To ensure CRIT tribal members are up to date regarding Colorado River water, the CRIT Tribal Council held an informational meeting for tribal members June 26th at the BlueWater Resort, providing an extensive overview on legislation that gives CRIT the authority to lease a portion of its Colorado River allotment.
Chairwoman Amelia Flores, members of the Tribal Council, and CRIT Water Attorney John Bezdek provided updates and answered questions about the CRIT Water Resiliency Act and recently signed agreements with the State of Arizona and the federal government required by the act. It is important to note the Tribal Council has not approved any proposed agreement to allow CRIT consumptive water to be used off-reservation lands. 
Indeed, any potential lease, water storage agreement, or other off-reservation use of CRIT’s Colorado River water can only happen after a public hearing is held and feedback is provided from the membership to the Tribal Council then it can be approved. CRIT is also looking for a topflight ‘Water Broker’ to make sure CRIT gets the best possible price for any leased water.
Chairwoman Amelia Flores said, “We, the Tribal Council want t be transparent, we want to share as much information that we can, information about the federal entities and about the state, which were included in the signing of our agreement.”
The presentation included answers to some frequently asked questions such as:
Q:Has CRIT entered into a leasing agreement?
A:No.
Q:What was signed at April’s signing ceremony?
A:Two agreements between CRIT, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Governor of Arizona about how to account for water use and water conservation on reservation lands.
Q:What is the significance of accounting for water use on reservation lands?
A:The CRIT Water Resiliency Act requires these agreements before CRIT is vested with control over determining whether consumptive water may be temporarily used off-reservation.
Q:Who determines the price and economic value of the Tribes’ water?
CRIT.
A:What happens to CRIT water that is not used?
Currently, CRIT water that is not used is made available for use by the next user in the water priority system—without CRIT being compensated.
Q:Are CRIT’s water resources being sold?
A:No. Federal and tribal law do not allow for the sale of CRIT’s land or water, which are trust assets.
Q:What is a lease of water?
A:A lease of water is allowing others to temporarily use water. It is subject to very strict conditions regarding when it may be used, where it may be used, and for how long it may be used. In a lease of water, the ownership of the underlying water right does not change.
The agreements and the federal legislation also strengthen tribal sovereignty in terms of water rights.
CRIT Tribal Secretary JD Fisher said protection of CRIT’s water rights should be an ongoing effort and he hopes to enlist tribal communities up and down the river to support that effort.
Tribal Councilmember Jaymee Moore said improvements to CRIT’s irrigation system are essential to CRIT’s long-term water strategy, “We want a working functional system, we want our water to be delivered to all areas of arable land and we want it to be delivered with less loss.”
Tribal Councilmember Anisa Patch said conservation is also central to CRIT’s plans, “We are focused on conservation. CRIT has looked at that for a very long time and that’s been in our blood for a very long time.”
Councilmember Robert Page stressed the need for transparency and pledged to “Deliver as much information as we can.”
CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores concluded the two-hour meeting encouraging tribal members to come to the Tribal Council if they have any questions. “Please come and ask.”
