In a significant development for water rights in Arizona, a settlement agreement involving the city of Flagstaff and multiple tribal nations has made substantial progress. The agreement aims to resolve longstanding objections regarding the city's surface water rights and facilitates the pumping of water from existing wells at Red Gap Ranch. Additionally, it allows for the potential commingling of water supplies in Lake Mary, should the city opt for that in the future.

The settlement has garnered support from 39 parties, including the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute, with 30 parties required to trigger the effective date of the agreement. As of now, not all parties have signed, but the approval process is underway. The Hopi Tribe was the first to approve the settlement on May 20, followed by the Navajo Nation and San Juan Southern Paiute shortly thereafter. Flagstaff's approval came on July 2.

Legislation to formalize the settlement has been introduced in Congress, with bipartisan support. Senate Bill 4633, introduced by Senator Mark Kelly and co-sponsored by Senator Kyrsten Sinema, is awaiting a committee meeting. Meanwhile, House Bill 8940, introduced by Representative Raúl Grijalva and co-sponsored by several others, is scheduled for a hearing next Tuesday in the Natural Resources Committee.

A signing ceremony held recently at the Heard Museum marked a historic moment, bringing together representatives from the three tribes, the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD), and Salt River Project (SRP). This event has received considerable media attention, highlighting the collaborative effort among the tribes.

Despite the progress, officials acknowledge that there is still a long road ahead. The settlement agreement, a comprehensive 265-page document, requires further conformance to congressional directives once approved. All parties will need to re-execute the revised document to align with the final act passed by Congress, which will also authorize funding for necessary water supply projects.