It also matters because the Colorado River is already under heavy strain, so every new use, lease, and storage rule must fit into a tight water system.
Key provisions in S. 953
- The bill confirms water rights for the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Navajo Allottees, and Hopi Allottees. The United States would hold those rights in trust, including set amounts of Arizona Upper and Lower Basin Colorado River water.
- Tribes would get permanent federal contracts for Colorado River water delivery. The contracts would list where water can be taken, stored, and used, and how deliveries are cut during shortages.
- The Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe could lease or trade parts of their Colorado River water within Arizona. Federal approval and state water transfer laws would apply, and the tribes could not sell those rights forever.
- A 20-year NAIWRSA System Conservation Program would keep 17,050 acre-feet of tribal Upper Basin water each year in Lake Powell. The water would help the river system, be tracked separately, and lose some volume to evaporation.
- The Bureau of Reclamation would plan, design, and build the iina ba - paa tuwaqat'si pipeline from Lake Powell. It could deliver up to 7,100 acre-feet a year for Navajo communities, including 350 for San Juan Southern Paiute, and 3,076 acre-feet a year for Hopi communities.
How Modern Action helps you take action on S. 953
You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.
Questions people ask about S. 953
- What is S. 953?
- The bill would settle water rights for three tribes in northeastern Arizona. It would fund a Lake Powell pipeline, tribal water trust funds, and rules for Colorado River use. Most of the bill would disappear if the deal is not final by June 30, 2035, unless all sides extend the deadline.
- How do I support or oppose S. 953?
- Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.
- Who should I contact about S. 953?
- Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.
- Can Modern Action explain S. 953 before I act?
- Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.
