EVENT ALERT – Phoenix – Tribal Water in the Southwest

Tribal water rights are an important consideration in water planning and resource allocation decisions throughout the arid Southwest. This is especially evident, where state water right adjudications are pending and the Tribes’ federal reserved water rights, and water rights established under state law, must be taken into account. Tribal water rights settlement activities have been at the forefront of discussions surrounding Tribal water issues as Tribal advocates consider the unique factors that contributed to the success or failure of recent proposed settlement acts in Congress. Additionally, concerns continue about regional water scarcity, the depletion of groundwater aquifers, increasing water demands and ongoing efforts to reconcile federal environmental law with Tribal water rights. This conference will present a comprehensive overview of the law governing Tribal water rights and impacting the development of Tribal water projects and will examine and compare recent experiences involved in the adjudication of water rights through litigation with the results of recent settlement negotiations. We will also examine the administrative and legislative process that settlement parties will need to consider as they seek federal funding for future settlements. Finally, the conference will examine innovative approaches where Tribes, local governments, and non-Tribal water users are able to work together to ensure an adequate and sustained supply of water for mutually beneficial uses into the future through water marketing and exchange agreements.

This conference will present a comprehensive overview of the law governing Tribal water rights and impacting the development of Tribal water projects and will examine and compare recent experiences involved in the adjudication of water rights through litigation with the results of recent settlement negotiations. We will also examine the administrative and legislative process that settlement parties will need to consider as they seek federal funding for future settlements. Finally, the conference will examine innovative approaches where Tribes, local governments, and non-Tribal water users are able to work together to ensure an adequate and sustained supply of water for mutually beneficial uses into the future through water marketing and exchange agreements.

For seminar registration and additional information, please click on this link: Tribal Water in the Southwest