Bill confirms Agua Caliente tribe's water rights, sets up $500M trust fund

What does this do?

This bill approves a water rights settlement between the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and two local water agencies, confirming the tribe's right to use up to 20,000 acre-feet of groundwater per year with a priority date from the 1870s. In exchange, the tribe and federal government drop related lawsuits, and the bill creates a $500 million federal trust fund for water infrastructure, replenishment, and management, plus gives the tribe new fee and tax authority on the reservation.

Who does it affect?

This affects residents and businesses on or near the Agua Caliente reservation in the Palm Springs/Coachella Valley area, including tribal members, individual Allottees, people leasing tribal land, customers of the Coachella Valley Water District and Desert Water Agency, and Riverside County and local taxing agencies.

Why does it matter?

The settlement shifts groundwater priority to the tribe over competing claims by local water districts and transfers some tax and fee collection from Riverside County to the tribe, altering existing revenue flows and legal claims.

What does it cost, and who pays?

• $500 million federal trust fund
• Split into 4 accounts
• Funded by U.S. taxpayers