# Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024
This bill settles long-standing water rights disputes for the Zuni Tribe in New Mexico's Zuni River system. The legislation authorizes and ratifies a settlement agreement between the Zuni Tribe, the state of New Mexico, and other parties that quantifies the tribe's water rights and protects the culturally significant Zuni Salt Lake.
The bill establishes a $685 million trust fund to support water infrastructure projects, including wells, irrigation systems, treatment facilities, and water management operations. The Zuni Tribe gains control over how these funds are used for water development and can lease water rights for up to 99 years with the federal government's approval. The settlement protects existing water uses on individual allotments while preventing the tribe's water rights from being lost through non-use.
The legislation also withdraws approximately 92,364 acres of federal land around the Zuni Salt Lake from mining, drilling, and other development to protect the lake's water quality and cultural importance. This protected area will be managed by the Bureau of Land Management in consultation with the tribe, with restrictions on motor vehicles, new wells, timber sales, and grazing increases.
The settlement becomes effective once the Secretary of the Interior confirms that all parties have signed the agreement, the tribe and federal government have released their claims against other parties, and Congress appropriates the required funds. The state must also contribute $1.25 million and change state law to allow the long-term leases. If these conditions aren't met by July 1, 2030, the entire settlement expires and all benefits are reversed.
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