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.
The visit concluded at the Tribal Council Chambers, where Travnicek met with Chairwoman Amelia Flores, Councilwoman Vanessa Welch, Councilman Billy Beeson, Councilman Tommy Drennan and Councilwoman Tracey Quillen. Council presented Travnicek with a traditional Mohave necklace in appreciation for her visit and her willingness to hear directly from Tribal leaders, staff, and farmers.
As Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, Travnicek oversees the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Geological Survey within the Department of the Interior. Her visit provided an opportunity for CRIT to demonstrate how failing federal irrigation infrastructure affects water conservation, Tribal agriculture and the livelihoods of farmers throughout the Parker Valley.
CRIT officials anticipate that Travnicek will carry the information and firsthand experience from the visit back to Department of the Interior leadership in Washington, D.C., as the Tribe continues advocating for meaningful investment in the rehabilitation of its irrigation system. CRIT awaits with anticipation to see if Travnicek’s visit yields results.