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A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING CONGRESS TO APPROVE THE NAVAJO WATER RIGHTS

SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATED BY NEW MEXICO AND THE NAVAJO NATION.

WHEREAS, resolution of the Navajo water rights claims is

to the advantage of the state of New Mexico, the Navajo

Nation and the United States; and

WHEREAS, the New Mexico interstate stream commission and

the Navajo Nation negotiated a proposed settlement, which has

been submitted to congress; and

WHEREAS, the proposed settlement calls for increased

diversions to Navajo lands near Shiprock; and

WHEREAS, the priority date of these diversions, 1868, is

significantly older than non-Navajo rights; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico is subject to frequent drought,

creating water shortages that would be borne by non-Navajos;

and

WHEREAS, Navajo lake has extensive storage capacity that

could be used to offset these shortages;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that congress be requested to approve the

proposed Navajo water rights settlement as negotiated by New

Mexico and the Navajo Nation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, as part of the settlement,

congress be requested to support provisions for storage of up

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to thirty thousand acre-feet of water in Navajo lake to be

used by non-Navajo irrigators in times of severe drought and

water shortages; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the New Mexico congressional delegation, the

Navajo Nation and the governor.