This bill permanently resolves all water rights claims held by the Yavapai-Apache Nation in Arizona's Verde River Watershed and Colorado River by authorizing a comprehensive settlement agreement that includes $1.04 billion in federal funding. The settlement establishes significant water infrastructure projects—a Cragin-Verde Pipeline delivering at least 6,836.92 acre-feet of water annually from C.C. Cragin Dam and a new drinking water system capable of treating 2.25 million gallons daily—and allocates $155.7 million to a trust fund for water projects and watershed restoration. The Nation gains permanent Central Arizona Project water rights, retains limited ability to pursue future groundwater diversion claims, and receives additional land parcels placed into federal trust, while waiving most historical water claims against Arizona state entities and the federal government effective on the settlement's enforceability date (contingent on meeting all conditions by June 30, 2035). The agreement also includes federal monitoring of water flows on tribal lands to protect the cultural and religious significance of the Verde River to the Yavapai and Apache peoples.
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