The Bureau of Reclamation told all 30 Tribal Nations in the Colorado River Basin on May 8^th  that they will no longer seek to allocate across-the-board shortages to all water users as previously proposed but instead will follow current law and respect senior tribal rights.  This is a major victory for CRIT, Tribal rights advocates, and holders of senior water rights.  As stated by CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores “We are pleased that Reclamation has finally decided to drop its illegal proposal to disregard CRIT’s senior water rights and allocate shortages without regard to priority.”  Chair Flores continued, “Tribal Council has never backed down on the issue of protecting our Tribal rights.  Throughout this process, Reclamation, and many others, have proposed for setting aside the priority system and for all water users to share equally in shortages.  We know this is wrong and we were prepared to defend our senior water rights all the way to the Supreme Court.  Fortunately, Reclamation has understood the seriousness of our position and dropped its proposal.”

Tribal Council has opposed these so called “pro-rata” shortages since they were first proposed by Reclamation over two years ago to manage reductions in Colorado River water due to overuse and climate change.  Over this time, Tribal Council has been in support to stop the implementation of pro-rata shortages through an intensive and coordinated advocacy effort with the Trump Administration.  This included many trips to Washington, DC, meetings with state-wide elected officials, and direct government-to-government consultation with senior Trump Administration officials.

While these efforts paid off in the statements made by Reclamation last week, the process regarding how the dams on the Colorado River will be operated is still ongoing. The CRIT Tribal Council understands that while the Reclamation’s reversal is a critical milestone, the fight to protect and preserve CRIT’s rights remain.  As stated by Councilman Tommy Drennan “we will never rest in protecting and preserving our rights, not just for today but for future generations. “

CRIT’s water rights date back to the creation of the reservation, March 3, 1865 and are the most senior tribal water rights in the Lower Colorado River basin.   We expect Reclamation to issue a final environmental document sometime in June.

During the mid-1800s, as the American Southwest was rapidly changing, Charles Debrille Poston emerged as one of the key figures helping shape the future of Arizona. A strong promoter of the region and its opportunities, Poston would later earn the nickname “Father of Arizona” for his efforts to establish Arizona as its own territory.

Poston was born on April 20, 1825, in Kentucky. Like many Americans of his time, he moved west in search of opportunity as new lands opened following the Gadsden Purchase of 1853. He soon became involved in mining ventures and settlement efforts in southern Arizona, particularly around the community of Tubac. His work promoting the region helped bring national attention to Arizona’s potential during a time when the area was still largely considered a frontier.

When the Arizona Territory was officially created in 1863, Poston was appointed Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the territory, a position that required him to travel throughout Arizona and meet with tribal leaders across the region. His duties frequently brought him to the lower Colorado River, an important transportation corridor that connected Arizona with California and Nevada.

During these travels, Poston visited areas along the river near present-day Parker, where Native communities had lived for generations. The Colorado River served as a lifeline for tribes of the region, supporting agriculture, trade, and daily life long before American settlers arrived. By the early 1860s, however, the arrival of miners, settlers, and military expeditions was beginning to reshape the Southwest and create new challenges for Native communities.

Among the tribal leaders working to navigate these changes was Mohave leader Chief Irataba, known for his diplomacy and efforts to work with federal officials while protecting his people and their homeland. Territorial leaders like Poston met with tribal representatives as the United States government considered how to organize the region and respond to increasing pressure on tribal lands. (more…)

In early May , there were press reports regarding the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California, and Nevada releasing a proposal on how to manage shortages on the Colorado River system through the end of 2028.  The proposal identifies how current and future shortages on the Colorado River system will be apportioned among the three states.  It establishes goals for the conservation of water and proposes studies to reoperate the reservoirs on the Colorado River to allow for water deliveries at lower elevations.

The Lower Basin Proposal also established a Tribal Pool in Lake Mead setting aside water to specifically address future shortages for those Tribes that receive their water through the Central Arizona Project (CAP) and may be shorted as CAP allocations are diminished.  We want to be clear with you that this Tribal Pool does not pertain to CRIT because our water comes directly from the Colorado River and NOT delivered through the CAP.  Our water rights are the senior Tribal rights in the Colorado River Basin and senior to the CAP.

Tribal Council has taken no formal position on this proposal, and we were not involved in its drafting or negotiation.  We do appreciate, however, that this proposal does not seek to set aside the priority system in allocating shortages, which some in the Lower Basin states have pushed for in the past.  Retaining the priority system for allocation of shortages has been the biggest concern of Tribal Council throughout the Post 2026 Process and we want to acknowledge the Basin States holding firm on this position.  We are concerned, however, about the significant federal investment it will take to implement this proposal and want to be assured that portions of these federal funds will be expended on all Tribal Nations in the Basin.

Tribal Council has been in contact with leadership from Arizona and will continue to monitor how this, and other proposals for the management of the Colorado River, will be viewed by Reclamation.  Tribal Council is also in continuing contact with Reclamation and will hold a government-to-government consultation with Senior Reclamation leaders on June 1st.  We will continue to update membership as these matters develop.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has proposed increasing Operation and Maintenance (O&M) rates for the delivery of water from $85 to $93 per acre. Over the past three years, CRIT and local farmers have experienced water delivery cost increases of more than 20%, while services have remained the same or declined due to the federal government’s cuts in staffing and the poor condition of Colorado River Indian Irrigation Project.

Madam Chairwoman Flores and the CRIT Tribal Council opposes this proposed rate increase and remains committed to strengthening Tribal sovereignty. That includes advocating for fair, transparent, and reliable O&M water delivery rates for our farmers, to preserve the economic health and wellbeing of the Tribes. We have listened to the concerns raised by the CRIT community and our farmers, and will continue working to protect our land, our water, and our future.

Get Involved: Farmers and community members who would like more information or who want to provide input on the proposed rate increase are encouraged to participate by sending a comment letter. Written comments may be submitted to: comments@bia.gov. Use the
subject line: Rate Adjustments for Indian Projects.

Contact: Leslie Underwood, Program Specialist, BIA Division of Water and Power
Office of Trust Services

Comment deadline: May 22, 2026

Learn more:

Letter from CRIT to BIA Opposing the Proposed 2027 O&M Rate Increase:  CRIT Letter

Information from BIA re: the Proposed 2027 O&M Rate Increase: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/23/2026-05577/rate-adjustments-for-indian-irrigation-projects