Senate bill approves $685 million Zuni water rights settlement in New Mexico

What does this do?

This bill approves a settlement confirming the Zuni Tribe's water rights in the Zuni River Stream System in New Mexico and shields those rights from loss through non-use. It creates a roughly $685 million trust fund for tribal water infrastructure, protects the Zuni Salt Lake by withdrawing about 92,000 acres from mining and development, and directs certain federal lands into trust for the Tribe.

Who does it affect?

It affects the Zuni Tribe, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the State of New Mexico, and other water users in the Zuni River basin, including individual landowners known as "Allottees." It does not affect other tribes' water rights or land claims.

Why does it matter?

In exchange for the funding and rights confirmation, the Tribe and federal government agree to drop related legal claims once court approval and full funding occur. Nearby residents and water users could see changes to land use and water management rules in the affected area.

What does it cost, and who pays?

• $685 million trust fund total
• federal government pays most
• New Mexico contributes a small share