The Hualapai Tribe recognized the need to protect and restore the limited waters on its reservation. Water quality standards approved by the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the 

Clean Water Act empower the Tribe to make decisions with federal and state agencies on various 

actions affecting water quality.

Water Quality Standards

Tribal Background

The Hualapai Reservation was established by an executive order in 1883. The reservation encompasses nearly 

one million acres and 108 miles of the Colorado River from river mile 165 to 273 in the Grand Canyon, which 

forms its northern boundary. The topography of the reservation varies from rolling grasslands to forests with elevations ranging from 1,500 feet at the Colorado River to over 7,300 feet at the Aubrey Cliffs on the eastern portion of the reservation. Approximately 2,000 people live on the reservation and more than 98 percent of these 

people are tribal members. The Tribe’s principal economic activities are tourism, cattle ranching, big game 

hunting, timber sales, and arts and crafts. For the Hualapai - the “People of the Tall Pines” - the Colorado River is 

a significant cultural landmark; it is their ancestral home. Throughout the Tribe’s history, the Colorado River and 

Grand Canyon have provided the Hualapai with food, medicinal herbs, and a spiritual center.

Before applying to the EPA for approval to administer a water quality standards program, the Hualapai Department of Natural Resources (HDNR) 

faced the task of convincing tribal members and eventually the Tribal Council to support the endeavor. This outreach effort involved numerous meetings and public discussions where the merits of adopting standards were 

explained. The emphasis from the beginning was to at least maintain and 

potentially restore the water quality of 49 springs and eight groundwater 

sources on the reservation. These springs are important for cultural reasons 

as well as wildlife and livestock uses. Tribal members were eventually convinced that EPA-approved water quality standards would not inhibit water 

use activities, but would enhance water quality and benefit farming and 

ranching practices. 

Two factors influenced the Tribe’s decision to develop and adopt water quality standards under the 

Clean Water Act. First, the Tribe recognized that having standards would give it a basis to affect water 

pollution control actions both on and off the reservation. Second, the Tribe wanted to protect and restore 

the relatively unpolluted spring waters that are important to the Tribe in its water-scarce environment. The 

reservation also has approximately 21 miles of perennial streams and many ephemeral streams, which are 

characteristic of the arid southwest. 

EPA approved the Hualapai’s application to administer the water quality standards program on July 22, 

2004. EPA approved the Tribe’s water quality standards on September 17, 2004. These standards were in 

place under tribal law for several years before EPA approved them under the Clean Water Act. The Tribe 

received strong support from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and U.S. Fish & Wildlife 

Service in its efforts to develop standards.

Case Studies in Tribal Water Quality Standards Programs 

The Hualapai Tribe

Introduction

July 2006

EPA-823-R-06-006
The Hualapai Department of Natural Resources is responsible for a variety of environmental programs including water quality, nonpoint sources, wetlands, forestry, wildlife and fisheries management, parks, agriculture, 

air quality, and environmental services. Staff fluctuates on a seasonal basis between 30 and 50 people. The 

majority of the Department of Natural Resources’ employees are enrolled in the Hualapai Tribe. As is the case 

with many tribes, maintaining a consistent level of funding to implement its environmental programs is an ongoing challenge. The Hualapai currently receive federal funding from the EPA, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau 

of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Resource Conservation Service, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, and U.S. Geological Survey. In addition to federal funds, the Tribe also provides funding for Water 

Resource Program efforts. The Hualapai Department of Natural Resources’ Water Resources Program is staffed 

by three employees and operates on an annual budget of approximately $250,000. The terrain and inaccessibility of much of the reservation presents the Tribe with challenges in conducting water quality monitoring. 

For example, helicopters must be used on occasion to reach outlying areas. The Tribe is also developing both 

point and nonpoint source control programs, though there are currently few point source discharges and most 

of the Tribe’s efforts focus on nonpoint source pollution and control.

Since adopting water quality standards, the Tribe has 

been an equal partner with federal, state, and local 

authorities in discussing activities that could affect tribal 

waters. The Tribe has already had success in getting offreservation livestock grazing practices modified to protect tribal waters. Within the reservation, the water quality 

standards, coupled with supporting tribal ordinances, 

provide the tribal government with an enforceable 

means to modify wildlife and ranching practices to protect and restore water quality. Some recent modifications include the restoration of riparian wetlands, the addition of fences in grazing areas, and the removal of feral 

animals from around springs. Even within the relatively 

short history of applying standards, the quality of spring 

waters has improved noticeably in terms of improved 

clarity, and reduced nutrient growth and odor.

Hualapai water resources personnel recommend that any 

tribe considering the water quality standards program:

For Further Information, Contact:

Alex Cabillo

Water Resources Program Manager

Hualapai Department of Natural Resources

Peach Springs, AZ 86434

phone: 928-769-2254

Fax: 928-769-2309

e-mail: Acabillo@hotmail.com

Tribal website: http://www.hualapai.org

• recognize the empowerment aspects of adopting 

and applying water quality standards

• establish reasonable designated uses

• ensure that adequate legal support is available within 

the tribe and EPA

• have the patience to see the process through

• develop a strong relationship with EPA personnel

Tribal water quality standards approved by EPA, including the Hualapai, can be viewed at:

http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/wqslibrary/tribes.html

Successful Application

Tribal Recommendations