Most voters weren’t thinking about Arizona’s water supply when they voted for president or Congress.
But the election results could impact pending tribal water settlements and the new rules that will govern how we allocate water from the Colorado River.
Both of which could have major impacts on our state.
Earlier this year, key parties approved two major settlements — one involving the Navajo and Hopi tribes, and the other involving the Yavapai Apache.
Both would resolve longstanding, disputed water claims in northern Arizona, ending lengthy court cases and giving communities far more certainty about their supplies, which should help them better plan for the long term.
Yet, both deals still need congressional approval.
And the Navajo/Hopi deal comes with a $5 billion price tag, which tribal leaders say is necessary to deliver water across expansive tribal........