The Tule River Association told the Tulare County Water Commission on Oct. 31 that a long‑negotiated settlement with the Tule River Indian Tribe and the South Tule Independent Ditch Company envisions a roughly 5,800 acre‑foot reservoir to be constructed within the tribal reservation.

The update, delivered by Dave, identified in the meeting as the water master for the Tule River Association, said the agreement addressing the proposed reservoir was ratified and recorded in February 2007 and that the three parties agreed on operational terms for storage and beneficial use.

The settlement, Dave said, “is about a 5,800 acre foot reservoir that could be constructed and built and operated within the reservation area.” He added the project concept includes pipelines to serve irrigation on reservation lands and a potential later phase for domestic water supply.

Why it matters: the reservoir would place storage and any deliveries primarily under tribal control and operation within reservation boundaries, which affects downstream water managers, operational coordination and any future funding conversations. The association emphasized it wants a role on any operations committee so downstream users know how and when the reservoir will be filled and released.

Dave said the agreement did not include cost share or dedicated funding; the tribe has pursued congressional funding for the project. He told commissioners he was “not aware of any actual legislation that has made it through committee” for project funding, and that when the tribe seeks support letters the association will consider them only insofar as they are consistent with the parties’ 2007 settlement.

Commissioners asked whether the settlement followed litigation or was negotiated without court action. Dave said the talks took “several years” and “did not go to court.” Commissioners also pressed on whether the water must be used on the reservation or could be exported to non‑reservation lands; Dave said the association’s agreement assumes storage and consumptive uses occur inside reservation boundaries.

Commissioners raised a later bill draft’s provision for purchasing off‑reservation land and placing it in trust, which would remove that land from local tax rolls and local discretionary control. Dave said that component would be “above and beyond what our agreement contemplated” and the association was “really focused on the water rights and the water storage.”

The association and the South Tule Independent Ditch Company remain in contact with the tribe, and Dave said the association will provide support letters if the requested actions align with the recorded settlement. The Water Commission did not take formal action on the project during the meeting.

The presentation closed after a brief question-and-answer period; commissioners requested the county maintain awareness of the project, noting funding and any off‑reservation land acquisitions would have separate implications for county planning and taxes.