The Tribal Council for the Colorado River Indian Tribes has approved a new water code that both affirms tribal sovereignty over its water while protecting the life of the Colorado River.
Before the Tribal Council vote, there was a series of meetings with Tribal Membership in both Parker and in Phoenix where Tribal members provided their thoughts regarding the language of the final code.
These meetings with Tribal Membership provide Tribal Council with valuable insight in creating the Water Code.
The Code is a comprehensive legal framework to govern the use, protection, and
management of all water resources on the Reservation. It affirms the Colorado River Indian Tribes’ sovereign authority over water, ensures sustainable development, and protects the cultural, spiritual, and economic interests of the Tribes and their members.
Passage of the Water Code paves the way for economic opportunities for CRIT while protecting cultural and environmental values.
The Water Code protects CRIT’s full ownership and control of its water. It creates a fair, transparent system for water use and the potential of off reservation leasing of CRIT’s water resources. It ensures that all decisions are made by CRIT.
Among the stated purposes of the Water Code are to:
- recognize the cultural significance of the River, and the inalienable connection that the Colorado River Indian Tribes (“CRIT”) have with its waters;
- provide for and define the manner in which the CRIT’s water shall be allocated, used, leased and preserved, and to provide an orderly system for the sustainable use and development of the water resources of the Colorado River Indian Reservation (“Reservation” defined herein);
- protect the water resources of the Reservation from over-Diversion, pollution, contamination, degradation, or other acts injurious to the quantity, quality, or integrity of Tribal Water Resources;
- contribute to the social and economic advancement of the CRIT and its members;
- develop, manage, protect, and preserve the waters, wildlife, the lands, and other cultural, spiritual, and natural resources of the Reservation, for current and future generations of the CRIT;
- to ensure that the CRIT’s water rights are protected and developed to the greatest extent possible for the benefit of current and future generations of tribal members of the CRIT, and that the CRIT retains full management authority over all Tribal Water Rights and Tribal Water Resources to provide for the members of the CRIT;
- ensure due process and decision-making procedures for Persons seeking to use, withdraw, Divert or take other actions that may affect Tribal Water Resources; and
- provide for the development of education and training opportunities for tribal members in water and related land resources management that are essential to protect the economic well-being and self-governance of the CRIT.
CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores said, “This water Code was created with full transparency, and it will be implemented in the same fashion. CRIT has fought for years to protect its water rights. This Code helps to enshrine those rights as part of Tribal Law.”
Here is a link to the water code.
Finalized_CRIT Water Code 2025.12.16
And here is a link to the ordinance enacting the code.
Ord 25-02_01082026