here at Navajo Council’s Resources & Development Committee’s work session on tribal water projects and water rights settlements. RDC finished hearing from Navajo Water Department, Bureau of Reclamation, Navajo Department of justice on Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project and Overview of agreements, schedule, priorities.

NAVAJO TRIBAL UTILITY AUTHORITY DISTRIBUTED WRITTEN REPORTS/STUDIES

RDC CHAIRPERSON ALTON SHEPHERD
i’ve always asked for plan of action, written report from Jason johns, recommendations on streamlining navajo environmental protection agency compliance, double $36,000 and break even on pipeline once it is in place. we need overall water plan. i’d like to see bigger picture. there is water rights settlement ongoing in Utah navajo. navajo water needs to be put to use.

RDC MEMBER/DELEGATE LEONARD PETE
i went to tribal water resources and management and there is a lot of information that they have and it’s just covering dust. how do we managge and plan for our water. you can count all water from sky and ground but if don’t put it to use then it means nothing.

RDC CHAIRPERSON ALTON SHEPHERD
how do we analyze what we got? there will be followup in six months. in the meantime, let’s gather recommendations.

JASON JOHNS
regarding funding for staffing – no funds from project so OMB, Fish & Wildlife, division of resources has no funding for staff. we need additional staff. tribal water resources is lucky with bureau of indian affairs funding for staff. at end of day.

RDC CHAIRPERSON ALTON SHEPHERD
Lunch is here so let’s making this a working lunch and go to Navajo Department of Justice Water Rights