The Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010

Title V of P.L. 111-291 The Abeyta Water Rights Adjudication

By Nelson J. Cordova Director, Taos Pueblo Water Administration Department Taos Pueblo – The Place of the Red Willows

. A World Heritage Site and National Historic Landmark, which has occupied present location since time immemorial. . Taos Pueblo people subsisted by hunting and farming. . The land base covers 111,000 acres. Current population is 3000. . Water resources are Rio Pueblo, Rio Lucero, Rio Hondo, and associated springs and lakes Settlement Negotiation Parties: . Taos Pueblo . Taos Valley Acequia Arroyo Seco Village of Taos Ski Valley Association . Town of Taos Arroyo Hondo . El Prado Water and Sanitation District . 12 Taos Area Mutual Tract B Domestic Water Consumers Associations Blue Lake Wilderness . State of New Mexico . United States of America Taos Pueblo El Prado Land Grant

Rio Grande Tract A

Town of Taos

2 miles Ranchos de Taos Water Rights secured to Pueblo through the Abeyta Settlement

. Historically Irrigated Acreage 7,883.64 AFY . Stock Ponds 114.35 AFY . San Juan Chama Project 2,215.00 AFY . Deep Ground Water 1,300.00 AFY . Municipal, Industrial, and Domestic 300.00 AFY . Stock Wells 14.72 AFY . Rio Grande Depletion Credit 100.00 AFY

Total 11,927.71 AFY (Depletion) Negotiation begins (Convening and Contentious Period)

. 1989: George H.W. Bush announces policy to negotiate Indian water disputes through negotiations . Taos Valley Acequia Association proposal to negotiate Pueblo and acequia claims, accepted by Pueblo . Pueblo establishes Water Task Force, appoints two tribal councilmen as spokesmen and negotiators . Local parties approve negotiation schedule and set 1995 as year to complete negotiation . 2007: Draft Settlement Agreement complete, Tribal Early negotiations were highly adversarial Council approval process begins and contentious . Parties agree to Pueblo’s Historically Irrigated Agriculture (HIA) claim 5,712.78 acres Legislation (the Washington, D.C. process)

. Pueblo and local parties work to introduce Abeyta legislation, supported by NM Congressional delegation . 2008: Pueblo delegates testify before Congressional Committees; 2008 election results improve chance of passage . 2010: The Taos Pueblo Water Rights Settlement Act introduced by Senator Jeff Bingaman and Rep. Ben R. Lujan . Senate and House pass H.R. 4783, the Claims Resolution Act of 2010 -- includes Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 -- Taos Pueblo signs Settlement Agreement

. 2010: President Obama signs P.L. 111-291; process to conform Settlement Agreement Act begins . 2012: Taos Pueblo Tribal Council approves conformed Settlement Agreement . 2013: Governor Susana Martinez signs Settlement Agreement . 2014: Pueblo and United States file Joint Memorandum in Support of Joint Motion to Approve and Enter Partial Final Decree on the Water Rights of Taos Pueblo . 2016: US and State of New Mexico file notice that Federal and State Appropriations conditions have been achieved October 7, 2016: Federal Register publishes Notice to make the Settlement Final, Binding and Enforceable

Governor Laureano Romero and Lt. Governor Gilbert Suazo sign the Settlement Agreement Settlement Implementation

. Review Settlement Agreement . Implement water sharing agreements . Implement Mutual Benefit projects . Preserve Buffalo Pasture groundwater and ecology . Continue coordination with local parties, NM OSE and Federal entities . Address Tribal priorities

Protection of the Buffalo Pasture wetland is a core Settlement principle

Implementation of the Settlement Agreement is a long term endeavor Tribal priorities

Future Water Administration Department facility

. Enhance Pueblo water resource management capabilities . Implementation of early Settlement projects . Improving Pueblo’s irrigation system and infrastructure . Implement Pueblo’s Water Code . Set up investment plan for water Settlement funds . Construct Water Administration Department facility . Conduct water supply and demand analysis to address future needs

1908 Pipeline crossing Rio Lucero Taos Pueblo Tribal Council Thank you