The signing formalizes the Utah Navajo Water Rights Settlement, which became law in 2020 as part of President Joe Biden's bipartisan infrastructure bill. “The other concern we had was about half the Navajo Nation residents (in Utah) didn’t have running water." The settlement also quantifies the Navajo Nation's water rights, quelling Utah's anxieties about its long-standing claims to a share of water, including from the Colorado River. The agreement also allows the Navajo to lease unused water to entities off the reservation and guarantees they won't lose water rights not put to use. “The hard work, however, must continue until all homes across the Navajo Nation have clean water running in faucets for all Navajo families," Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez told the newspaper.

Source: ABC News May 28, 2022 00:03 UTC