July 28, 2026 3:28 pm
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ
July 28, 2026 3:28 pm
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ

Notices

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS Job Openings

Help expand energy dominance and support Tribal energy futures with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)! We are pleased to announce 23 new hiring opportunities to help support energy development and permitting at BIA, with more opportunities coming soon.

All position announcements opened on 6/1/2026 and will close on Friday 6/12/2026, so act fast! We encourage all qualified applicants to submit application materials by applying online at USAJobs. Please help us spread the word and recruit high-qualitycandidates to help fulfill the BIA mission.

Positions include:
(1) Environmental Protection Specialist Series 28 (GS 11) at Southwest Regional Office
(Albuquerque, NM); DE-26-12973039-CAWY-SR;
(1) Environmental Protection Specialist Series 28 (GS 9/11) at Western Regional Office
(Phoenix, AZ); DE-26-12973039-CAWY-SR;
(2) Archeologist Series 193 (GS 7/11) at Southwest Regional Office (Albuquerque, NM);
DE-26-12973279-CAWV-MH;
(2) GIS Specialist Series 301 (GS 5/11) at Great Plains Regional Office (Aberdeen, SD);
DE-26-12973052-CAWV-JM;
(2) Geographic Information System Specialist Series 301 (GS 9/11) at Navajo Regional
Office (Gallup, NM); DE-26-12973052-CAWV-JM;
(1) Supervisory Engineer Technician (Petro) Series 802 (GS 11) at Osage Agency
(Pawhuska, OK); DE-26-12972843-CAWV-BSc;
(1) Realty Assistant Series 1101 (GS 7) at Farmington Indian Minerals Office (Farmington,
NM); DE-26-12972357-CAWV-TB;
(1) Realty Assistant (CM) Series 1101 (GS 5/7) at Anadarko Agency (Anadarko, OK); DE-
26-12972357-CAWV-TB; (more…)

Back To School Grant application

Click the link below to download the application
26-27 SG Application Policy (Fillable)

Summer Youth Movement Intersession Camp Sign Up

General Election and Enrollment Update

Career Development Office Applications

CDO HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAM
2026-2027 HE Application

CDO ADULT VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM
2026-2027 AVT Application

CDO Youth Services (YS) PROGRAM
CDO YOUTH SERVICES APPLICATION

Computer Assistance Program
COMPUTER PROGRAM APPLICATION

Tribal Board, Committee, and Commission Vacancies

The Colorado River Indian Tribes is seeking applicants to fill a number of Tribal Board, Committee, and Commission vacancies. Applications are open until filled. Applications may be picked up at the Tribal Executive Offices or you can download the PDF’s here.

May 1st CommitteeBoard Member Application

Tribal Boards & Committees

Completed applications may be emailed to b.c@crit-nsn.go or dropped off at the Executive Offices.
Applicants must be CRIT Tribal Members, at least 21 years old, reside on or within the exterior boundaries of the reservation, and meet all board eligibility requirements.
Additional paperwork may be required depending on the board or committee.

Basin Brief December 31st

As 2025 came to a close and 2026 began, water issues across Arizona and the Colorado River Basin remained front and center. New reporting highlighted continued uncertainty around Colorado River negotiations, growing concern over snowpack levels, and major developments in local groundwater and community water planning.

Local Groundwater and Community Water Planning

In western Arizona, the Parker Pioneer reports that an Active Management Area is being proposed for the Ranegras Plain. The proposal reflects growing concern over groundwater depletion and signals a shift toward stronger oversight in areas increasingly relied upon as Colorado River supplies tighten.

Meanwhile, years of uncertainty came to an end for residents of Rio Verde Foothills. Multiple Arizona outlets report that permanent water infrastructure is now coming online, including new pipelines and water filling stations. The long-awaited solution brings relief to residents, local businesses, and even animal sanctuaries, while also serving as a cautionary example of what can happen when development moves forward without secure water planning.

Snowpack and Weather Conditions Raise Red Flags

Snowpack remained a major concern across the Basin. Reports from KJZZ, KTAR News, CBS News, AP News, and several California outlets show that while recent storms boosted snowpack in parts of California, overall levels remain below average for this point in the season.

Officials with the Central Arizona Project acknowledged concern about snowpack levels, though they noted it is still early in the water year. Upstream, conditions appear more troubling. Colorado news outlets report historically low snowpack in some regions, while Utah coverage shows Lake Powell has dropped significantly over the past year, underscoring the fragile state of the system.

Late December also brought renewed uncertainty around water infrastructure projects. Coverage from KJZZ, Colorado outlets, and national public media reports on a presidential veto of a major Colorado water pipeline project. The decision disrupted financing for a project already underway and prompted calls from lawmakers to reconsider or override the veto. (more…)

Colorado River and Regional Water Updates | December 30, 2025

By Ariana Romero
Reporter, CRIT Media

As 2025 comes to a close, new reporting shows Colorado River negotiations narrowing toward what many leaders describe as a final window for agreement, while local water solutions and long-term risks continue to take shape across the Southwest.

ABC15 Arizona reports that Colorado River states may only have one last realistic chance to reach a deal before federal intervention becomes unavoidable. With existing guidelines set to expire and reservoir conditions still fragile, officials warn that failure to compromise soon could lead to decisions being imposed rather than negotiated.

CBS 5 Arizona’s Family highlights what is at stake specifically for Arizona as talks drag on. The report notes that unresolved negotiations could affect everything from water deliveries to long-term planning for cities, tribes, agriculture, and industry, reinforcing why Arizona leaders are under pressure to help move talks forward.

Several opinion pieces stress the need for compromise in the Upper Basin. Phys.org and the Imperial Valley Press argue that without meaningful concessions, negotiations risk collapse, deepening divisions among states and prolonging uncertainty across the Basin.

At the local level, attention turned to Rio Verde Foothills, a community that famously ran out of water. The Arizona Republic, CBS 5, and AZ Big Media report that a permanent water solution has now been secured, ending years of uncertainty. However, the Arizona Republic notes that questions remain about the long-term cost of that solution, underscoring the financial realities of securing water in unregulated areas.

Water policy and development pressures remain closely linked. The Daily Independent reports that Valley water officials are urging legislators to invest more heavily in water resources, while opinion pieces from Nevada question whether the continued expansion of data centers is compatible with long-term water sustainability.

Conditions on the river itself remain mixed. Newsweek reports on how Lake Mead’s water levels changed throughout 2025, showing modest gains at times but continued overall vulnerability. Meanwhile, CBS News warns that Colorado is facing its worst snowpack on record for this point in the season, a troubling signal for future Colorado River flows, though experts say late-season storms could still offer some relief.

Despite tensions, collaboration remains a recurring theme. An opinion from the University of Colorado Boulder notes that Colorado River discussions continue to bring together unlikely partners through forums like the Colorado River Water Users Association, even as disagreements persist. Another Colorado Sun opinion stresses that public access to rivers and responsible stewardship must remain part of broader water policy discussions.

Together, these reports show a Basin approaching a crossroads. With negotiations nearing a critical moment, local water fixes highlighting real costs, and climate signals raising alarm, decisions made in the months ahead will play a major role in shaping the future of the Colorado River.

Sources

Colorado River and Regional Water Updates | December 26

As the year comes to a close, new reporting underscores how unresolved negotiations, worsening climate impacts, and continued growth are colliding across the Colorado River Basin.

The Lake Havasu News-Herald reports that federal officials are demanding compromise from Basin states as water shortages deepen. Despite repeated warnings, states remain divided, prompting stronger signals that the federal government may intervene if agreements are not reached soon.

Several opinion pieces question long-held assumptions about water security. The Sun City Independent argues that Arizona’s promise of “assured” water is increasingly disconnected from reality, while national commentary emphasizes that decades of overuse and delayed action have left little room for error.

Weather extremes continued to dominate headlines. The Los Angeles Times reports that Southern California experienced its wettest Christmas holiday on record, highlighting the growing drought-to-deluge cycle driven by climate change. Despite heavy rain in some areas, drought conditions persist elsewhere, according to California and national drought summaries. In Colorado, the Denver Gazette reports snowpack levels are at the lowest ever recorded for this point in the season, raising serious concerns for future Colorado River flows.

Local and regional responses remain mixed. The Payson Roundup reports progress on water system improvements in Star Valley and a brief return to normal rainfall in Payson, though officials caution that short-term relief does not change long-term conditions. In Nevada, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that rapid growth in Las Vegas is continuing despite the Colorado River crisis, intensifying concerns about sustainability.

Across the Basin, journalists and experts reflected on the year’s biggest water stories. Aspen Journalism and Aspen Public Radio highlight how climate change is worsening drought conditions and pushing leaders toward difficult decisions in 2026. National Parks Traveler reports that declining Colorado River flows are already affecting national park sites along the river, signaling broader environmental consequences.

Some coverage points toward potential paths forward. Fox 13 in Utah explores ideas aimed at easing water conflicts, while opinion pieces emphasize the need for compromise among Upper Basin states. The Sierra Club highlights how Indigenous knowledge and stewardship can play a key role in adapting to climate change and managing water more sustainably.

Sources

Personhood Status Protects The Life Of The Colorado River

The Colorado River Indian Tribes Tribal Council has made a historic decision to protect the lifeblood of their Reservation. On November 6, 2025, the Council unanimously approved Resolution No. R-375-25, which proclaims the personhood status of the Colorado River under tribal law.

This resolution acknowledges the Colorado River as a living entity whose health and well-being are intrinsically linked to the well-being of the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) members. The Tribes’ deep-rooted connection to the river spans centuries, providing cultural identity, spiritual strength, food systems, and economic stability that continue to shape their community life today.

The resolution emphasizes the central role the river has played in defining the identity of the CRIT. It highlights that CRIT’s ancestors have preserved and protected these lands since before the establishment of the Colorado River Indian Reservation in 1865.

The Council underscores the crucial role the river plays in sustaining traditional practices, wildlife, and agriculture, including the federal irrigation systems authorized as early as 1867. Today, the Colorado River Indian Irrigation Project stands as a cornerstone of the tribal economy.

The resolution underscores significant legal milestones that acknowledged CRIT’s water rights. In the landmark 1964 and 2006 Arizona v. California U.S. Supreme Court decisions, the Tribes secured 719,248 acre-feet of water annually, ensuring their access to the river for generations to come.

By granting personhood to the River, the Tribal Council reaffirmed its sovereign duty to honor and protect it. This status mandates that the River’s well-being must be a priority in governance and decision-making moving forward.

As part of the resolution, the Attorney General and their staff will develop legal safeguards and propose updates to the CRIT Water Code and other relevant regulations. These updates may include the potential designation of the river as a protected cultural landscape.

Council members recognized that protecting the river is not merely a legal obligation but a continuation of cultural beliefs passed down through generations.

Through this declaration, CRIT demonstrates its unwavering commitment to stewardship. The resolution concludes with a resolute message: the Colorado River is, and will always remain, a vital entity deserving of respect, care, and protection for all future generations.

Article Written by CRIT Media Reporter Ariana Romero

Colorado River Talks Stall, Arizona Calls for Federal Action

News Update November 12, 2025

Negotiations over the future of the Colorado River have reached a standstill after all seven basin states failed to meet a key federal deadline. Reports from 12News and 8NewsNow confirm that the states were unable to agree on a new water-sharing plan, leaving the situation unresolved as the river continues to decline.

High Country News explains that the biggest disagreements involve how much each state should give up in the future. The upper Basin states want fewer mandatory reductions, while the Lower Basin states, including Arizona, say they have already taken the deepest cuts and cannot continue to absorb the majority of the impacts.

With no agreement in place, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has asked the Trump administration to intervene. She stated that Arizona has made significant sacrifices and cannot carry the weight of the reductions while other states refuse to commit to measurable cuts. If the states cannot reach a plan soon, the federal government may create one for them.

For the Colorado River Indian Tribes, the outcome of these negotiations has major importance. CRIT holds valuable senior water rights and relies on a stable and fair management plan to ensure long-term security for the community and the region.

For more information, you can read the news articles with the links below.

8NewsNow
https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/colorado-river-negotiations-fail-to-meet-federal-deadline-for-7-state-agreement/

High Country News
https://www.hcn.org/articles/why-colorado-river-negotiations-are-so-difficult/

 

ABC 15 News
https://www.abc15.com/weather/impact-earth/why-gov-katie-hobbs-wants-trump-administration-to-broker-colorado-river-deal

 

12 News
/wednesday-is-deadline-for-7-state-including-arizona-to-negotiate-the-colorado-river

News

Bureau of Reclamation visits CRIT for a Government-to-Government Consultation

Deputy Commissioner David Palumbo and Representatives from the Bureau of Reclamation (referred to as Reclamation) met with the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) Tribal Council on June 1st, 2026. This meeting was called a Government-to-Government consultation for on-going dialogue specifically regarding the development of the finalized Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS is a federal review of the different options being considered for operating major Colorado River dams and reservoirs after 2026, and the potential impacts of those options. In this meeting, representatives from Reclamation laid out developing plans they are calling Post 2026 Operational Guidelines and Strategies for Lake Powell and Lake Mead. In these guidelines, it will determine how the major Colorado River reservoirs, specifically Lake Powell and Lake Mead, are operated after the current rules expire. At the heart of Reclamation’s visit was the opportunity not only to explain its plans for the Colorado River and the Final EIS, but also to address CRIT’s major concerns with the Draft EIS. Most notably, the Draft EIS discusses the possibility of allocating shortages among all water users without regard to priority date. Priority date is the legal order that determines which water rights are senior and must be lawfully protected before junior users, to which CRIT has senior priority. This approach is known as pro rata allocation of shortages, and if applied, it will directly violate the Tribe’s senior water rights.

Reclamation’s presentation did not come with good news. According to its report, continued drought, climate variability, and historically low reservoir levels have created serious challenges for Colorado River operations. Representatives also explained that the Upper and Lower Basin states had not reached consensus on a Basin-wide proposal at the time of the meeting, making the federal decision-making process especially important. They discussed what they are calling a Preliminary Preferred Alternative: a 10-year framework that would establish broad operational principles and sideboards while allowing specific operational guidelines to be updated every two years. This method would provide flexibility rather than locking the Basin into a single fixed set of rules for the entire decade.

This means that Reclamation will decide operations for 2027–2028 first, then revisit operations for 2029–2030, and continue in two-year cycles. They said this might help tackle things in a real-time manner and adjust if required.

In response, CRIT Tribal Council members emphasized that the present crisis cannot be separated from the federal government’s long-standing obligations to the Tribe, including the need to address aging irrigation infrastructure and support CRIT’s ability to fully use and store its water. Council members expressed that, had those commitments been fulfilled earlier, CRIT and the Basin may be facing a very different situation today. Additionally, the conversation was centered mostly around pro rata, with all of Tribal Council members doubling down on making Reclamation commit to removing pro rata language in the final EIS. (more…)

CRIT Updates Interior Department on Water, Agriculture, and Infrastructure Needs

Andrea Travnicek, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science, recently toured the Colorado River Indian Reservation with Chairwoman Amelia Flores, ‘Amat Kuhwely Farms Manager Joshua Moore, Deputy Attorney General Travis Nez, Lead Water Attorney John Bezdek, Water Resources Director Dillon Esquerra, and Fish & Game Wildlife Manager Alexander Kalinowski. The goal of the visit was for Travnicek to understand in real time about the Tribe’s water, agricultural capabilities, and infrastructure inefficiencies.

Travnicek was accompanied by members of her staff and representatives from the Bureau of Reclamation, an agency within her oversight portfolio. During the visit, Tribal representatives took her to several locations across the reservation to provide a firsthand look at CRIT enterprises, agricultural operations, and the deteriorating irrigation infrastructure affecting the vast farmland throughout the valley.

The tour began at Aha Quin Resort, a Tribally owned and operated recreational destination located on CRIT lands along the California side of the Colorado River.

Travnicek then visited a portion of the valley’s irrigation system, a critical stop because it is where excess water flows through the canals before draining back into the Colorado River. The deteriorating infrastructure limits CRIT’s ability to retain and reuse that water within the irrigation system. Once the water returns to the river, it becomes available to downstream junior users, some of whom have derived substantial economic benefit from water over which CRIT holds a far more senior legal claim, with an earliest priority date of March 3, 1865. The location has long been used to demonstrate the serious condition of the aging irrigation system. By visiting the site, Travnicek was able to observe the problems firsthand and hear Dillon Esquerra and Joshua Moore. explain how the failing infrastructure affects the Tribe’s ability to conserve and efficiently use its water.

The tour continued at ‘Amat Kuhwely Farms, where Travnicek met with Farm Manager Joshua Moore and local farmers John Nelson and tribal member Ciesto Leivas, Jr.. The farmers discussed the challenges of maintaining agricultural operations while relying on aging and unreliable infrastructure throughout the valley. They also discussed the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) inoperable ability to maintain its own infrastructure and how often (if not daily) these farmers need to do the work of the BIA in order to maintain their crops and yield successful results.

Travnicek listened to their concerns and expressed her willingness to elevate these issues with BIA leaders in DC. She relayed how frustrating it must be for them, and for CRIT overall to not see any updates. (more…)

Colorado River Update Meetings Scheduled

CRIT Hosts Health Fair

The CRIT Department of Health and Social Services hosted its Health Fair on Wednesday, June 24, at Irataba Hall. The event brought together departments and programs from across the community to share helpful resources and important health information.

There was food, games, raffles, and free shaved ice provided by Uncle Phil’s Awesome Snow Shaved Ice. Guests also left with bags filled with informational flyers, recipes, and useful household items. It was great to see so many departments working together to support and connect with the community.

Events

Water Bash July 30

Nuwu Summer Solstice Exchange July 18

Christmas in July- July 25

Colorado River Update Meetings Scheduled

Sandhill Crane Hunting Season Starts November 1st

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Big Horn Sheep Hunting Applications Due July 31

For details visit www.CRITFishandGame.com