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SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN IN NEW MEXICO

NAVAJO NATION WATER RIGHTS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

This Agreement is entered into as of the dates executed below, by and among the State of 

New Mexico, the Navajo Nation and the United States of America, acting through the Secretary 

of the Interior.

1.0 RECITALS

1.1 Proceedings to determine the nature and extent of the rights to water of the 

Navajo Nation in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico are pending in the San 

Juan River Adjudication.

1.2 Recognizing that final resolution of the proceedings in the San Juan River 

Adjudication may take many years, entail great expense, and prolong uncertainty 

concerning the availability of water supplies in the San Juan River Basin in New 

Mexico, the Parties to this Agreement desire to arrive at a settlement regarding the 

water rights of the Navajo Nation and to seek entry of a partial final decree of 

those rights in the San Juan River Adjudication, setting forth the Navajo Nation's 

rights to use and administer waters of the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico.

1.3 It is the policy of the United States, in keeping with the trust responsibility of the 

United States to Indian tribes, to settle Indian water rights claims whenever 

possible without lengthy and costly litigation.

1.4 The United States and the Navajo Nation entered into treaties of 1849 and 1868 to 

create a permanent homeland for the Navajo people and this settlement will 

secure for the Navajo Nation a water supply from the San Juan River Basin of 

New Mexico for that homeland.
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1.5 The State of New Mexico and the Navajo Nation previously executed the San 

Juan River Basin in New Mexico Navajo Nation Water Rights Settlement 

Agreement on April 19, 2005, for the purposes of facilitating settlement of the 

Navajo Nation’s water rights claims in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico.

1.6 The Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act of March 30, 2009 (123 

Stat. 1367), Public Law 111-11, Title X, Subtitle B, requires the Secretary of the 

Interior, on behalf of the United States, to enter into the Agreement signed by the 

State of New Mexico and the Navajo Nation on April 19, 2005, to the extent that 

the Agreement does not conflict with the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water 

Projects Act, including (A) any exhibits to the Agreement requiring the signature 

of the Secretary; and (B) any amendments to the Agreement necessary to make 

the Agreement consistent with the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water 

Projects Act.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of mutual and dependent covenants and 

conditions contained herein that each Party acknowledges inures to its respective benefit, the 

State of New Mexico, the Navajo Nation and the United States agree as follows:

2.0 DEFINITIONS

As used in this Agreement, the term:

2.1 “Act” or “Settlement Act” means the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water 

Projects Act, Subtitle B of Title X of the Act of March 30, 2009 P.L. 111-11, (123 

Stat. 1367).
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2.2 “Agreement” or “Settlement Agreement” means this Agreement among the State 

of New Mexico, the Navajo Nation, and the United States and the three

Appendices hereto, which are incorporated herein by this reference,

2.3 “Allottee” means a person that holds a beneficial real property interest in a 

Navajo allotment that –

(A)is located within the Navajo Reservation or the State of New Mexico;

(B) is held in trust by the United States; and

(C) was originally granted to an individual member of the Navajo Nation 

by public land orders or otherwise.

2.4 “Animas-La Plata Project” has the meaning given the term in section 3 of Public 

Law 100-585 (102 Stat. 2973), including Ridges Basin Dam, Lake Nighthorse, 

the Navajo Nation Municipal Pipeline, and any other features or modifications 

made pursuant to the Colorado Ute Settlement Act Amendments of 2000 (Public 

Law 106-554; 114 Stat. 2763A-238).

2.5 “Contract” or “Settlement Contract” means the contract between the United States 

and the Navajo Nation setting forth certain commitments, rights, and obligations 

of the United States and the Navajo Nation, as described in paragraph 6.0 of this 

Agreement and assigned as “Reclamation Contract No. 10-WC-40-384.”

2.6 “Echo Ditch Decree” means the decree entered April 8, 1948, by the First Judicial 

District Court of New Mexico within and for San Juan County in the matter of 

The Echo Ditch Company, et al., v. The McDermott Ditch Company, et al., Cause 

No. 01690.
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2.7 “Hydrologic Determination” means the hydrologic determination entitled “Water 

Availability from Navajo Reservoir and the Upper Colorado River Basin for Use 

in New Mexico,” prepared by the Bureau of Reclamation pursuant to section 11 

of the Act of June 13, 1962 (Public Law 87-483; 76 Stat.99), and dated May 23, 

2007.

2.8 “Navajo Reservoir” means the reservoir created by the impoundment of the San 

Juan River at Navajo Dam as authorized by the Act of April 11, 1956

(commonly known as the “Colorado River Storage Project Act”) (43 U.S.C. 620 

et seq.).

2.9 “Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project” means the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply 

Project authorized under section 10602(a) of the Settlement Act.

2.10 “Navajo Indian Irrigation Project” means the Navajo Indian irrigation project 

authorized by section 2 of Public Law 87-483 (76 Stat. 96).

2.11 “Navajo Nation” means a body politic and federally-recognized Indian nation as 

provided for in section 101(2) of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List of 

1994 (25 U.S.C. 497a(2)), also known variously as the “Navajo Tribe,” the 

“Navajo Tribe of Arizona, New Mexico & Utah,” and the “Navajo Tribe of 

Indians” and other similar names, and includes all bands of Navajo Indians and 

chapters of the Navajo Nation.

2.12 “Partial Final Decree” means a final and binding judgment and decree entitled 

“Partial Final Judgment and Decree” entered by the Court in the Stream

Adjudication, setting forth the rights of the Navajo Nation to use and administer 
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waters of the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico, the form of which is attached 

hereto as Appendix 1.

2.13 “Parties” means the State of New Mexico, the Navajo Nation and the United 

States.

2.14 “Report” means the Hydrographic Survey Report prepared by the United States 

and accepted by the State of New Mexico to determine certain reserved rights of 

the Navajo Nation and the Navajo Nation’s rights acquired under state law, as 

called for by paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Supplemental Partial Final Decree, 

respectively, and to provide the information required to administer subparagraph 

4.4 of this Agreement.

2.15 “San Juan River Adjudication” or “Stream Adjudication” means the general 

stream adjudication that is the subject of New Mexico v. United States, No. 75-184

(11th Jud. Dist., San Juan County, New Mexico) (involving claims to waters of the 

San Juan River and the tributaries of that river).

2.16 “San Juan River Basin in New Mexico” or “Basin” means all areas located within 

the physical drainage of the San Juan River and its tributaries within the State of 

New Mexico.

2.17 “Supplemental Partial Final Decree” means a final and binding judgment and 

decree entitled “Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree” entered by the 

Court in the Stream Adjudication, setting forth certain water rights of the Nation,

the form of which is attached hereto as Appendix 2.

2.18 “United States” or “United States of America” in any given reference herein shall 

mean the United States acting in all of its capacities unless the capacity is set forth 
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in said reference. When the term “United States” or “United States of America”

is used in reference to a particular agreement or contract, the term shall mean the 

United States acting in the capacity as set forth in such agreement or contract.

2.19 “Upper Basin” has the same meaning given the term in Article II(f) of the 

Colorado River Compact.

2.20 “Waiver and Release Document” means the document incorporating the waivers

and releases required by section 10703(a) of the Settlement Act, attached hereto 

as Appendix 3.

3.0 PARTIAL FINAL DECREE

3.1 Terms and Conditions of the Partial Final Decree. The Parties have negotiated 

and agree to the terms and conditions contained in the Partial Final Decree.

3.2 Entry of the Partial Final Decree.

3.2.1 Once this Agreement is executed by all the Parties, the Parties shall file a 

joint motion with the Court in the Stream Adjudication for entry of the 

Partial Final Decree pursuant to expedited inter se procedures to be 

adopted by the Court.

3.2.2 To satisfy this Agreement, the Court in the Stream Adjudication must 

enter the Partial Final Decree in substantially the form of Appendix 1, 

unless modified pursuant to paragraph 4.3.3 of this Agreement.

4.0 SUPPLEMENTAL PARTIAL FINAL DECREE

4.1 Terms and Conditions of the Supplemental Partial Final Decree. The Parties have 

negotiated and agree to the terms and conditions contained in paragraphs 1, 2 and 

5 through 12 of the Supplemental Partial Final Decree. Furthermore, the Parties 
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agree to the form of paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Supplemental Partial Final Decree 

and to the procedure described in subparagraphs 4.2 and 4.3.1 of this Agreement 

for determining the quantification of the Navajo Nation’s rights under the 

respective paragraphs. To the extent that any modification is not inconsistent 

with the Act, the Parties may by mutual agreement modify the terms, conditions 

and form of the proposed Supplemental Partial Final Decree prior to filing the 

motion for its entry by the Court in the Stream Adjudication, or thereafter as 

necessary or required for its entry.

4.2 Hydrographic Survey Report.

4.2.1 Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph 4.3.1 of this Agreement, the 

basis for quantification of the Navajo Nation’s rights under paragraphs 3 

and 4 of the Supplemental Partial Final Decree shall be a Hydrographic 

Survey Report describing historic and existing water uses on lands set 

aside as reservation lands for the Navajo People, whether by treaty, 

statute, executive order or public land order, lands that are held in trust for 

the Navajo Nation by the United States, lands held in trust for members of 

the Navajo Nation by the United States, and lands held in fee ownership 

by the Navajo Nation. The Report shall be prepared by the United States 

and accepted by the State of New Mexico, and shall document the data 

and information called for by paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Supplemental 

Partial Final Decree.

4.2.2 The quantification of water rights for irrigation uses identified under 

paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Supplemental Partial Final Decree shall be 
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determined consistent with the approach or methodology for irrigation 

water requirements adopted by the Court in the Stream Adjudication for 

determining rights for other irrigation uses in the San Juan River Basin.

4.2.3 The United States and the State of New Mexico shall act in good faith to 

complete the Report as described in subparagraphs 4.2.1 and 4.2.2 in a 

timely manner. If the State of New Mexico and the United States are 

unable to agree on the preparation, contents or other aspects of the Report, 

the Parties agree to resolve the matter by submitting the dispute(s) to the 

Court in the Stream Adjudication or, by mutual agreement, to an 

alternative dispute resolution process.

4.3 Completion and Entry of the Supplemental Partial Final Decree.

4.3.1 Once the Report described in subparagraph 4.2 is complete, the Parties 

shall complete paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Supplemental Partial Final 

Decree based on the contents of the Report; except, that the permits and 

licenses for the diversion and use of water pursuant to New Mexico State 

Engineer File Nos. 758, 2472, 2807 and 2875 shall be cancelled, and no 

water rights shall be adjudicated for said permits and licenses.

4.3.2 Once paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Supplemental Partial Final Decree are 

complete, the Parties shall file a joint motion with the Court in the Stream

Adjudication for entry of the Supplemental Partial Final Decree pursuant 

to expedited inter se procedures to be adopted by the Court.

4.3.3 To satisfy this Agreement, the Court in the Stream Adjudication must 

enter the Supplemental Partial Final Decree in substantially the form of 
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Appendix 2; however, the Parties may agree to incorporate the provisions

of the Supplemental Partial Final Decree into the Partial Final Decree and 

to present such decree to the Court pursuant to the process described in 

paragraph 3.2 of this Agreement.

5.0 SETTLEMENT ACT

5.1 The Settlement Act. The Settlement Act provides authorizations, approvals, 

terms, restrictions and procedures to carry out this Agreement.

5.2 Deadlines. The deadlines described in subsection 10701(e)(1)(A) of the 

Settlement Act must be fulfilled in the manner provided therein.

5.2.1 Those deadlines are:

(1) Not later than December 31, 2010, the Secretary shall execute this 

Agreement.

(2) Not later than December 31, 2010, the Secretary and the Navajo 

Nation shall execute the Contract.

(3) Not later than December 31, 2013, the Court in the Stream 

Adjudication shall have entered the Partial Final Decree.

(4) Not later than December 31, 2016, the rehabilitation construction 

of the Fruitland-Cambridge Irrigation Project authorized under 

section 10607(a)(1) of the Act shall be completed.

(5) Not later than December 31, 2016, the Court in the Stream 

Adjudication shall enter the Supplemental Partial Final Decree.

(6) Not later than December 31, 2019, the rehabilitation construction 

of the Hogback-Cudei Irrigation Project authorized under section 
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10607(a)(2) the Act shall be completed.

(7) Not later than December 31, 2019, the United States shall make all 

deposits into the Trust Fund under section 10702 of the Act.

(8) Not later than December 31, 2019, the funds authorized to be 

appropriated under section 10609(b)(1) of the Act for the 

conjunctive use wells authorized under section 10606(b) should be 

appropriated.

(9) Not later than December 31, 2024, the construction of all NavajoGallup Water Supply Project facilities shall be completed.

5.2.2 The deadlines described in paragraph 5.2.1 may be extended if the Parties 

agree that an extension is reasonably necessary.

5.3 Consultation.

5.3.1 The Navajo Nation and the Department of the Interior shall consult 

concerning the scope and completion of the Fruitland-Cambridge 

Irrigation Project and the Hogback-Cudei Irrigation Project described in 

subparagraphs 5.2.1(4) and (6), respectively.

5.3.2 The Department of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, 

will consult with the Navajo Nation and the State of New Mexico

concerning completion of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project

consistent with the deadline described in subparagraph 5.2.1(9). This 

consultation will include utilization of the Project Construction Committee 

as described in Section 10604(g) of the Settlement Act.
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5.4 Revocation. If the Navajo Nation determines that a deadline described in 

paragraph 5.2 has not substantially been met, the Navajo Nation may submit to

the Court in the Stream Adjudication a petition to enter an order revoking the 

Partial Final Decree and any supplemental decrees and terminating the 

Agreement. Not less than ninety (90) days prior to filing a petition, the Navajo 

Nation agrees to confer with the United States and the State of New Mexico. The 

Navajo Nation’s right of revocation as described in section 10701(e)(2) shall 

expire on December 31, 2025, unless the deadlines set forth in paragraph 5.2 are 

extended, in which case, this right shall expire one year following the date of the 

last deadline, including extensions, pursuant to paragraph 5.2.2.

6.0 SETTLEMENT CONTRACT

6.1 Contract between the United States and the Navajo Nation. In order to implement 

provisions of this Agreement and the Settlement Act, the Navajo Nation and the 

United States entered into Reclamation Contract No. 10-WC-40-384 for the water 

supply authorized by section 10604(a) of the Settlement Act.

6.2 Termination of Contract. If the Settlement Agreement is terminated pursuant to 

paragraph 5.4, the Contract shall terminate as set out in article 34 of the Contract.

7.0 WAIVER AND RELEASE

7.1 Waiver and Release Document. The Waiver and Release Document executed by 

the Parties as set out in the Settlement Act at section 10703(a) is attached hereto 

as Appendix 3 and is incorporated and made a part hereof as though fully set forth 

herein.

7.2 Effective Date.
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7.2.1 The Waiver and Release Document shall be effective on the date on which 

the Secretary publishes in the Federal Register a statement of findings 

documenting that each of the deadlines described in section 10701(e)(1) of 

the Settlement Act have been met.

7.2.2 If the deadlines described in section 10701(e)(1)(A) of the Settlement Act 

have not been met by the later of March 1, 2025, or the date of any 

extension under section 10701(e)(1)(B) of the Settlement Act, the Waiver

and Release Document shall be of no effect and section 10701(e)(2)(B) of 

the Settlement Act shall apply.

8.0 ADDITIONAL ALLOCATIONS

8.1 Animas-La Plata Project. If it is determined that an allocation to New Mexico 

water users can be made without impairment to existing water rights in New 

Mexico from the water supply associated with New Mexico State Engineer File 

No. 2883 that is in addition to the Animas-La Plata Project water allocations to 

users in New Mexico made by section 302 of the Colorado Ute Settlement Act 

Amendments of 2000 (Public Law 106-554; 114 Stat. 2763A-258):

8.1.1 the Navajo Nation shall receive for its use an additional share of water 

from the water supply associated with File No. 2883 that is equal to 50 

percent of the additional allocation that can be made;

8.1.2 the remainder of the additional allocation shall be reserved for uses of 

water by member entities of the San Juan Water Commission, subject to 

approval of the State of New Mexico, acting through the Interstate Stream 

Commission; and
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8.1.3 the allocations described in paragraphs 8.1.1 and 8.1.2 shall be subject to 

permits issued by the State Engineer and are not federal reserved water 

rights.

8.1.4 If an additional allocation is made to the Navajo Nation pursuant to 

paragraph 8.1.1, the additional allocation shall be held by the United 

States in trust on behalf of the Navajo Nation.

8.2 Additional Uses under Upper Basin Apportionment. If the yield available for 

development by the Upper Basin under the apportionments of water made by 

Article III of the Colorado River Compact is determined to be greater than that 

described in the Hydrologic Determination:

8.2.1 the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission will determine the 

additional allocation of water available for use within the State of New 

Mexico’s Upper Colorado River Basin Compact apportionment;

8.2.2 the additional allocation, if any, shall be shared as follows:

(1) the Navajo Nation shall receive for its use an additional share of 

water that is equal to 50 percent of the additional allocation; and

(2) the remainder of the additional allocation shall be reserved for uses 

of water by entities other than the Navajo Nation, and the State of 

New Mexico, acting through the Interstate Stream Commission, 

shall determine the shares for the non-Navajo entities; and

8.2.3 an additional allocation, if any, under paragraph 8.2.2 shall be:

(1) supplied under New Mexico State Engineer File Nos. 2849, 2883, 

2917 and 3215;
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(2) subject to approval by the Secretary of the Interior of a Navajo 

Reservoir supply water contract if necessary; 

(3) subject to non-impairment of existing water rights in New Mexico

and to the provisions of subparagraph 8.1; and

(4) subject to permits issued by the State Engineer and are not federal 

reserved water rights.

8.2.4 If an additional allocation is made to the Navajo Nation pursuant to 

paragraph 8.2.2(1), the additional allocation shall be held by the United 

States in trust on behalf of the Navajo Nation.

9.0 WATER ADMINISTRATION

9.1 Administration of Navajo Reservoir Releases. Subject to applicable federal law, 

whenever total storage in Navajo Reservoir is anticipated to exceed, or does 

exceed, a 1,000,000 acre-feet threshold at the end of May of the current year, 

excluding storage in any top water bank established in Navajo Reservoir pursuant 

to section 10401(b) of the Settlement Act, the Navajo Nation and the United 

States, acting in its capacity as trustee for the Navajo Nation, will not challenge 

the New Mexico State Engineer during the irrigation season making available to 

direct-flow water users on the San Juan River below Navajo Dam up to 225 

cubic-feet-per-second (cfs) as measured at the San Juan River at Archuleta 

gauging station if inflow to the reservoir is determined to be less than 225 cfs. 

The direct-flow water users may divert and use water made available pursuant to 

this subparagraph without a contract for water from Navajo Reservoir. Making 

water available to direct-flow users pursuant to this paragraph shall not impair the 
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ability of the Secretary, in the current year, to deliver water to Navajo Reservoir 

water supply contractors or to provide flows to satisfy any obligation under 

federal law. The reservoir storage threshold may be adjusted from time to time to 

maintain within the storage threshold a consistent amount of active storage that 

reflects sedimentation of the reservoir determined by sediment surveys or any 

change in the minimum reservoir operating level for the Navajo Indian Irrigation 

Project diversion.

9.2 Alternate Water Source for San Juan River Uses.

9.2.1 When the direct flow of the San Juan River is insufficient to supply 

current beneficial uses under direct-flow water rights in New Mexico, the

Navajo Nation agrees to make water available from the Settlement 

Contract, and the United States, acting in its capacity as trustee for the 

Navajo Nation, agrees that water can be made available from the 

Settlement Contract, to supply its uses under the reserved rights for 

Shiprock municipal uses and the Hogback-Cudei and Fruitland-Cambridge 

irrigation projects described in subparagraphs 3(d), 3(e) and 3(f), 

respectively, of the Partial Final Decree; provided, that:

(1) the maximum amount of water to be made available from the 

Settlement Contract for this purpose during any one year is 12,000 

acre-feet; and

(2) the maximum amount described in (1) above is to be reduced in 

any year in which the Secretary of the Interior determines and 

allocates a shortage in the Navajo Reservoir water supply pursuant 
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to subsection 11(a) of the Act of June 13, 1962 (76 Stat. 96) and 

section 10402(b) of the Settlement Act, such reduction to be a 

function of the percentage shortage in water supply to the diversion 

demand for the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project; whereby, the 

maximum amount shall decline linearly in proportionate parts from 

12,000 acre-feet at no shortage to 0 acre-feet at 20 percent 

shortage.

The Navajo Nation at its sole discretion may increase the maximum 

amounts described in (1) and (2) above in any given year.

9.2.2 The amount of water made available from the Settlement Contract to 

supply Navajo Nation uses from the San Juan River pursuant to 

subparagraph 9.2.1 shall be determined as the releases from Navajo Dam 

made for this purpose, and shall be accounted against the Navajo Nation’s 

rights to divert water under the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project described 

in subparagraph 3(a) of the Partial Final Decree. The depletions of the 

releases from Navajo Dam made for this purpose shall be accounted 

against the Navajo Nation’s rights to deplete water under the Navajo 

Indian Irrigation Project described in subparagraph 3(a) of the Partial Final 

Decree. Depletions of releases for purposes of accounting under this 

subparagraph include consumptive uses, incidental depletions and 

incremental river carriage losses.

9.2.3 The Parties agree that the water to be supplied under the Settlement 

Contract to the Navajo Nation for use on the Navajo Indian Irrigation 
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Project may be delivered pursuant to subparagraph 9.2.1 to service the 

Navajo Nation’s reserved rights under subparagraphs 3(d), 3(e) and 3(f) of 

the Partial Final Decree as alternate points of delivery and use. No water 

rights transfer will be required for this purpose, nor shall the Navajo 

Nation be required to fallow irrigated acreage on the Navajo Indian 

Irrigation Project to effectuate the alternate delivery described in 

subparagraph 9.2.1. No further action shall be required by the Parties for 

this purpose.

9.2.4 Providing the alternate water supply under subparagraph 9.2.1 shall 

service, but shall not increase, the rights described in subparagraphs 3(d), 

3(e) and 3(f) of the Partial Final Decree, and shall not be affected by any 

transfers to non-irrigation uses of the irrigation rights described in 

subparagraphs 3(e) or 3(f) of the Partial Final Decree.

9.2.5 When the direct flow of the San Juan River is insufficient to supply 

current beneficial uses under direct-flow water rights in New Mexico and

the amount of water to be made available, if any, from the Settlement 

Contract pursuant to subparagraph 9.2.1 to supply Navajo Nation uses 

under the reserved rights described in subparagraphs 3(d), 3(e) and 3(f) of 

the Partial Final Decree is exhausted, either the Navajo Nation or the 

United States, acting in its capacity as trustee for the Navajo Nation, may 

request a priority administration of water uses in the San Juan River Basin 

as necessary to fully or partially meet the current beneficial uses of the 

Navajo Nation under such rights.
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9.2.6 The provisions of subparagraph 9.2 are conditioned upon enforcement of 

the provisions of section 11 of the Act of June 13, 1962, that no water user 

has an entitlement to water released from Navajo Reservoir storage into 

the San Juan River that is in excess of the direct flow determined to be 

available at Navajo Dam except under contract with the Secretary; except, 

that:

(1) direct-flow water users may divert and use water released from 

reservoir storage and made available to them pursuant to the 

provisions of subparagraph 9.1 of this Agreement; and

(2) water released for delivery from a top water bank in the reservoir 

established pursuant to section 10401(b) of the Settlement Act is 

available only to the owners or assigns of the banked water. 

9.3 Administration for Compact Compliance.

9.3.1 Subject to the provisions of the Partial Final Decree and the Supplemental 

Partial Final Decree, the Navajo Nation and the United States, acting in its 

capacity as trustee for the Navajo Nation, agree that the State of New 

Mexico may administer in priority water rights in the San Juan River 

Basin in New Mexico, including rights of the Navajo Nation, as may be 

necessary for New Mexico to comply with its obligations under interstate 

compacts and other applicable law.

9.3.2 If it is determined that the consumptive use of water in New Mexico from 

the San Juan River Basin exceeds the State of New Mexico’s Upper 

Colorado River Basin Compact Article III(a) apportionment taking into 
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account salvage of river losses by use and other relevant factors, the 

Navajo Nation agrees, subject to subparagraphs 9.3.4 and 9.3.5, to not 

exercise a portion of its depletion rights adjudicated to the Navajo Nation 

by the Partial Final Decree and the Supplemental Partial Final Decree in 

an amount, as measured on the San Juan River, not to exceed in any year 

the lesser of:

(1) the amount of over-allocation;

(2) a quantity equal to: (i) 67% of the sum of 13,520 acre-feet per year 

plus the New Mexico share of Lake Nighthorse evaporation; plus 

(ii) an additional one acre-foot for each acre-foot of depletion for 

those water rights adjudicated as abandoned or forfeited by the 

Court in the Stream Adjudication or otherwise terminated by 

operation of law, or for those rights that may be permanently 

retired by the State of New Mexico, or for those permits or licenses 

cancelled by the New Mexico State Engineer, after the effective 

date of this Agreement; and

(3) the sum of 13,520 acre-feet per year, plus the New Mexico share of 

Lake Nighthorse evaporation, minus the same percentage shortage 

that is allocated, if any, to the Navajo Nation’s water uses in New 

Mexico under the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project as a result 

of such over-allocation.

9.3.3 In the event that the Upper Colorado River Commission determines 

pursuant to Article IV of the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact that 
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the State of New Mexico must curtail its consumptive uses of water for 

some period of time to allow the Upper Basin to comply with Article III of 

the Colorado River Compact, the Navajo Nation agrees, subject to 

subparagraphs 9.3.4 and 9.3.5, to not exercise for said period of time a 

portion of its depletion rights adjudicated to the Navajo Nation by the 

Partial Final Decree and the Supplemental Partial Final Decree in an 

amount, as measured on the San Juan River, not to exceed in any year the 

lesser of:

(1) the amount of curtailment required of the State of New Mexico;

(2) a quantity equal to: (i) 67% of the sum of 13,520 acre-feet per year 

plus the New Mexico share of Lake Nighthorse evaporation; plus 

(ii) an additional one acre-foot for each acre-foot of depletion for 

those water rights adjudicated as abandoned or forfeited by the 

Court in the Stream Adjudication or otherwise terminated by 

operation of law, or for those rights that may be permanently 

retired by the State of New Mexico, or for those permits or licenses 

cancelled by the New Mexico State Engineer, after the effective 

date of this Agreement; and

(3) the sum of 13,520 acre-feet per year, plus the New Mexico share of 

Lake Nighthorse evaporation, minus the same percentage shortage 

that is allocated, if any, to the Navajo Nation’s water uses in New 

Mexico under the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project as a result 

of such curtailment.
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9.3.4 For the purpose of determining the quantity referenced in subparagraphs 

9.3.2(2) and 9.3.3(2), depletion amounts for rights abandoned, forfeited, 

terminated or retired, or for permits or licenses cancelled, shall be as 

quantified by decree, permit or license, or if not so quantified shall be 

based on the consumptive use for municipal, industrial or commercial uses 

or on annual consumptive irrigation requirements that are consistent with 

those provided in the report of Hydrographic Survey approved by the 

Echo Ditch Decree for irrigation uses, as appropriate. Depletions 

associated with permits or licenses pursuant to New Mexico State 

Engineer File Nos. 758, 2472, 2807 and 2875, all cancelled in accordance 

with subparagraph 4.3.1, shall not be accounted towards the quantity 

referenced in subparagraphs 9.3.2(2) and 9.3.3(2). Nothing in 

subparagraphs 9.3.2, 9.3.3 or 9.3.4 shall affect the adjudication of water 

rights in the Stream Adjudication.

9.3.5 Any reduction in depletion by the Navajo Nation under subparagraphs 

9.3.2 or 9.3.3 shall:

(1) be in addition to any reductions otherwise required of Navajo 

Nation water uses pursuant to this Agreement or as a result of 

water rights administration in New Mexico;

(2) be for the exclusive purpose to provide for depletions from the San 

Juan River stream system to be made by the Navajo Nation and 

non-Navajo Nation municipal and domestic water uses in New 

Mexico under the Animas-La Plata Project that are allocated by 
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section 302 of the Colorado Ute Settlement Act Amendments of 

2000 (114 Stat. 2763A-258);

(3) be limited by the extent to which forbearance of the use of the 

Navajo Nation’s depletion rights is necessary to permit the current 

beneficial use needs of the municipal and domestic uses described 

in (2) above to be served;

(4) be further limited so as not to result in a greater percentage water 

supply being made available for depletion during any year by the 

municipal and domestic uses described in (2) above than is 

available for depletion during the same year by the Navajo

Nation’s water uses in New Mexico under the Navajo-Gallup 

Water Supply Project pursuant to the Settlement Contract and to 

section 11 of the Act of June 13, 1962, and section 10603(d) of the 

Settlement Act; and

(5) not require any action by the United States which, in its capacity as 

trustee for the Navajo Nation, concurs with the reduction in 

depletion by the Navajo Nation.

9.4 Cooperative Water Sharing Agreements. Nothing in this Agreement prohibits the 

Navajo Nation or the United States from participating with water users in 

cooperative agreements for the sharing of water supplies in the San Juan River 

Basin.

9.5 Administration of Water Rights. Subject to the provisions of the Partial Final 

Decree, the Supplemental Partial Final Decree and this Agreement, the Navajo 
23

Nation and the United States, acting in its capacity as trustee for the Navajo 

Nation, agree that the New Mexico State Engineer has authority under state law to 

administer water rights within, and to supervise the apportionment, diversion and 

use of the waters of, the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico, including by 

appointment of watermasters, according to the orders and decrees of the Court in 

the Stream Adjudication and the licenses and permits issued by the State Engineer 

in the Basin.

9.6 San Juan River Adjudication.

9.6.1 The Navajo Nation, and the United States, acting in its capacity as trustee 

for the Navajo Nation, agree to not challenge in the Stream Adjudication 

rights previously adjudicated by the Echo Ditch Decree so long as:

(1) quantifications of irrigation water rights in the Stream 

Adjudication are based on the consumptive irrigation requirements 

per acre described by the report of hydrographic survey approved 

by the Echo Ditch Decree, and on the amounts of water allotted per 

acre by the decree;

(2) quantifications of maximum ditch diversion rates for irrigation 

uses under ditches in the Stream Adjudication are based on the 

diversion rates per acre approved by the Echo Ditch Decree; and

(3) priority dates for irrigation and non-irrigation rights in the Stream 

Adjudication are based on the priority dates adjudicated by the 

Echo Ditch Decree.
24

The Navajo Nation or the United States may challenge in the Stream

Adjudication quantifications of both irrigation water right acreages and 

non-irrigation water rights for reasons of forfeiture or abandonment for 

non-use or unauthorized use since entry of the Echo Ditch Decree. 

Further, the Navajo Nation or the United States may challenge in the 

Stream Adjudication quantifications of annual diversion requirements for 

irrigation uses under ditches to the extent that the requirements would 

exceed the annual diversion requirements per acre described by the report 

of hydrographic survey approved by the Echo Ditch Decree.

9.6.2 For irrigation rights not previously adjudicated by the Echo Ditch Decree, 

the Navajo Nation, and the United States, acting in its capacity as trustee 

for the Navajo Nation, agree to not challenge in the Stream Adjudication 

quantifications of water rights or maximum ditch diversion rates for 

irrigation uses under ditches so long as:

(1) quantifications of water rights in the Stream Adjudication are 

based on the consumptive irrigation requirements and farm 

delivery requirements, or farm duties, stated or indicated, if any, in 

permits or licenses, or if not so stated or indicated in permits or 

licenses, based on a methodology that results in consumptive 

irrigation requirements and farm duties consistent with those 

described by the report of hydrographic survey approved by the 

Echo Ditch Decree; and
25

(2) quantifications of maximum ditch diversion rates for irrigation 

uses under ditches in the Stream Adjudication are based on the 

diversion rates stated or indicated, if any, in permits or licenses, or 

if not so stated or indicated in permits or licenses, based on a 

methodology that results in maximum diversion rates per acre 

consistent with those approved by the Echo Ditch Decree.

The Navajo Nation or the United States may challenge in the Stream

Adjudication quantifications of both irrigation water right acreages and 

non-irrigation water rights for reasons of forfeiture or abandonment for 

non-use or unauthorized use since issuance of a permit or license not 

included in the Echo Ditch Decree, and may challenge priority dates that 

may conflict with law; provided, that the Navajo Nation and the United 

States, acting in its capacity as trustee for the Navajo Nation, agree to not 

challenge in the Stream Adjudication quantifications of water rights under 

the Bureau of Reclamation’s Hammond Irrigation Project based on a total 

water right acreage for the Project of up to 3,900 acres. Further, the 

Navajo Nation or the United States may challenge in the Stream 

Adjudication quantifications of annual diversion requirements for 

irrigation uses under ditches to the extent that the quantifications would 

exceed the annual amounts of diversion or the diversion requirements per 

acre described in permits or licenses, if any, or if not, the annual diversion 

requirements per acre described by the report of hydrographic survey 

approved by the Echo Ditch Decree.
26

9.7 Navajo Reservoir Water Supply Contracts. The Navajo Nation, and the United 

States, acting in its capacity as trustee for the Navajo Nation, do not object to the 

contracts and subcontracts with other entities that have been approved as of the 

date of this Agreement by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to section 11 of 

the Act of June 13, 1962 (76 Stat. 96), and do not object to the permits approved 

as of the date of this Agreement by the State Engineer for the diversion and use by 

the contractors or subcontractors, respectively, of the water delivered under said 

contracts and subcontracts.

9.8 Notice of Applications. The New Mexico State Engineer shall provide notices to 

the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources and the Department of the 

Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Southwest Region Office, Division of Natural 

Resources, Water Resources of applications filed for new appropriations, or to 

change the point of diversion or the place or purpose of use of water, in the San 

Juan River Basin in New Mexico, said notices to be provided when the State 

Engineer provides the applicant with the notice to be published; except, that the 

State of New Mexico shall not be required to provide the Navajo Nation with 

notices of applications to appropriate ground water for stock, domestic, mineral or 

construction purposes of use filed pursuant to Section 72-12-1.1, 1.2, or 1.3, 

NMSA 1978 (2003).

9.9 Ground Water Consultations. The State of New Mexico, acting through the State 

Engineer, shall cooperate and consult with the Navajo Nation, as it would with 

other applicants, in the preparation of any proposed Navajo Nation application to 

appropriate ground water in accordance with state law and pursuant to 
27

subparagraph 7(b)(2) of the Partial Final Decree, including the development of 

any replacement water plan required pursuant to subparagraph 7(c) of the Partial 

Final Decree and issues of impairment to existing rights related to a proposed 

application.

9.10 Uses in Other States.

9.10.1 The San Juan River and its tributaries shall be administered consistent 

with the provisions of the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact (63 Stat. 

31).

9.10.2 The United States under a contract with the Navajo Nation may provide 

water for diversion in New Mexico for uses in the State of Arizona under 

the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project consistent with and limited to the 

authorizations provided by section 10603(c) of the Settlement Act, and 

pursuant to paragraph 6 of the Partial Final Decree. This Agreement shall 

continue in full force and effect independently of the status of the ability 

to divert water to the State of Arizona under this subparagraph.

9.10.3 The Navajo Nation may divert ground water from the San Juan River 

Basin in New Mexico for use in the San Juan River Basin in Arizona, or 

may use ground water diverted from the San Juan River Basin in Arizona 

in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico, subject to, and consistent 

with, the provisions of subparagraph 7(g) of the Partial Final Decree. This 

Agreement shall continue in full force and effect independently of the 

status of the ability to divert or use ground water within the State of 

Arizona under this subparagraph.
28

9.11 Fulfillment of Rights in Other Basins with Water from San Juan River Basin.

9.11.1 To the extent that, and only so long as, water is diverted from the San Juan 

River Basin and delivered to supply a portion of the Navajo Nation uses in 

the Little Colorado River Basin in New Mexico or the Rio Grande Basin 

in New Mexico, such deliveries shall be the water supply to fulfill or 

service the water requirements of any rights adjudicated to the Navajo 

Nation for such uses in either or both of the latter two basins.

9.11.2 Navajo Nation water rights in the Little Colorado River Basin and the Rio 

Grande Basin shall not be:

(1) exercised, transferred, leased or otherwise used to the extent that, 

and only so long as, the rights are being supplied by the delivery of 

water diverted from the San Juan River Basin; or

(2) subject to forfeiture, abandonment or irretrievable loss to the 

Navajo Nation for reason of being supplied water from the San 

Juan River Basin in lieu of using water diverted from the Little 

Colorado River or Rio Grande basins.

9.11.3 This Agreement shall not alter or affect the quantification of claims or 

rights of the Navajo Nation to the diversion and use of water outside the 

San Juan River Basin in New Mexico.

10.0 STATE FUNDING FOR DITCH IMPROVEMENTS

10.1 Amount of Funds. The State of New Mexico agrees to make available a total of 

$10 million during the ten fiscal years following entry by the Court in the Stream 

Adjudication of the Partial Final Decree for the express purpose of providing cost-
29

share funding for non-Navajo ditch improvement and water conservation projects 

in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico in whole or partial fulfillment of the 

non-federal cost-share requirements for such projects to be carried out under 

section 10608 of the Settlement Act, subject to the New Mexico State Legislature 

appropriating funds for this purpose and to subparagraph 10.4.

10.2 Study and Prioritization. The State of New Mexico, acting through the Interstate 

Stream Commission, agrees to cooperate with the Secretary of the Interior to 

complete the requirements of paragraphs 10608(a)(1) and (2) of the Settlement 

Act. 

10.3 Additional Contributions. Nothing herein prohibits the State of New Mexico 

from making additional allocations of funds for ditch improvement and water 

conservation projects in the San Juan River Basin.

10.4 Lack of Appropriations. This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect 

independently of the status of appropriations and funding for ditch improvement 

and water conservation projects pursuant to paragraph 10.0.

11.0 EFFECTIVENESS

11.1 Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective upon the date of signature 

by all of the Parties.

11.2 Term. This Agreement shall be perpetual unless:

11.2.1 terminated pursuant to the conditions described by subsection 10701(e)(2) 

of the Settlement Act for revoking the Agreement or by paragraph 22 of 

the Partial Final Decree for revoking the decree; or
30

11.2.2 terminated by the mutual consent of the Parties and with approval of the 

Court in the Stream Adjudication.

12.0 RELATION TO ALLOTTEES

12.1 No Effect on Claims of Allottees. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the 

rights or claims of Allottees, or the United States, acting in its capacity as trustee

for or on behalf of Allottees, for water rights or damages related to lands allotted 

by the United States to Allottees by public land orders or otherwise.

12.2 Relationship of the Partial Final Decree to Allottees. Allottees, or the United 

States, acting in its capacity as trustee for Allottees, are not bound by the Partial 

Final Decree from making claims to water rights in the San Juan River Basin in 

New Mexico. Allottees, or the United States, acting in its capacity as trustee for 

Allottees, may make claims to, and may be adjudicated, individual water rights in 

the Basin.

12.3 Relationship of the Supplemental Partial Final Decree to Allottees.

12.3.1 Allottees, or the United States, acting in its capacity as trustee for 

Allottees, are not bound by the Supplemental Partial Final Decree from 

making claims to water rights in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico. 

Allottees, or the United States, acting in its capacity as trustee for 

Allottees, may make claims to, and may be adjudicated, individual water 

rights in the Basin.

12.3.2 To the extent that water rights are adjudicated for Allottees, who are 

members of the Navajo Nation, or for the United States, acting in its 

capacity as trustee for Allottees who are members of the Navajo Nation, 
31

for uses in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico that are not based on 

historic and existing water uses, such water rights of Allottees shall be 

fulfilled or serviced by water rights adjudicated to the Navajo Nation by 

the Partial Final Decree or the Supplemental Partial Final Decree, or the 

depletions of flow of the San Juan River resulting from the use of water 

under such rights of Allottees shall be fully offset by a forbearance of use 

of water rights adjudicated to the Navajo Nation by the Partial Final 

Decree or the Supplemental Partial Final Decree. Nothing in this 

subparagraph shall create a right of any Allottee to delivery of water by 

the Navajo Nation.

13.0 EFFECT ON THE UNITED STATES ACTING IN SOVEREIGN CAPACITY OR 

OTHER CAPACITY

Nothing in this Settlement Agreement:

13.1 affects the ability of the United States, acting in its sovereign capacity, to take 

actions to protect water quality or otherwise to protect health, safety, or the 

environment in the San Juan River Basin including but not limited to taking 

actions authorized by law such as action authorized under the Comprehensive 

Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601 et 

seq.); the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C 300f et seq.); the Federal Water 

Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.); the Endangered Species Act (16 

U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 

6901 et seq.); and the regulations implementing such Acts;
32

13.2 affects the ability of the United States to take actions acting in its capacity as 

trustee for any other tribe or allottee;

13.3 confers jurisdiction on the Court in the Stream Adjudication to:

13.3.1 interpret federal law regarding water quality, health, safety, or the 

environment or determine the duties of the United States or other parties 

pursuant to such federal law; or

13.3.2 conduct judicial review of federal agency action; or

13.4 shall be construed to confer or bestow upon the Court in the Stream Adjudication 

jurisdiction over the interpretation of, or determinations under, any treaty or 

interstate compact, including but not limited to the provisions of the Mexican 

Water Treaty, the Colorado River Compact, the Upper Colorado River Basin 

Compact, the La Plata River Compact or the Animas-La Plata Project Compact.

14.0 OTHER PROVISIONS

14.1 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including its Appendices, constitutes the 

entire understanding among the Parties. The Parties have, among themselves, 

negotiated in good faith for the purposes of advancing the settlement of legal 

disputes, including pending litigation. This Agreement, among the Parties, 

resolves all water rights claims of the Navajo Nation in, to, and from the San Juan 

River Basin in New Mexico.

14.2 Construction and Effect. This Agreement is to be construed fairly and reasonably 

in its entirety. The paragraph and subparagraph titles used in this Agreement are 

for convenience only and shall not be considered in the construction of this 

Agreement. Each of the Parties has been fully represented in connection with the 
33

preparation of this Agreement, and as such, this Agreement shall be neutrally 

interpreted and shall not be construed in favor of any Party or against any Party.

14.3 No Precedent. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to:

14.3.1 establish any precedent or standard for the quantification of federal 

reserved rights, aboriginal claims, or any other Indian claims to water in 

any other judicial or administrative proceeding, including the Navajo 

Nation’s water rights or claims in basins other than the San Juan River 

Basin in New Mexico;

14.3.2 establish any precedent concerning the applicability of interstate compacts 

to the quantification of federal Indian reserved rights or rights pursuant to 

aboriginal claims to water, or to the administration or use of water under 

such rights; or

14.3.3 quantify or adversely affect the land and water rights, or claims or 

entitlements to water, of any Indian tribe or community other than the 

rights, claims, or entitlements of the Navajo Nation in, to, and from the 

San Juan River Basin in New Mexico.

14.4 Navajo Nation’s Rights In Other Basins. The right of the Navajo Nation to use 

water under water rights the Navajo Nation has in other river basins in the State of 

New Mexico shall be forborne to the extent that the Navajo Nation supplies the 

uses for which the water rights exist by diversions of water from the San Juan 

River Basin under the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project consistent with

subparagraph 9.11.
34

14.5 Authority. By signing this Agreement each person represents that he or she has 

the authority to execute it.

14.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of 

which shall be considered an original and all of which, taken together, shall 

constitute one agreement.

14.7 Amendments. No modification of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in 

writing, signed by all Parties; provided, that appendices 1 and 2 to this Agreement 

may be amended in accordance with their terms or applicable law.

14.8 Appropriations Contingency. The expenditure or advance of any money or the 

performance of any obligation by the United States, in any of its capacities, or by 

the State of New Mexico under this Agreement is contingent upon their respective 

appropriation of funds therefore. No liability shall accrue to the United States, in 

any of its capacities, or to the State of New Mexico in the event funds are not 

appropriated.

14.9 Waiver Limitation. No waiver of any breach of any of the terms or conditions of 

this Agreement shall be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach of the 

same or other terms or conditions of this Agreement.

14.10 Diversions in Other Basins Referenced in the Settlement Act. This Agreement 

shall continue in full force and effect regardless of, and is not conditioned upon, 

the Navajo Nation’s ability or right to divert and use ground water in the Little 

Colorado River Basin and the Rio Grande Basin from wells constructed or 

rehabilitated pursuant to subsection 10606(c) of the Settlement Act.

14.11 Notices. For purpose of giving notices as required by this Agreement, written 

notice shall be mailed to:
35

For the Navajo Nation:

Director

Department of Water Resources

Navajo Nation

P.O. Box 678

Fort Defiance, AZ 86504

Telephone: (928) 729-4003

Telefax: (928) 729-4029

Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Navajo Nation Department of Justice

P.O. Box 2010

Window Rock, AZ 86515

Telephone: (928) 871-6343

Telefax: (928) 871-6200

For the State of New Mexico:

New Mexico State Engineer

130 South Capitol Street

Concha Ortiz y Pino Building

P.O. Box 25102

Santa Fe, NM 87504-5102

Telephone: (505) 827-6091

Telefax: (505) 827-3806

New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission

Director

407 Galisteo Street

Bataan Memorial Building

P.O. Box 25102

Santa Fe, NM 87504-5102

Telephone: (505) 827-6161

Telefax: (505) 827-6188

For the United States:

Regional Director, Upper Colorado Region

125 South State Street, Room 6107

Salt Lake City, UT 84138-1102

Telephone: (801) 524-3600

Telefax: (801) 524-5499
36

Area Manager, Western Colorado Area Office

2764 Compass Drive

Grand Junction, CO 81506-8744

Telephone: (970) 248-0690

Telefax: (970) 248-0601

14.12 Prior Agreement. This Agreement supersedes and replaces the Settlement 

Agreement executed between the Navajo Nation and the State of New Mexico on 

April 19, 2005.

August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 1

APPENDIX 1

PROPOSED PARTIAL FINAL JUDGMENT AND DECREE OF THE WATER 

RIGHTS OF THE NAVAJO NATION 

August 9, 2010
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 2

STATE OF NEW MEXICO

COUNTY OF SAN JUAN

ELEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

STATE OF NEW MEXICO ex rel. )

State Engineer, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. ) No. CIV 75-184

)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, et al., ) SAN JUAN RIVER

) ADJUDICATION SUIT

Defendants. )

)

____________________________________)

PARTIAL FINAL JUDGMENT AND DECREE

OF THE WATER RIGHTS OF THE

NAVAJO NATION

THIS CASE is a general adjudication filed pursuant to NMSA Sections 72-4-13 through -19 

of the surface and underground water rights within the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico as 

authorized by 43 U.S.C. Section 666. The rights of the Navajo Nation to divert, impound, or use 

the surface waters within the San Juan River Basin, including the San Juan River and its tributaries, 

and the underground waters underlying the surface drainage of the San Juan River Basin in New 

Mexico, are decreed herein.

This matter comes before the Court on a Joint Motion for the Entry of a Partial Final 

Judgment and Decree filed by the State of New Mexico, the Navajo Nation and the United States. 

The Court finds that the proposed Partial Final Judgment and Decree (“Decree”) is the product of a 

negotiated settlement by the aforesaid parties. Notice of the deadline for filing and serving 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 3

objections to the water rights described in this Decree was served on the parties to this case and 

potential water right claimants pursuant to the expedited inter se procedures adopted by the Court. 

The Court, having considered the parties’ motion, the objections thereto, the evidence in support 

thereof, and for good cause shown:

FINDS that the motion should be granted; and

FINDS FURTHER that there is no just reason for delay in accordance with Rule 1-054(C) 

NMRA 1996 and directs the entry of this Decree adjudicating the water rights of the Navajo Nation 

within the San Juan River Basin.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that:

1. JURISDICTION.

The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter and the parties in this case.

2. RESERVED RIGHTS TO THE USE OF WATER.

The Navajo Nation’s reserved rights, which are held in trust by the United States for the 

Navajo Nation, are described in paragraphs 3, 7(a), 8 and 10 of this Decree. These reserved rights 

have a priority date of June 1, 1868 and are not subject to abandonment, forfeiture or loss for nonuse.

3. RESERVED RIGHTS FOR SPECIFIED SURFACE WATER DIVERSIONS.

The Navajo Nation has the right, subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph 5 of this 

Decree, to divert the waters of the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico, with a priority date of 

June 1, 1868, in quantities for the following uses not to exceed:

(a) NAVAJO INDIAN IRRIGATION PROJECT, an average diversion of 508,000 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 4

acre-feet per year, or the quantity of water necessary to supply an average depletion of 

270,000 acre-feet per year from the San Juan River, whichever is less, of surface water from 

the San Juan River at the location of Navajo Reservoir during any period of ten consecutive 

years for irrigation of 110,630 acres of land on the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project 

generally located as described in Plate 1 of the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Biological 

Assessment for the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project dated June 11, 1999, and for other 

purposes as authorized by section 10402 of the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water 

Projects Act (123 Stat. 1367) and subparagraph 5(e) of this Decree, with a maximum 

diversion flow rate of 1,800 cubic feet per second; provided, however, that the quantities of 

diversion and depletion in any one year shall not exceed the aforesaid ten-year average 

quantities, respectively, by more than 15 percent; 

(b) NAVAJO-GALLUP WATER SUPPLY PROJECT, a diversion of 22,650 acrefeet, or the quantity of water necessary to supply a depletion of 20,780 acre-feet from the 

San Juan River, whichever is less, of surface water from Navajo Reservoir and the San Juan 

River, in combination, in any one year at the points of diversion and for the purposes of the 

Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project as authorized by section 10603 of the Northwestern 

New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act (123 Stat. 1367) for municipal, industrial, 

commercial and domestic uses, including residential outdoor uses such as yard and stock 

watering, on lands in New Mexico that are held by the United States in trust for the Navajo 

Nation or members of the Navajo Nation or held in fee ownership by the Navajo Nation, 

with a maximum diversion flow rate of 48.1 (41) cubic feet per second; 

(c) ANIMAS-LA PLATA PROJECT, a diversion of 4,680 acre-feet, or the quantity 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 5

of water necessary to supply a depletion of 2,340 acre-feet from the San Juan River stream 

system, whichever is less, of surface water from the Animas River in any one year at the 

points of diversion for supplying water to the Navajo Nation Municipal Pipeline and for 

purposes of the Animas-La Plata Project as authorized by the Colorado Ute Settlement Act 

Amendments of 2000 (114 Stat. 2763A-258) for municipal, industrial, commercial and 

domestic uses, including residential outdoor uses such as yard and stock watering, on lands 

in New Mexico that are held by the United States in trust for the Navajo Nation or members 

of the Navajo Nation or held in fee ownership by the Navajo Nation, with a maximum 

diversion flow rate of 12.9 cubic feet per second;

(d) MUNICIPAL AND DOMESTIC USES, a diversion of 2,600 acre-feet, or the 

quantity of water necessary to supply a depletion of 1,300 acre-feet from the San Juan 

River, whichever is less, of surface water from the direct flow of the San Juan River in any 

one year at locations below the confluence of the San Juan and La Plata rivers for 

municipal, industrial, commercial and domestic purposes, including residential outdoor uses 

such as yard and stock watering, on lands in New Mexico that are held by the United States 

in trust for the Navajo Nation or members of the Navajo Nation or held in fee ownership by 

the Navajo Nation, with a maximum diversion flow rate of 5.0 cubic feet per second, 

provided that a permit is obtained from the New Mexico State Engineer if diversion of this 

water is to be made off lands held in trust by the United States for the Navajo Nation or 

lands held in fee by the Navajo Nation;

(e) HOGBACK-CUDEI IRRIGATION PROJECT, a diversion of 48,550 acre-feet, 

or the quantity of water necessary to supply a depletion of 21,280 acre-feet from the San 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 6

Juan River, whichever is less, of surface water from the direct flow of the San Juan River in 

any one year at the diversion dam for the Hogback-Cudei Irrigation Project for irrigation of 

8,830 acres of land on the project generally located along the north and south sides of the 

San Juan River in the vicinity of the community of Shiprock, New Mexico, and between the 

diversion dam for the project and Four Corners, as described by the Bureau of Indian 

Affairs’ Crop Utilization Study for the Hogback and Cudei irrigation projects dated 

September 1993, with a maximum diversion flow rate of 221 cubic feet per second, 

including any diversions from an alternate point of diversion at the historic Cudei ditch 

diversion heading; and

(f) FRUITLAND-CAMBRIDGE IRRIGATION PROJECT, a diversion of 18,180 

acre-feet, or the quantity of water necessary to supply a depletion of 7,970 acre-feet from 

the San Juan River, whichever is less, of surface water from the direct flow of the San Juan 

River in any one year at the diversion dam for the Fruitland-Cambridge Irrigation Project for 

irrigation of 3,335 acres of land on the project generally located along the south side of the 

San Juan River in the vicinity of the community of Fruitland, New Mexico, and between the 

City of Farmington and the diversion dam for the Hogback-Cudei Irrigation Project, as 

described by the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Crop Utilization Study for the Fruitland 

Irrigation Project dated September 1993, with a maximum diversion flow rate of 100 cubic 

feet per second, including any diversions from an alternate point of diversion at the historic 

Cambridge ditch diversion heading.

The term “depletion” refers to the depletion caused by a particular use of water allowing for any 

depletion incident to the use.
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 7

4. SUPPLEMENTAL CARRIAGE WATER.

The Navajo Nation may divert the direct flow of the San Juan River to supplement 

diversions to provide additional carriage water for uses under the rights specified by subparagraphs 

3(b) through 3(f) at such times and places that the New Mexico State Engineer determines there is 

direct flow available for such diversion without impairment to water rights in New Mexico, 

including uses under paragraph 8.0 of the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico Navajo Nation 

Water Rights Settlement Agreement (Settlement Agreement), signed by the State of New Mexico,

the Navajo Nation, and the Secretary of the Interior on ___________. The Navajo Nation’s 

diversions under this paragraph:

(a) do not constitute water rights or consumptive use rights;

(b) may be made only to the extent that such additional amounts of carriage water 

are necessary to fully develop the depletion amounts for the uses specified under 

subparagraphs 3(b) through 3(f);

(c) may not be made to result in a depletion for any one use under subparagraphs 

3(b) through 3(f) that exceeds the Navajo Nation’s depletion rights described for that use;

(d) may not be made to result in farm deliveries exceeding the farm delivery 

requirement for the Fruitland-Cambridge and Hogback-Cudei irrigation projects described 

in subparagraph 5(g); and

(e) may be made only to the extent that the additional carriage water is returned to 

the San Juan River.
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 8

Any reduction in flow otherwise available for diversion by the Navajo Nation under this paragraph 

shall not be cause to deny approval of applications to transfer water rights in the San Juan River 

Basin in New Mexico, or to deny the allocation and use of water pursuant to paragraph 8.0 of the 

Settlement Agreement.

5. CONDITIONS.

The Navajo Nation has the right to divert, impound or use the water rights described in 

paragraph 3; provided, that:

(a) The Navajo Nation shall not assert or exercise the reserved rights described in 

subparagraphs 3(a), 3(b) and 3(c) so long as the rights of the Navajo Nation to the delivery 

of 535,330 acre-feet of water per year for uses in New Mexico under the terms of the 

Reclamation Contract No. 10-WC-40-384 (the Settlement Contract) between the Secretary 

of the Interior and the Navajo Nation, authorized and approved by the United States 

Congress in section 10701 of the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act (123 

Stat. 1367), are not irretrievably lost; provided, however, that nothing herein is intended to 

confer jurisdiction on this Court over any action to enforce or challenge the Settlement 

Contract or over any action for breach thereof, or to be in conflict with section 11 of the Act 

of June 13, 1962 (76 Stat. 96). The Navajo Nation may assert or exercise the reserved rights 

described in subparagraphs 3(a), 3(b) or 3(c) if and only if the Navajo Nation’s respective 

rights to divert water under the Settlement Contract are irretrievably lost. The temporary 

loss of the use of part or all of the Navajo Nation's right to divert water under the Settlement 

Contract, including, but not limited to, loss resulting from a judicial determination that a 

particular use is speculative or constitutes waste and loss because a particular use is denied 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 9

or prohibited by applicable law, shall not constitute irretrievable loss. Also, forbearance or 

reduction of Navajo Nation uses pursuant to the provisions of this Decree or the Settlement 

Agreement shall not constitute irretrievable loss.

(b) The Navajo Nation's rights pursuant to the Settlement Contract for the uses 

described in subparagraphs 3(a) and 3(b) are based on, and shall be fulfilled or serviced by 

the Secretary of the Interior under, New Mexico State Engineer File No. 2849 with a priority 

date of June 17, 1955, for water originating in the drainage of the San Juan River above 

Navajo Dam, and File No. 3215 with a priority date of December 16, 1968, for inflow to the 

San Juan River arising below Navajo Dam. The Navajo Nation’s contract rights for the 

uses described in subparagraphs 3(a) and 3(b) are subject to the sharing of shortages as 

provided in section 11 of the Act of June 13, 1962 (76 Stat. 96), and section 10402 of the 

Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act (123 Stat. 1367). The Navajo Nation 

shall not have the right to recoup the quantities of water not delivered under the Settlement 

Contract due to shortages. The right under subparagraph 3(a) to divert water for the Navajo 

Indian Irrigation Project during any period of ten consecutive years shall be reduced by the 

amounts of any shortages allocated to the normal diversion requirement for the Project 

during said period of ten consecutive years.

(c) The Navajo Nation's rights pursuant to the Settlement Contract for the uses 

specified in subparagraph 3(c) are based on, and shall be fulfilled or serviced by the 

Secretary of the Interior under, New Mexico State Engineer File No. 2883 with a priority 

date of May 1, 1956, for water from the Animas River, and are subject to Article I of the 

Animas-La Plata Project Compact approved by subsection 501(c) of the Colorado River 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 10

Basin Project Act (82 Stat. 898), and the Settlement Contract approved by subsection 

10604(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act (123 Stat. 

1367).

(d) The Navajo Nation has the right to fill and refill re-regulation storage reservoirs 

on the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project distribution system as follows:

(1) The Navajo Nation may fill and refill as often as water is available under 

the rights described in subparagraphs 3(a) and 3(b):

(i) Cutter Reservoir, with an active storage capacity of 1,793 acrefeet; and

(ii) Gallegos Reservoir, with an active storage capacity of 8,455 

acre-feet, substantially as described in the May 1995 Gallegos Reservoir 

Needs and Cost Assessment prepared for the United States Bureau of Indian 

Affairs and the Bureau of Reclamation, or suitable storage alternatives to 

Gallegos Reservoir of equal or lesser combined capacity.

(2) Cutter Dam and Reservoir and Gallegos Dam and Reservoir are Navajo 

Indian Irrigation Project facilities, and may be used also to regulate deliveries of 

water under the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project authorized by Part III of the 

Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act (123 Stat. 1367).

(3) Water diverted from Navajo Reservoir into storage in Cutter Reservoir 

or Gallegos Reservoir, or suitable storage alternatives, for purposes of the Navajo 

Indian Irrigation Project or for Navajo Nation uses under the Navajo-Gallup Water 

Supply Project, and associated depletions caused by reservoir evaporation or 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 11

seepage losses, shall be accounted within the Navajo Nation’s rights to divert and 

deplete water for the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project described in subparagraph 

3(a) or for purposes of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project described in 

subparagraph 3(b), respectively.

(4) The re-regulating reservoirs may retain and store water originating in the 

physical drainages above Cutter and Gallegos dams, or suitable storage alternatives, 

for use on the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project and the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply 

Project; provided, that the quantities of any such water retained and stored in Cutter 

Reservoir or Gallegos Reservoir, and the associated depletions of water, for Navajo 

Nation uses shall be accounted within the Navajo Nation’s rights to divert and 

deplete water for the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project described in subparagraph 3(a) 

or for purposes of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project described in 

subparagraph 3(b), respectively, and that such retention and storage of water shall be 

fulfilled or serviced by the Secretary of the Interior through the Settlement Contract 

as water is available under New Mexico State Engineer File No. 3215 with a priority 

date of December 16, 1968.

(5) The Navajo Nation’s rights to store water in Cutter Reservoir and 

Gallegos Reservoir, or suitable storage alternatives, are not separable from the rights 

described in subparagraphs 3(a) and 3(b) or from the Navajo Indian Irrigation 

Project facilities.

(6) Sediment storage capacity may be provided in Gallegos Reservoir, or 

suitable storage alternatives; provided, that the reservoir, or suitable alternative, is 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 12

operated each year to maintain no more than 8,455 acre-feet of active conservation 

storage after consideration of the amount of sediment accumulated in the reservoir 

since completion of Gallegos Dam, or suitable alternative.

(e) The Navajo Nation’s water rights, described in subparagraph 3(a), which are to 

be serviced under the Settlement Contract as described in subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this 

paragraph, may be used for non-irrigation purposes or transferred to other places of use 

consistent with the provisions of subsection 10402(a) of the Northwestern New Mexico 

Rural Water Projects Act (123 Stat. 1367), paragraph 17 of this Decree and the following 

conditions:

(1) The Navajo Nation without approval of the New Mexico State Engineer 

or the Court, may change the purpose or place of use of any portion of the rights 

described in subparagraph 3(a); provided, that:

(i) notice is provided of any proposed change in purpose or place of 

use consistent with paragraph 18;

(ii) such changes do not involve transfers of places of use to 

locations outside the State of New Mexico, or to lands that are not held by 

the United States in trust for the Navajo Nation or its members as of the date 

of entry of this Decree, unless such lands are subsequently declared by the 

Secretary of the Interior to be held in trust by the United States for the 

Navajo Nation pursuant to section 3 of the Act of June 13, 1962 (76 Stat. 

96), as amended by the Act of September 25, 1970 (84 Stat. 867);

(iii) the point of diversion is not changed;
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 13

(iv) the depletion quantities specified in subparagraph 3(a) are not 

exceeded as a result of the changes;

(v) the average annual diversion during any period of ten 

consecutive years for all uses made under the rights provided in 

subparagraph 3(a), including uses provided under the alternate water source 

provisions of subparagraph 9.2 of the Settlement Agreement, in the 

aggregate does not exceed 353,000 acre-feet per year;

(vi) the total diversion for all uses made under the rights provided in 

subparagraph 3(a), including uses provided under the alternate water source 

provisions of subparagraph 9.2 of the Settlement Agreement, in the 

aggregate does not exceed 405,950 acre-feet in any one year; and

(vii) no showing is made to and accepted by the Court pursuant to 

subparagraph 5(e)(2) that a change would or does impair other water rights 

in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico.

Any change pursuant to this subsection in the purpose or place of use of a portion of 

the rights described in subparagraph 3(a) that would result in the total annual 

diversion or depletion amounts in the aggregate for all uses made under the rights 

described in subparagraph 3(a) exceeding the historic aggregate diversion or 

depletion amounts, respectively, under said rights shall not be presumed to impair 

other water rights solely because of the increase in annual use amounts.

(2) The Navajo Nation shall provide an administrative process for receiving 

from Navajo and non-Navajo water users protests of changes in purpose or place of 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 14

use proposed to be made pursuant to subparagraph 5(e)(1), and for reviewing and 

considering protests and impairment issues that may arise from such changes. The 

administrative process shall include consultation with the New Mexico State 

Engineer on proposed changes. The Navajo Nation shall not exercise its authority 

under subparagraph 5(e)(1) to implement a proposed change in purpose or place of 

use until the Navajo Nation has consulted with the State Engineer and completed the 

Navajo Nation’s administrative process for the proposed change. Appeals of 

Navajo Nation decisions or actions made pursuant to the administrative process may 

be reviewed by the Court.

(3) The uses of water to make the depletions and diversions described in 

subparagraphs 3(d), 3(e) and 3(f) that are supplied under the Settlement Contract 

pursuant to the alternate water source provisions of subparagraph 9.2 of the 

Settlement Agreement, and that are accounted under the rights described in 

subparagraph 3(a) of this Decree for the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project in 

accordance with said provisions, are hereby approved by the Court.

(4) The Navajo Nation may divert more than an average of 353,000 acrefeet per year during any period of ten consecutive years, or more than 405,950 acrefeet in any one year, for the aggregate of all uses under the rights provided in 

subparagraph 3(a), including uses provided under the alternate water source 

provisions of subparagraph 9.2 of the Settlement Agreement, only pursuant to 

application with the New Mexico State Engineer and subject to non-impairment of 

other water rights in New Mexico in accordance with state law, unless the rights 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 15

provided in subparagraph 3(a) are used solely for irrigation purposes on the Navajo 

Indian Irrigation Project and to implement subparagraph 9.2 of the Settlement 

Agreement.

(f) If the Navajo Nation in any period of ten consecutive years inadvertently diverts 

or depletes water in excess of the ten-year average limitations described in subparagraph 

3(a), the Navajo Nation, in the year following the subject period, shall forego the diversion 

and use under subparagraph 3(a) of amounts of water that are equal to the quantities of 

excess diversion and depletion, respectively, for the subject period. If the Navajo Nation in 

any year inadvertently diverts or depletes water in excess of the maximum allowable annual 

quantities described in subparagraphs 3(a), 3(b) or 3(c), the Navajo Nation in the following 

year shall forego the diversion and use under the applicable subparagraphs of amounts of 

water that are equal to the quantities of excess diversion and depletion. 

(g) The Navajo Nation’s rights to divert water for irrigation uses under 

subparagraphs 3(e) and 3(f) shall be subject to the maximum allowable annual diversion 

quantities specified in the subparagraphs only if the New Mexico State Engineer or the 

Court enforces annual diversion quantity limits on non-Navajo Nation irrigation diversions 

from the San Juan River below Navajo Dam and the Animas River in accordance with such 

quantities as may be adjudicated by the Court, but shall at all times be subject to:

(1) supplying the annual depletion quantities specified in subparagraphs 3(e) 

and 3(f), respectively; and

(2) supplying a farm delivery requirement of 3.3 acre-feet per acre per year 

for irrigation uses under the Hogback-Cudei and Fruitland-Cambridge irrigation 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 16

projects.

Those portions of the annual diversion and depletion quantities specified in subparagraphs 

3(e) and 3(f) that are transferred to non-irrigation uses shall be administered and managed in 

the same manner as other direct flow diversions for non-irrigation uses in the San Juan 

River Basin in New Mexico.

(h) The Navajo Nation’s right for the Fruitland-Cambridge Irrigation Project under 

subparagraph 3(f) to divert at a maximum diversion flow rate of 100 cubic feet per second 

shall not be fully exercised if the Court determines that rehabilitation and maintenance of 

the Project has resulted in a lesser flow rate being needed to supply the peak demand of the 

Project; provided, that the Navajo Nation shall not be required solely by virtue of the 

rehabilitation and maintenance to forego exercise of said maximum diversion flow rate right 

for the Project to less than 83.4 cubic feet per second. Reductions in diversions by the 

Project below 83.4 cubic feet per second at times may be required, however, if current 

beneficial uses require less water.

(i) The Navajo Nation’s rights to divert and deplete water for irrigation uses under 

subparagraphs 3(e) and 3(f) may be increased using the approach or methodology that the 

Court adopts to determine irrigation water right amounts and diversion rates in this case if 

application of the approach or methodology adopted would result in annual diversion and 

depletion quantities that exceed those described herein or in an annual farm delivery 

requirement for the Hogback-Cudei and Fruitland-Cambridge irrigation projects that 

exceeds the amount described in subparagraph 5(g). The Navajo Nation’s rights under 

subparagraphs 3(e) and 3(f), the diversion rates described in subparagraph 5(h), and the 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 17

farm delivery requirement described in subparagraph 5(g), shall not be recomputed if the 

approach or methodology adopted by the Court relies on, or results in, annual per acre farm 

delivery requirements and diversion and depletion quantities, and maximum per acre ditch 

diversion rates, for irrigation uses that are consistent with those given in the report of 

Hydrographic Survey approved by the Decree entered April 8, 1948, by the First Judicial 

District Court of New Mexico within and for San Juan County in the matter of The Echo 

Ditch Company, et al., v. The McDermott Ditch Company, et al., Cause No. 01690 (Echo 

Ditch Decree), for those irrigation rights previously adjudicated by the Echo Ditch Decree.

(j) The Navajo Nation has the right under the water rights described in paragraphs 3, 

7 and 8 to re-use tail water and waste water as follows:

(1) The Navajo Nation may collect tail water from an irrigation use for reuse under the associated water right; provided, that the re-use is measured and the 

depletion of water associated with the re-use is accounted against the depletion 

quantity for the water right. For purposes of this Decree, tail water shall include:

(i) any water collected that has not left Navajo Nation control and 

reached the underlying ground water table or discharged into a nonconstructed or natural surface drainage channel; and

(ii) any water that through percolation from irrigation has reached 

the underlying ground water table and is pumped for the express purpose of 

maintaining the water table at a sufficient distance below the root zone to 

prevent subirrigation or waterlog damage to fields that otherwise would 

result from the initial irrigation use.
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 18

(2) The Navajo Nation may collect waste water from a non-irrigation use for 

re-use under the associated water right; provided, that the re-use is measured and the 

depletion of water associated with the re-use is accounted against the depletion 

quantity for the water right. For purposes of this Decree, waste water shall include 

any water collected that has not left Navajo Nation control and reached the 

underlying ground water table or discharged into a natural surface drainage channel.

(3) Re-use of water by the Navajo Nation shall not increase the depletion 

rights or the diversion rights of the Navajo Nation.

6. DIVERSIONS FOR NAVAJO-GALLUP PROJECT USES IN ARIZONA.

The Navajo Nation may contract with the United States to divert up to 6,411 acre-feet in any 

one year of surface water from the San Juan River in New Mexico for uses on Navajo lands, 

including lands held by the United States in trust for the Navajo Nation or members of the Navajo 

Nation and lands held in fee ownership by the Navajo Nation, within the State of Arizona solely for 

purposes of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project as authorized by section 10603 of the 

Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act (123 Stat. 1367), with a maximum diversion 

flow rate of 17.7 (12) cubic feet per second; provided, that the water delivery contract between the 

Navajo Nation and the United States is executed to provide such a contract right for the diversion of 

water in New Mexico for delivery to uses in Arizona consistent with section 10603 of the Act. The 

diversion of water in New Mexico for Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project uses in Arizona shall be 

serviced under New Mexico State Engineer File Nos. 2849 and 3215, and shall be administered 

consistent with the provisions of the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact and the San Juan River 

Basin in New Mexico Water Projects and Settlement Act. Also, the diversion of water in New 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 19

Mexico for Project uses in Arizona shall continue only so long as the water delivery contract 

remains in effect, shall not be transferable to other uses, including uses in New Mexico, and shall

not be leased or otherwise subcontracted to third parties. The contract right for the diversion of 

water in New Mexico for delivery to uses in Arizona shall not include carry-over storage in Navajo 

Reservoir from year to year.

7. GROUND WATER RIGHTS.

The Navajo Nation has the right to divert, pump or withdraw, and to consumptively use, 

ground water on Navajo lands in New Mexico, including lands held by the United States in trust for 

the Navajo Nation and lands held in fee ownership by the Navajo Nation, within the physical 

drainage of the San Juan River and its tributaries and in addition to rights to divert ground water for 

uses described by paragraphs 8, 9 and 10, subject to the following conditions:

(a) The Navajo Nation has a reserved right, with a priority date of June 1, 1868, to 

divert up to 2,000 acre-feet of ground water in any one year for beneficial use, including for 

municipal, industrial, commercial, domestic, agricultural and other purposes, on lands in 

New Mexico that are held by the United States in trust for the Navajo Nation, or on other 

lands if approved by the New Mexico State Engineer or the Court; except, that the Navajo 

Nation also may use ground water diverted pursuant to this subparagraph on lands that are 

held by the United States in trust for members of the Navajo Nation.

(b) The Navajo Nation has the right to divert ground water for municipal, 

industrial, commercial, domestic or agricultural uses, in addition to the rights described in 

subparagraph (a) of this paragraph and any ground water uses described by paragraphs 8, 9 

and 10, subject to the following conditions:
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 20

(1) The Navajo Nation has the authority to make additional diversions of 

ground water in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico on lands held by the 

United States in trust for the Navajo Nation as of the date of entry of this Decree and 

such rights shall be held in trust by the United States for the Navajo Nation:

(i) The Navajo Nation shall give notice of intent to drill or pump 

wells to effectuate such additional diversions of ground water by publication 

in a newspaper of general circulation within the San Juan River Basin in 

New Mexico once per week for three consecutive weeks and by letter to the 

New Mexico State Engineer, both such forms of notice to be completed at 

least 30 days prior to drilling new wells or to increasing pumping from 

existing wells, and to specify the proposed purpose and place of use, point of 

diversion, annual diversion and depletion amounts, and sources of ground 

water;

(ii) the priority dates of the additional diversions of ground water 

under subparagraph 7(b)(1) shall be the respective dates of notice to the 

State Engineer; except, that replacement wells shall retain the priority dates 

associated with the wells replaced; and

(iii) such diversions of ground water are subject to the other 

provisions of paragraph 7, except for subparagraphs 7(a) and 7(b)(2).

The Navajo Nation shall provide an administrative process for receiving from 

Navajo and non-Navajo water users protests of additional diversions of ground 

water proposed to be made pursuant to this subparagraph, and for reviewing and 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 21

considering protests and impairment issues that may arise from such additional 

diversions. The administrative process shall include the Navajo Nation consulting 

with the New Mexico State Engineer on proposed diversions, any necessary 

replacement water plans that may be required as per subparagraph 7(c), and 

impairment issues. The Navajo Nation shall not exercise its authority under this 

subparagraph to approve or implement a proposed additional diversion of ground 

water until it has consulted with the State Engineer and completed the 

administrative process for the proposed diversion. The Court shall have jurisdiction 

to review and resolve disputes, if any, between the Navajo Nation, the New Mexico 

State Engineer or other parties to this case regarding whether additional ground 

water diversions allowed by the Navajo Nation comply with the criteria stated in this 

paragraph. 

(2) The Navajo Nation may appropriate ground water under state law for 

additional diversions of ground water in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico 

on lands not held by the United States in trust for the Navajo Nation as of the date of 

entry of this Decree.

(3) The additional diversions of ground water under subparagraph 7(b) shall 

not impair the exercise of other surface water and ground water rights either within 

the physical drainage of the San Juan River Basin or in other drainage basins.

(4) The additional diversions of ground water under subparagraph 7(b) may 

supply uses on lands in New Mexico that are held by the United States in trust for 

the Navajo Nation or members of the Navajo Nation or held in fee ownership by the 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 22

Navajo Nation, or on other lands if transferred in accordance with the provisions of 

paragraph 17; except, that diversions of ground water in the San Juan River Basin in 

New Mexico may be delivered for domestic and sanitary uses in the San Juan River 

Basin in Arizona in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph 7(g).

(5) No additional diversions of ground water under subparagraph 7(b) shall 

be made until a model of ground water flow for the physical area of the San Juan 

River Basin in New Mexico, plus any pertinent adjoining areas, has been approved 

by the New Mexico State Engineer or the Court to determine impacts of existing 

ground water rights and new diversions of ground water on flow of the San Juan 

River for the purpose of conjunctively administering surface and ground water 

sources. Once a model is approved, a proposed additional diversion of ground water

is subject to New Mexico State Engineer approval of a replacement plan to offset 

the depletions of streamflow attributable to the additional diversion, if such a plan is 

required pursuant to subparagraph 7(c). 

(c) The Navajo Nation each year shall offset the cumulative reduction in the flow of 

the San Juan River during the year that is caused by all diversions and uses of ground water 

by the Navajo Nation under the rights described in subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this 

paragraph in the aggregate, and that is in excess of 2,000 acre-feet per year of cumulative 

reduction, in accordance with a replacement water plan approved by the New Mexico State 

Engineer. The replacement water plan shall specify and schedule how the Navajo Nation

will satisfy this offset requirement annually by forbearing use of specific surface water 

rights to flows of the San Juan River stream system that are described by paragraph 3 in a 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 23

total amount of depletion equal to the amount of cumulative flow reduction for each year 

that is in excess of 2,000 acre-feet per year, and in such a manner as to offset the river flow 

impacts at the locations of impact. In addition, if the offset requirement necessitates a 

transfer or dedication of Navajo Nation rights under the Settlement Contract to below 

Navajo Dam, the State Engineer may determine conditions for dam releases to effectuate the

transfer or dedication. Such conditions may include exceptions for periods when 

replacement water, in the State Engineer’s judgment, is not needed to avoid impairment to 

other water rights or interstate compact delivery requirements. 

(d) Diversions and uses of ground water in New Mexico on lands that are held by 

the United States in trust for the Navajo Nation, or held in fee ownership by the Navajo 

Nation, by agencies of the United States, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian 

Health Service, for municipal, industrial, commercial and domestic purposes for the benefit 

of the Navajo Nation or its members shall be included within and accounted against the 

Navajo Nation’s rights to divert and use ground water under subparagraphs (a) and (b) of 

this paragraph.

(e) Diversions and uses of ground water underlying the area of the Navajo Indian 

Irrigation Project shall be included within and accounted against the Navajo Nation’s rights 

to divert and use ground water under subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this paragraph; except, 

that any re-use of irrigation tail water that through percolation from irrigation of Project 

lands had reached the underlying ground water table and is pumped for the purpose of 

maintaining the water table at a sufficient distance below the root zone to prevent waterlog 

damage to Project fields that otherwise would result from the irrigation use may be included 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 24

within the Navajo Nation’s rights under subparagraph 5(j)(1) to re-use tail water so long as 

the depletion of water associated with the re-use is accounted against the depletion quantity 

for the Project described in subparagraph 3(a).

(f) The Navajo Nation may use ground water diverted or withdrawn from within the 

San Juan River Basin in New Mexico in areas of the State of New Mexico located outside 

the physical drainage of the San Juan River and its tributaries; provided, that such diversion 

and use shall:

(1) be accounted against the rights of the Navajo Nation to divert ground 

water described in subparagraphs 7(a) and 7(b); and

(2) comply with the other provisions of paragraph 7.

(g) The Navajo Nation may divert or withdraw ground water from the San Juan 

River Basin in New Mexico for use in the San Juan River Basin in Arizona, and may use in 

the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico ground water withdrawn from the San Juan River 

Basin in Arizona, for domestic and sanitary purposes on lands that are held by the United 

States in trust for the Navajo Nation or members of the Navajo Nation or held in fee 

ownership by the Navajo Nation; provided, that:

(1) the depletion of the flow of the Colorado River at Lee Ferry resulting 

from such uses made in the State of New Mexico is a part of the consumptive use 

apportionment made to the State of New Mexico by Article III of the Upper 

Colorado River Basin Compact, and the depletion of the flow of the Colorado River 

at Lee Ferry resulting from such uses made in the State of Arizona is a part of the 

consumptive use apportionment made to the State of Arizona by Article III of the 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 25

Upper Colorado River Basin Compact;

(2) such uses are not inconsistent with the rights of the Navajo Nation, or of 

the United States as trustee for the Navajo Nation, to make such diversions and uses 

of water within the State of Arizona;

(3) the total of such diversions made within the State of New Mexico and 

delivered for uses in Arizona, plus the total of diversions made within the State of 

Arizona and delivered for such uses in New Mexico, pursuant to subparagraph 7(g) 

does not exceed 400 acre-feet in the aggregate;

(4) such diversions and uses within the State of New Mexico shall be 

accounted against, and otherwise comply with, the rights of the Navajo Nation to 

divert and use ground water described in subparagraphs 7(a) and 7(b); and

(5) the rights of the Navajo Nation to make such diversions and uses shall 

not be leased, exchanged or otherwise transferred for use by other parties or for 

other purposes.

(h) The Court retains jurisdiction to review any matter arising from the provisions of 

paragraph 7; except, that another court may have competent jurisdiction over issues of 

impairment to water rights in basins other than the San Juan River Basin or in other states.

8. HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY – RESERVED RIGHTS.

The Navajo Nation has reserved rights for historic and existing water uses on lands in the 

San Juan River Basin in New Mexico that are held by the United States in trust for the Navajo 

Nation, which rights have a priority date of June 1, 1868; except, that historic and existing uses that 

are included within the supplemental carriage water provisions described in paragraph 4 are not 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 26

reserved rights. The reserved rights for historic and existing irrigation uses and related purposes on 

the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project, the Hogback-Cudei Irrigation Project and the FruitlandCambridge Irrigation Project are included in the reserved right amounts specified by subparagraphs 

3(a), 3(e) and 3(f), respectively. Reserved rights for historic, existing and future municipal, 

industrial, commercial and domestic uses, including residential agricultural uses such as yard and 

stock watering, are included in the reserved right amounts specified by subparagraphs 3(b), 3(c), 

3(d) and 7(a). Pursuant to paragraph 20 of this Decree and paragraph 4.0 of the Settlement 

Agreement, the Navajo Nation and the United States, acting in its capacity as Trustee for the 

Navajo Nation, may petition the Court for entry of a supplemental Decree quantifying and 

adjudicating reserved rights of the Navajo Nation for historic and existing uses that are not included 

in paragraph 3 or subparagraph 7(a) upon completion by the United States of a Hydrographic 

Survey Report accepted by the State of New Mexico that describes such historic and existing uses. 

Entry of this Decree or any such supplemental Decree shall not be intended to prohibit changes in 

the point of diversion or purpose or place of use of the Navajo Nation's reserved rights under 

Federal law. Except as otherwise provided, the conditions under which the Navajo Nation may 

make such changes are specified in paragraph 17, and are subject to the Court's continuing 

jurisdiction to interpret and enforce this Decree as provided in paragraph 14.

9. WATER RIGHTS ACQUIRED UNDER STATE LAW.

The Navajo Nation may have water rights acquired under New Mexico state law pursuant to 

Decreed rights or to permits or licenses issued by the New Mexico State Engineer, and for historic 

and existing water uses on lands in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico that are held in fee 

ownership by the Navajo Nation. Such rights would exclude any rights to the use of water 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 27

historically made by non-Navajo entities on Navajo lands under permits issued by the New Mexico 

State Engineer that have not been acquired from said entities by the Navajo Nation. Water rights 

for historic municipal, industrial, commercial or domestic uses, except for de minimus uses under 

paragraph 10, that have been made on lands which are held in fee ownership by the Navajo Nation 

and that have not been made pursuant to Decreed rights, or to permits or licenses issued by the New 

Mexico State Engineer, are included in the total water right amounts specified by subparagraphs 

3(b), 3(c), 3(d) and 7(a). Pursuant to paragraph 20 of this Decree and paragraph 4.0 of the 

Settlement Agreement, the Navajo Nation may petition the Court for entry of a supplemental 

Decree quantifying and adjudicating the water rights of the Navajo Nation under state law. Entry of 

this Decree or any such supplemental Decree shall not be intended to prohibit changes in the point 

of diversion or purpose or place of use of the Navajo Nation's water rights under Federal and state 

law, nor shall they be intended to limit in any way the right and ability of the Navajo Nation to 

acquire and transfer additional water rights perfected under state law. Except as otherwise 

provided, the conditions under which the Navajo Nation may make such changes are specified in 

paragraph 17, and are subject to the Court's continuing jurisdiction to interpret and enforce this 

Decree as provided in paragraph 14.

10. DE MINIMUS USES.

The Navajo Nation shall have the right to allow individual members of the Navajo Nation to 

divert and use surface water from springs and ground water in the San Juan River Basin in New 

Mexico without regard to the limitations and quantities of water rights described in paragraphs 3 

through 9 solely for residential domestic and stock tank uses, excluding irrigation uses and 

stockponds, on Navajo lands, including lands held by the United States in trust for the Navajo 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 28

Nation and lands held in fee ownership by the Navajo Nation; provided, that such diversion and use 

of water does not involve the diversion and use of water under the water rights described in 

paragraphs 3 through 9, the diversion or conveyance of water by the project facilities authorized by 

the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act (123 Stat. 1367) and preceding Acts of 

Congress, or the diversion and delivery of water by public water supply systems. The right under 

this paragraph to de minimus uses is a reserved right of the Navajo Nation.

11. ALLOTTEES.

Individual members of the Navajo Nation that have been allotted lands by the United States, 

by public land orders or otherwise, within the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico may have 

claims to reserved rights to the use of water. This Decree does not quantify the nature, extent or 

priority of such rights; however, historic and existing water uses on such allotted lands shall be 

determined by the Hydrographic Survey Report to be completed by the United States and accepted

by the State of New Mexico pursuant to paragraph 4.0 of the Settlement Agreement. To the extent 

that water rights are adjudicated by the Court for such allotted lands that are in excess of the historic 

and existing water uses on those lands as described in the Hydrographic Survey Report, such water 

rights for allotted lands shall be fulfilled or serviced by rights of the Navajo Nation quantified in 

this Decree, or the depletions of flow of the San Juan River resulting from the use of water under 

such rights for allotted lands shall be fully offset by a forbearance of use of rights of the Navajo 

Nation quantified in this Decree. Nothing in this paragraph shall create a right of any Allottee to 

delivery of water by the Navajo Nation.

12. LIMITATIONS.
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 29

The Navajo Nation is hereby enjoined from the diversion or depletion of the surface or 

underground waters within the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico except in accordance with the 

rights described in this Decree, rights in any supplemental Decrees that may be entered by the Court 

pursuant to paragraph 20, or either Decreed rights or rights under New Mexico State Engineer 

permits or licenses that are acquired after the date of entry of this Decree or any supplemental 

Decrees. Beneficial use shall be the limit of the rights to use water adjudicated to the Navajo 

Nation by this Decree. The Navajo Nation shall not be entitled to receive, nor shall the United 

States or the State of New Mexico be required to deliver, nor shall non-Navajo water users be 

required to curtail water uses to provide to the Navajo Nation, any water not then necessary for 

beneficial use under the rights adjudicated herein or acquired hereafter. This Decree is binding 

upon political subdivisions, utilities, agencies and other entities of the Navajo Nation and the 

United States, and on successors and assigns.

13. DISCLAIMERS.

Except as explicitly provided herein, nothing in this Decree confers jurisdiction on the New 

Mexico State Engineer to administer or regulate the use of federally reserved rights on lands held by 

the United States in trust for the Navajo Nation or lands allotted by the United States to members of 

the Navajo Nation. Because the description of the Navajo Nation's water rights adjudicated in this 

Decree is based upon a negotiated settlement, the procedures and methods used to quantify and 

describe the Navajo Nation's water rights in this Decree shall not be binding under the law of the 

case doctrine upon any other water right claimant, the State of New Mexico or the United States in 

the adjudication of other water rights in this case and should not be relied upon as precedent under 

the stare decisis doctrine in any other water right adjudication suit. Nothing herein is intended to 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 30

adjudicate or encumber water rights under New Mexico State Engineer File Nos. 2847, 2848, 2849, 

2873, 2883, 2917 or 3215, or 2847, 2849, 2873, 2917 combined, except for the amounts and uses 

of water specifically adjudicated to the Navajo Nation in subparagraphs 3(a), 3(b) and 3(c) of this 

Decree, subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph 5, and for the amount of diversion to supply 

a water delivery contract between the Navajo Nation and the United States for Navajo-Gallup 

Water Supply Project uses in Arizona adjudicated in paragraph 6.

14. JURISDICTION AFTER ENTRY OF DECREE.

This Decree is a final order under Rule 1-054(C) NMRA 200__, and it may be modified 

only pursuant to Rule 1-060(B) NMRA 200__. This Court retains jurisdiction to interpret and 

enforce this Decree. Subject to the provisions of this Decree, the State Engineer has authority under 

state law to administer water rights within, and to supervise the apportionment, diversion and use of 

the waters of, the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico, including by appointment of watermasters, 

according to the orders and decrees of the Court in this adjudication suit and the licenses and 

permits issued by the State Engineer in the Basin.

15. METERING OF WATER USES.

As part of the metering and monitoring of water uses in the San Juan River Basin in New 

Mexico, the Navajo Nation shall be responsible for metering and monitoring its uses of water under 

this Decree as follows:

(a) The Navajo Nation within two years from the date of entry of this Decree shall 

cause to be installed and maintained flumes, gages, stage recorders, totalizing meters or 

other flow measuring devices on all surface water and ground water diversions, including 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 31

re-uses under subparagraph 5(j) but excluding uses under rights that may be quantified and 

adjudicated in supplemental Decrees pursuant to paragraphs 8 and 9, within the physical 

drainage of the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico; except, that diversions may be 

estimated using technically sound methodologies where actual measurement of uses is not 

practical for technical or economic reasons. The Navajo Nation also shall cause to be 

installed and maintained remote sensing equipment on surface water diversion gages for 

ditch diversions under its rights from the San Juan River, including Navajo Reservoir. The 

Navajo Nation shall be responsible for rating all gages and for collecting the data necessary 

to accurately account diversions in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico for 

administration by the State Engineer of this Decree.

(b) The Navajo Nation within two years from the date of entry of this Decree shall 

cause to be installed and maintained storage or water surface gages at all re-regulation 

storage reservoirs on the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project. In addition, the Navajo Nation 

shall cause to be installed and maintained recording or remote sensing equipment on 

reservoir storage gages at all re-regulation storage reservoirs on the Navajo Indian Irrigation 

Project, and shall maintain such records of inflows to and releases from reservoir storage, as 

may be necessary to determine reservoir losses and the storage of tributary inflows to the 

reservoirs under subparagraph 5(d)(4). The Navajo Nation shall be responsible for updating 

and maintaining current elevation-area-capacity data for the reservoirs.

(c) The New Mexico State Engineer shall be granted access to diversion data, and 

shall be allowed to inspect flow and storage measurement facilities and gages upon 

reasonable request to the Navajo Nation, as may be necessary for the State Engineer to 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 32

administer the diversion and use of water from the San Juan River stream system.

(d) The Navajo Nation beginning the year following the date of entry of this Decree

shall during June or July each year conduct a field inventory of irrigated acreage on the 

Navajo Indian Irrigation Project, the Hogback-Cudei Irrigation Project and the FruitlandCambridge Irrigation Project, and shall provide the results of the inventory to the New 

Mexico State Engineer within two weeks of completion of the inventory. The Navajo 

Nation shall allow the State Engineer to participate, in cooperation with the Navajo Nation, 

in conducting the acreage inventory. Aerial photographs, satellite imagery or other records 

or documentation may be used in conjunction with field surveys to determine or verify lands 

irrigated in a particular year.

(e) Depletions for the uses described in subparagraphs 3(b), 3(c) and 3(d) shall be 

computed as diversion less measured return flow. The Navajo Nation shall be responsible 

for measuring any return flows.

(f) The Navajo Nation shall meter farm deliveries for irrigation uses on the 

Hogback-Cudei and Fruitland-Cambridge irrigation projects using technically sound 

methods if the State Engineer or the Court requires the metering of farm deliveries on 

ditches diverting from the San Juan River below Navajo Dam and from the Animas River 

for the State Engineer to administer water rights in the San Juan River Basin in New 

Mexico.

16. RECORDS OF WATER USE.

The Navajo Nation shall within two years from the date of entry of this Decree, and annually 

thereafter, prepare and maintain detailed and accurate records of the acreages of all Navajo lands, 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 33

including lands held by the United States in trust for the Navajo Nation and lands owned by the 

Navajo Nation in fee, in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico irrigated each year from the San 

Juan River, its tributaries or underground water sources, and of the annual diversions and depletions 

of water, including re-uses, for its uses in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico from the San 

Juan River, its tributaries and underground water sources, all stated separately as to each source of 

water. The Navajo Nation shall prepare and submit to the Secretary of the Interior and the New 

Mexico State Engineer on or before October 1 of each year a report of its records and calculations 

of actual acreage irrigated and diversions and depletions, by a methodology acceptable to the State 

Engineer, of San Juan River Basin waters for the previous calendar year. The records and 

calculations shall be segregated by each use specified in paragraphs 3 through 10 of this Decree; 

provided, that the Navajo Nation is not required to provide records of irrigated acreage, diversions 

or depletions for uses described by paragraphs 8 and 9 until such time the Court enters a 

supplemental Decree quantifying and adjudicating rights for such uses. Diversions and depletions 

may be estimated using technically sound methodologies where actual measurement of uses is not 

practical for technical or economic reasons. The reports of the Navajo Nation prepared pursuant to 

this paragraph also shall include documentation as to which rights adjudicated herein are being 

used, if any, to service or offset water uses by Allottees pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 11 

of this Decree and subparagraph 12.3.2 of the Settlement Agreement.

17. ADMINISTRATION.

The Navajo Nation shall have authority to administer the Navajo Nation’s diversion and use 

of water under the rights adjudicated by this Decree as follows: 

(a) The Navajo Nation shall within two years from the date of entry of this Decree
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 34

cause to be installed and maintained headgates on all surface water diversions from the San 

Juan River stream system in New Mexico; except, that no headgate will be required for a 

diversion from a tributary to the San Juan River so long as the Navajo Nation and the State 

Engineer agree that there will not be sufficient benefit to justify the cost of a headgate. The 

State Engineer shall be allowed to inspect diversion headgates upon reasonable request to 

the Navajo Nation.

(b) The Navajo Nation shall have jurisdiction, authority and responsibility to 

measure, distribute, administer and regulate the use of water under the water rights that are 

adjudicated to the Navajo Nation by this Decree beginning at the points of diversion, 

subject to the provisions of this Decree and the Settlement Agreement. The New Mexico 

State Engineer shall have authority, in cooperation with the Navajo Nation, to monitor the 

Navajo Nation’s uses of water from the San Juan River stream system for compliance with 

this Decree. The Court retains jurisdiction to review and resolve disputes, if any, between 

the Navajo Nation, the State Engineer or other parties to this case regarding whether the 

Navajo Nation is properly regulating use of water in compliance with the rights adjudicated 

by this Decree or by any supplemental Decrees that may be entered by the Court pursuant to 

paragraph 20, or with any rights acquired after the date of entry of this Decree or any 

supplemental Decrees, or in compliance with applicable conditions of a water rights transfer 

made in accordance with this Decree.

(c) The Navajo Nation shall have authority to change the purpose and place of use 

of its reserved rights described by paragraphs 3, 7(a) and 8 and its ground water rights 

described by subparagraph 7(b)(1) on lands held by the United States in trust for the Navajo 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 35

Nation in New Mexico, subject to the conditions and limitations of subsection 10603(h) of 

the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act (123 Stat. 1367) and 

subparagraphs 5(d)(5), 5(e), 7(c) and 7(g) of this Decree; provided, that:

(1) notice is given of any proposed change in purpose or place of use 

consistent with paragraph 18;

(2) such changes do not involve transfers of places of use to locations 

outside the State of New Mexico, or to lands that are not held by the United States in 

trust for the Navajo Nation or its members as of the date of entry of this Decree, 

unless such lands are subsequently declared by the Secretary of the Interior to be 

held in trust by the United States for the Navajo Nation pursuant to section 3 of the 

Act of June 13, 1962 (76 Stat. 96), as amended by the Act of September 25, 1970 

(84 Stat. 867);

(3) the source of water supply is not changed;

(4) the point of diversion is not changed if the diversion is from the San 

Juan River or the Animas River;

(5) the diversion and depletion quantities specified in paragraphs 3, 7(a) and 

8 for the subject reserved right are not exceeded as a result of such changes; and

(6) such changes would not impair other water rights.

The Navajo Nation shall provide an administrative process for receiving from Navajo and 

non-Navajo water users protests of changes in purpose or place of use proposed to be made 

pursuant to this subparagraph, and for reviewing and considering protests and impairment 

issues that may arise from such changes. The administrative process shall include the 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 36

Navajo Nation consulting with the New Mexico State Engineer on proposed changes and 

potential impairment. The Navajo Nation shall not exercise its authority under this 

subparagraph to implement a proposed change in purpose or place of use until it has 

consulted with the State Engineer and completed the administrative process for the 

proposed change. The Court retains jurisdiction to review and resolve disputes, if any, 

between the Navajo Nation, the New Mexico State Engineer or other parties to this case 

regarding whether changes allowed by the Navajo Nation in the purpose and place of use of 

its reserved rights comply with the above stated criteria. Other transfers of reserved rights 

or ground water rights adjudicated by this Decree, including transfers that involve a change 

in the point of diversion on the San Juan River, the Animas River or to a location off lands 

that are held by the United States in trust for the Navajo Nation, or that involve a change in 

the place of use to a location off lands that are held by the United States in trust for the 

Navajo Nation or its members, may be made pursuant to application with the New Mexico 

State Engineer and in accordance with state law.

(d) The following standards of review shall be recognized by the Court in its review 

of any Navajo Nation decisions or actions made pursuant to subparagraphs 5(e), 7(b)(1) or 

17(c), such that the Court may reverse a Navajo Nation decision only if:

(1) the Navajo Nation acted fraudulently, arbitrarily or capriciously;

(2) the decision of the Navajo Nation is not supported by substantial 

evidence based on the whole record on appeal;

(3) the action of the Navajo Nation was outside the scope of its authority 

under the Decree; or
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 37

(4) the action of the Navajo Nation was otherwise not in accordance with 

this Decree or applicable law.

(e) The Navajo Nation may acquire, and may subsequently change the point of 

diversion and purpose and place of use of, water rights that are not included in this Decree

in accordance with state law; provided, that such rights retain the priority date and other 

elements of the Decreed, licensed or permitted right so acquired. The New Mexico State 

Engineer shall retain jurisdiction to administer and regulate the use and transfer of water 

rights that are acquired under state law, including the rights adjudicated under subparagraph 

7(b)(2) and rights that may be adjudicated by supplemental Decree pursuant to paragraph 9 

of this Decree.

(f) The Navajo Nation shall have authority to administer and regulate the leasing 

and contracting of the Navajo Nation’s water rights adjudicated by this Decree; provided, 

that:

(1) any change in the purpose and place of use or a change in the point of 

diversion of any of the Navajo Nation’s water rights shall comply with the 

provisions of paragraph 17;

(2) the provisions of section 10701(c) of the Northwestern New Mexico 

Rural Water Projects Act (123 Stat. 1367) shall apply to any subcontract between 

the Navajo Nation and a third party of the Navajo Nation’s rights to the delivery of 

water under the Settlement Contract between the United States and the Navajo 

Nation referred to in subparagraph 5(a), including the requirement that the Secretary 

of the Interior must approve such subcontracts;
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 38

(3) the provisions of section 10701(d) of the Northwestern New Mexico 

Rural Water Projects Act (123 Stat. 1367) shall apply to leases, contracts or other 

agreements that the Navajo Nation may enter to provide water for use by other 

parties under the Navajo Nation’s water rights that are not subject to the Settlement 

Contract; and

(4) the development and use of ground water by the Navajo Nation shall 

comply with the provisions of paragraph 7.

The non-use of the Navajo Nation’s reserved rights by a leasee or contractor to the Navajo 

Nation shall in no event result in a forfeiture, abandonment, relinquishment or other loss of 

all or any part of the reserved rights described in paragraphs 3, 7(a), 8 and 10 of this Decree.

(g) The Navajo Nation's water rights adjudicated herein shall not be leased, 

contracted, exchanged, forborne or otherwise transferred for use directly or indirectly 

outside the boundaries of the State of New Mexico without the consent of the State of New 

Mexico, acting through the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, and unless in 

compliance with applicable law. The Navajo Nation, consistent with the Settlement 

Agreement and section 10603(d) of the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects 

Act (123 Stat. 1367), may forbear use of a portion of its rights described in subparagraphs 

3(a) or 3(b) as necessary to allow Navajo Nation municipal and domestic uses to be made in 

Arizona under the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project during years that the Secretary of 

the Interior pursuant to section 10402 of the Act allocates a shortage in the Navajo 

Reservoir water supply to the Navajo Nation’s uses in Arizona under the Project. Except as 

provided in this paragraph, nothing in this Decree shall be construed to establish, address, 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 39

prejudice, or prevent any party from litigating, whether or to what extent any law or 

compact does or does not permit, govern, or apply to the lease, contract, exchange, 

forbearance or transfer of the Navajo Nation’s water rights for use directly or indirectly in 

an area outside the State of New Mexico.

(h) The Navajo Nation shall have the jurisdiction, authority and responsibility to 

adjust its headgates and other diversion works to ensure that its diversions of water comply 

with the Navajo Nation’s rights to divert as adjudicated by this Decree or any supplemental 

Decrees that may be entered by the Court pursuant to paragraph 20, or as subsequently 

acquired. During times when the Secretary of the Interior has determined and allocated 

shortages pursuant to subsection 11(a) of the Act of June 13, 1962 (76 Stat. 96), and section 

10402 of the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act (123 Stat. 1367), or times 

when a priority call on the San Juan River or its tributaries is in effect or would have been in 

effect but for the provisions of subparagraph 9.2 of the Settlement Agreement, the New 

Mexico State Engineer shall have authority, in cooperation with the Navajo Nation, to 

monitor the Navajo Nation’s diversion and use of water from the San Juan River stream 

system to ensure that the waters are being beneficially used in compliance with this Decree, 

and shall have authority to request the Navajo Nation to make any appropriate adjustments 

to its diversions as necessary to comply with the provisions of this Decree and the proper 

administration of diversions in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico. The Navajo 

Nation shall maintain its diversion, conveyance and storage facilities in good repair so as to 

prevent waste.

(i) The Navajo Nation shall drill, maintain and abandon ground water diversion 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 40

wells in a manner consistent with public health and safety and applicable laws and 

regulations. The Navajo Nation shall require that well completion logs be prepared for all 

newly drilled wells. Copies of well completion reports and well drilling logs shall be 

provided to the New Mexico State Engineer on a quarterly basis.

(j) The Navajo Nation shall construct and maintain, and breach if necessary, storage 

dams and reservoirs in a manner consistent with public health and safety and applicable 

laws and regulations. The Navajo Nation shall require that as built drawings be prepared 

for all newly constructed or rehabilitated dams; except, that dams that are 10 feet or less in 

height as measured from the downstream toe to the dam crest and dams that impound 10 

acre-feet or less of water as measured by the volume of water stored at the spillway crest are 

exempt from such requirement for purposes of this Decree. Copies of as built drawings for 

dams, and copies of dam inspection reports on both newly constructed dams and existing 

dams, shall be provided to the New Mexico State Engineer on an annual basis.

18. NOTICE.

In addition to any notice provisions under applicable law, at least 30 days prior to any 

change in the place or purpose of use or point of diversion in the exercise of the water rights 

identified herein, the Navajo Nation, acting through the Department of Water Resources, shall 

complete notice of such change by publication in a newspaper of general circulation within the San 

Juan River Basin in New Mexico once per week for three consecutive weeks and by letter to the 

New Mexico State Engineer; except, that de minimus uses described in paragraph 10 are exempt 

from this notice requirement, and emergency replacement wells and emergency transfers for 

domestic and sanitary purposes may be made with less than 30 days notice. Both such forms of 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 41

notice shall specify the proposed purpose and place of use, point of diversion, diversion rate, annual 

diversion and depletion amounts, and source of water. Uses of water to make the depletions and 

diversions described in subparagraphs 3(d), 3(e) and 3(f) that are supplied under the Settlement 

Contract pursuant to the alternate water source provisions of subparagraph 9.2 of the Settlement 

Agreement, and that are accounted under the rights described in subparagraph 3(a) for the Navajo 

Indian Irrigation Project, also shall be exempt from this notice requirement. Any use of water for 

non-irrigation purposes under the rights associated with the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project is 

subject to the notice provisions of this paragraph notwithstanding the authorized uses of Project 

water specified at section 10402(a) of the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act (123

Stat. 1367); except, that no such notice shall be required to implement the alternate water source 

provisions of subparagraph 9.2 of the Settlement Agreement to make the depletions and diversions 

described in subparagraphs 3(d), 3(e) and 3(f) regardless of whether part or all of the irrigation 

rights for the Hogback-Cudei and Fruitland-Cambridge irrigation projects have been transferred to 

non-irrigation uses.

19. SAN JUAN-CHAMA PROJECT.

Nothing in this Decree shall be construed to prohibit the Navajo Nation from acquiring the 

use of water diverted to the Rio Grande Basin via the San Juan-Chama Project authorized by the 

Act of June 13, 1962 (76 Stat. 96); provided, that the acquisition of such water:

(a) is made by subcontract with existing contractors of said Project or by 

reallocation of Project water and subsequent contract with the Secretary of the Interior, 

subject to approval of the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission; and

(b) does not result in an increase in the amount of water required to be diverted by 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 42

the Project from the San Juan River Basin.

Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to abrogate the Secretary of the Interior’s obligations 

under existing water delivery and repayment contracts for the San Juan-Chama Project or under 

existing reservations or allocations of Project water.

20. SUPPLEMENTAL DECREES.

The Navajo Nation and the United States, acting in its capacity as Trustee for the Navajo 

Nation, may petition this Court for supplemental Decrees to adjudicate rights pursuant to:

(a) hydrographic surveys of historic and existing uses as provided by paragraphs 8 

and 9 of this Decree and paragraph 4.0 of the Settlement Agreement;

(b) appropriations it may acquire after entry of this Decree; or

(c) rights that may derive from additional allocations of water made to the Navajo 

Nation pursuant to paragraph 8.0 of the Settlement Agreement.

The Navajo Nation also may petition this Court to re-adjudicate the priority date for the reserved 

rights described in paragraphs 3, 7(a), 8 and 10 if the Court adjudicates a priority date earlier than 

June 1, 1868, to another party in this case.

21. INCORPORATION OF SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.

The terms and conditions of the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico Navajo Nation Water 

Rights Settlement Agreement, signed by the State of New Mexico, the Navajo Nation, and the 

Secretary of the Interior on ___________, excluding the Appendices 1and 2 thereto, are 

incorporated as though fully set forth herein. By this Decree, the Court takes no action and makes 

no determination to approve or disapprove the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act 

(123 Stat. 1367), the Settlement Contract, or the schedule of anticipated depletions from the Upper 
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 43

Basin prepared by the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission and referred to in subparagraph 

6.1 of the Settlement Agreement. Any amendments to the Settlement Agreement made pursuant to 

subparagraph 14.7 of that agreement and subsequent to entry of this Decree shall be binding as 

between the parties to the Settlement Agreement, but shall not be binding on other parties unless 

approved by the Court.

22. REVOCABILITY.

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 14, this Decree may be revoked by the Court if 

the Settlement Agreement is terminated or upon a showing by the Navajo Nation that the conditions

set forth at section10701(e)(1) of the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act (123 

Stat.1367) have not been substantially satisfied. If this Decree is revoked, the parties shall not be 

bound by it or the Settlement Agreement, including any agreements of the Navajo Nation or the 

United States relating to the settlement of claims provided pursuant to this Decree, the Settlement 

Agreement or the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act, and the Navajo Nation may 

petition the Court to proceed with the determination of its rights in this case. Nothing in this 

paragraph prohibits the Navajo Nation from seeking other remedies for performance or relief to 

accomplish the purposes of the Settlement Agreement and the Act. The Navajo Nation’s right to 

present to the Court cause to revoke this Partial Final Decree and any supplemental decree under 

this paragraph shall expire on December 31, 2025, unless the deadlines set forth in paragraph 5.2 of 

the Settlement Agreement are extended, in which case, this right shall expire one year following the

date of the last deadline, including extensions pursuant to paragraph 5.2.2 of the Settlement 

Agreement.
August 9, 2010, Revised Draft Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 44

DATED: ________________

______________________________________

_
August 9, 2010, Draft Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 1

APPENDIX 2

PROPOSED SUPPLEMENTAL PARTIAL FINAL JUDGMENT AND DECREE 

OF THE WATER RIGHTS OF THE NAVAJO NATION

August 9, 2010
August 9, 2010, Draft Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 2

STATE OF NEW MEXICO

COUNTY OF SAN JUAN

ELEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

STATE OF NEW MEXICO ex rel. )

State Engineer, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. ) No. CIV 75-184

)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, et al., ) SAN JUAN RIVER

) ADJUDICATION SUIT

Defendants. )

)

____________________________________)

SUPPLEMENTAL PARTIAL FINAL JUDGMENT AND DECREE

OF THE WATER RIGHTS OF THE

NAVAJO NATION

THIS CASE is a general adjudication filed pursuant to NMSA Sections 72-4-13 through -19 

of the surface and underground water rights within the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico as 

authorized by 43 U.S.C. Section 666. The Court entered the Partial Final Judgment and Decree of 

the Water Rights of the Navajo Nation (“Decree”), dated _________, which describes the rights of 

the Navajo Nation to divert, impound or use the surface waters within the San Juan River Basin, 

including the San Juan River and its tributaries, and the underground waters underlying the surface 

drainage of the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico, and which provides for a supplemental 

decree to further describe rights for uses determined by hydrographic survey as per paragraphs 8 

and 9 of the Decree entered by the Court. The rights of the Navajo Nation to divert, impound, or 

use the surface waters within the San Juan River Basin, including the San Juan River and its 
August 9, 2010, Draft Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 3

tributaries, and the underground waters underlying the surface drainage of the San Juan River Basin 

in New Mexico, for uses determined by hydrographic survey are quantified and decreed herein.

This matter comes before the Court on a Joint Motion for the Entry of a Supplemental 

Partial Final Judgment and Decree filed by the State of New Mexico, the Navajo Nation and the 

United States. The Court finds that the proposed Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree 

of the Water Rights of the Navajo Nation (“Supplemental Decree”) is the product of a negotiated 

settlement by the aforesaid parties. Notice of the deadline for filing and serving objections to the 

water rights described in this decree was served on the parties to this case and potential water right 

claimants pursuant to the expedited inter se procedures adopted by the Court. The Court, having 

considered the parties’ motion, the Hydrographic Survey Report of the water rights to be 

adjudicated in this decree, the objections thereto, the evidence in support thereof, and for good 

cause shown:

FINDS that the motion should be granted; and

FINDS FURTHER that there is no just reason for delay in accordance with Rule 1-054(C) 

NMRA 1996 and directs the entry of this decree adjudicating water rights of the Navajo Nation 

within the San Juan River Basin.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that:

1. JURISDICTION.

The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter and the parties in this case.

2. SUPPLEMENT TO PARTIAL FINAL JUDGMENT AND DECREE.

This Supplemental Decree is entered pursuant to paragraph 20 of the Decree and is hereby 

incorporated therein. 
August 9, 2010, Draft Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 4

3. HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY – RESERVED RIGHTS.

The Navajo Nation has reserved rights, which are held in trust by the United States for the 

Navajo Nation, for the historic and existing water uses on lands in the San Juan River Basin in New 

Mexico that are held in trust by the United States for the Navajo Nation are described in this decree 

and in the Hydrographic Survey Report. These rights have a priority date of June 1, 1868. The 

reserved rights for historic and existing irrigation uses and related purposes on the Navajo Indian 

Irrigation Project, the Hogback-Cudei Irrigation Project and the Fruitland-Cambridge Irrigation 

Project are included in the reserved right amounts specified by subparagraphs 3(a), 3(e) and 3(f), 

respectively, of the Decree. Reserved rights for historic, existing and future municipal, industrial, 

commercial and domestic uses, including residential agricultural uses such as yard and stock 

watering, are included in the reserved right amounts specified by subparagraphs 3(b), 3(c), 3(d) and 

7(a) of the Decree. The total annual quantities of water to which the Navajo Nation has a reserved 

right for historic and existing uses and which are not included in paragraph 3 or subparagraph 7(a) 

of the Decree shall not exceed an annual diversion of _________ acre-feet, or the quantity of water 

necessary to supply an annual depletion at the places of use of __________ acre-feet (including 

depletions caused by the particular uses of water and depletions that are incident to the uses of 

water), whichever is less, and a net evaporation from stockponds and reservoirs of ___________ 

acre-feet. These water rights are described below and constitute the rights described in paragraph 8 

of the Decree. The following descriptions are not intended to prohibit changes in the point of 

diversion or purpose or place of use of the Navajo Nation's reserved rights under Federal law. The 

conditions under which the Navajo Nation may make such changes are specified in paragraph 11 of 

this Supplemental Decree, and are subject to the Court's continuing jurisdiction to interpret and 
August 9, 2010, Draft Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 5

enforce this Supplemental Decree as provided in paragraph 14 of the Decree and paragraph 8 of this 

Supplemental Decree.

A. LIVESTOCK WATER USE

1. STOCK PONDS

SURFACE AREA VOLUME NET EVAPORATION

PLACE OF USE (acres) (acre-feet) (acre-feet)

All stock ponds Totals: _______ _______ _______

described in the

Hydrographic

Survey Report.

The location, source, surface area, volume and annual net evaporation of each stock pond are 

identified and described in the Hydrographic Survey Report attached to the joint motion as Exhibit 

_. The Navajo Nation has the right to fill and refill each identified stock pond to its full capacity as 

often as water is available.

2. STOCK USE

 AMOUNT OF WATER

 NO. OF DIVERSION DEPLETION

PLACE OF USE ANIMAL UNITS (acre-feet) (acre-feet)

At stock wells and springs _______ _______ _______

described below and in stock

ponds described in the 

Hydrographic Survey Report.

The foregoing diversion and depletion amounts are the annual amounts of water consumed by stock 

from the stock wells and springs listed below and stock ponds identified and described in the 

Hydrographic Survey Report attached to the joint motion as Exhibit _.
August 9, 2010, Draft Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 6

(a) STOCK WELLS

POINT OF DIVERSION

T R SEC 1/4 MAP ID-NO. SOURCE

___N ___W ____ ___ ___ ___ _____ ______ ________

___N ___W ____ ___ ___ ___ _____ ______ ________

(b) STOCK SPRINGS

POINT OF DIVERSION

T R SEC 1/4 MAP ID-NO. SOURCE

___N ___W ____ ___ ___ ___ _____ ______ ________

___N ___W ____ ___ ___ ___ _____ ______ ________

B. RECREATION WATER USE

1. RECREATION LAKES

 SURFACE NET

LOCATION AREA VOLUME EVAPORATION

T R SEC 1/4 MAP ID-NO. (acres) (acre-feet) (acre-feet)

__N __W ___ ___ ___ ____ _____ ______ ________ ________

__N __W ___ ___ ___ ____ _____ ______ ________ ________

_____________________________________________________

TOTALS

The Navajo Nation has the right to fill and refill the lakes described above to their full capacity as 

often as water is available.

2. RECREATION USE

 AMOUNT OF WATER

POINT OF DIVERSION DIVERSION DEPLETION

T R SEC SOURCE MAP (acre-feet) (acre-feet)

__N __W ___ & ___ _______ ___ ________ ________

__N __W ___ & ___ _______ ___ ________ ________

_____________________________________________________

TOTALS
August 9, 2010, Draft Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 7

The foregoing annual depletion amounts include the depletion at the places of use caused by the 

recreation use of water and any depletion incident to the use.

C. IRRIGATION WATER USE

1. IRRIGATION DIVERSION

 AMOUNT OF WATER

POINT OF DIVERSION DIVERSION DEPLETION

T R SEC 1/4 SOURCE MAP ACRES (acre-feet) (cfs) (acre-feet)

__N __W ___ __ __ __ _________ ___ ______ _______ ____ ________

__N __W ___ __ __ __ _________ ___ ______ _______ ____ ________

____________________________________________________

TOTALS

The foregoing annual depletion amounts include the depletion at the places of use caused by the 

irrigation use of water and any depletion incident to the use. No more than _________ acres may 

be irrigated in any one calendar year within the ________ acres with irrigation water rights from 

tributaries to the San Juan River or from underground water sources within said tributary drainage 

areas. The amounts of water for the irrigation of _________ acres from said tributary areas and 

underground water sources shall not exceed an annual diversion of ___________ acre-feet per year, 

or the quantity of water necessary to supply an annual depletion at the places of use of _________ 

acre-feet per year, whichever is less. The Navajo Nation’s diversions for the irrigation water uses 

described above shall be subject to the annual diversion quantities specified only if the New Mexico

State Engineer or the Court enforces annual diversion quantity limits on non-Navajo Nation 

irrigation diversions in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico in accordance with such quantities 

as may be adjudicated by the Court. The farm delivery requirements for the irrigation water uses 
August 9, 2010, Draft Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 8

described above are as provided in the Hydrographic Survey Report attached to the joint motion as 

Exhibit _.

2. IRRIGATION RESERVOIR STORAGE

 SURFACE NET

LOCATION AREA VOLUME EVAPORATION

T R SEC 1/4 MAP ID-NO. (acres) (acre-feet) (acre-feet)

__N __W ___ ___ ___ ____ _____ ______ ________ ________

__N __W ___ ___ ___ ____ _____ ______ ________ ________

_____________________________________________________

TOTALS

The Navajo Nation has the right to fill and refill the reservoirs described above to their full capacity 

as often as water is available.

* * *

4. WATER RIGHTS ACQUIRED UNDER STATE LAW.

The Navajo Nation has water rights acquired under New Mexico state law pursuant to 

decreed rights or to permits or licenses issued by the New Mexico State Engineer, and for historic 

and existing water uses on lands in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico that are held in fee 

ownership by the Nation. These rights are described in this decree and in the Hydrographic Survey 

Report, and exclude rights to the use of water historically made by non-Navajo entities on Navajo 

lands under permits issued by the New Mexico State Engineer that have not been acquired from 

said entities by the Navajo Nation. Water rights for historic municipal, industrial, commercial or 

domestic uses, except for de minimus uses under paragraph 10 of the Decree, that have been made 

on lands which are held in fee ownership by the Navajo Nation and that have not been made 

pursuant to decreed rights, or to permits or licenses issued by the New Mexico State Engineer, are 
August 9, 2010, Draft Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 9

included in the total water right amounts specified by subparagraphs 3(b), 3(c), 3(d) and 7(a) of the 

Decree. The total annual quantities of water to which the Navajo Nation has a water right under 

state law as of the date of entry of this decree amounts to an annual diversion of _________ acrefeet, or the quantity of water necessary to supply an annual depletion at the places of use of 

_________ acre-feet (including depletions caused by the particular uses of water and depletions 

that are incident to the uses of water), whichever is less, and a net evaporation from stockponds of 

________ acre-feet. These water rights and the priority dates are described below and constitute 

the rights described in paragraph 9 of the Decree. The following descriptions are not intended to 

prohibit changes in the point of diversion or purpose or place of use of the Navajo Nation's water 

rights under Federal and state law, nor are they intended to limit in any way the right and ability of 

the Navajo Nation to acquire and transfer additional water rights perfected under state law. The 

conditions under which the Navajo Nation may make such changes are specified in paragraph 11 of 

this Supplemental Decree and are subject to the Court's continuing jurisdiction to interpret and 

enforce this Supplemental Decree as provided in paragraph 14 of the Decree and paragraph 8 of this 

Supplemental Decree.

A. LIVESTOCK WATER USE

1. STOCK PONDS

 SURFACE NET

 AREA VOLUME EVAPORATION

PLACE OF USE (acres) (acre-feet) (acre-feet) PRIORITY

All stock ponds Totals: ______ _______ _______ _______

described in the

Hydrographic

Survey Report.
August 9, 2010, Draft Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 10

The location, source, surface area, volume and annual net evaporation of each stock pond are 

identified and described in the Hydrographic Survey Report attached to the joint motion as Exhibit 

_. The Navajo Nation has the right to fill and refill each identified stock pond to its full capacity as 

often as water is available.

2. STOCK USE

 AMOUNT OF WATER

 NO. OF DIVERSION DEPLETION

PLACE OF USE ANIMAL UNITS (acre-feet) (acre-feet) PRIORITY

At stock wells and springs _______ _______ ______ ________

described below and in stock

ponds described in the Hydrographic Survey Report.

The foregoing diversion and depletion amounts are the annual amounts of water consumed by stock 

from the stock wells and springs listed below and stock ponds identified and described in the 

Hydrographic Survey Report attached to the joint motion as Exhibit _.

(a) STOCK WELLS

POINT OF DIVERSION

T R SEC 1/4 MAP ID-NO. SOURCE PRIORITY

___N ___W ____ ___ ___ ___ ___ _____ ______ 

________

___N ___W ____ ___ ___ ___ ___ _____ ______ ________

(b) STOCK SPRINGS

POINT OF DIVERSION

T R SEC 1/4 MAP ID-NO. SOURCE PRIORITY 

___N ___W ____ ___ ___ ___ ___ _____ ______ 

________

___N ___W ____ ___ ___ ___ ___ _____ ______ ________
August 9, 2010, Draft Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 11

B. IRRIGATION WATER USE

 AMOUNT OF WATER

POINT OF DIVERSION DIVERSION DEPLETION

T R SEC 1/4 ___ SOURCE MAP ACRES (acre-feet) (cfs) (acre-feet) PRIORITY

__N __W __ __ __ __ _________ ___ ______ ______ ____ ________ _________

__N __W __ __ __ __ _________ ___ ______ ______ ____ ________ _________

____________________________________________ 

TOTALS

The foregoing annual depletion amounts include the depletion at the places of use caused by the 

irrigation use of water and any depletion incident to the use. The Navajo Nation’s diversions for 

the irrigation water uses described above shall be subject to the annual diversion quantities 

specified only if the New Mexico State Engineer or the Court enforces annual diversion quantity 

limits on non-Navajo Nation irrigation diversions in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico in 

accordance with such quantities as may be adjudicated by the Court. The farm delivery 

requirements for the irrigation water uses described above are as provided in the Hydrographic 

Survey Report attached to the joint motion as Exhibit _.

C. MUNICIPAL, INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL AND DOMESTIC USE

 AMOUNT OF WATER

POINT OF DIVERSION FILE DIVERSION DEPLETION

T R SEC 1/4 SOURCE NO. (acre-feet) (cfs) (acre-feet) PRIORITY

__N __W ___ __ __ __ _______ ______ ________ ___ ________ _________

__N __W ___ __ __ __ _______ ______ ________ ___ ________ 

_________

____________________________________________ 

TOTALS

The foregoing annual depletion amounts include the depletion at the places of use caused by the 

use of water and any depletion incident to the use.
August 9, 2010, Draft Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 12

 * * *

5. ALLOTTEES.

Individual members of the Navajo Nation that have been allotted lands, by the United States 

by public land orders or otherwise, within the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico may have 

claims to reserved rights to the use of water. This decree does not quantify the nature, extent or 

priority of such rights; however, historic and existing water uses on such allotted lands are 

described in the Hydrographic Survey Report. To the extent that water rights are adjudicated by the 

Court for such allotted lands that are in excess of the historic and existing water uses on those lands 

as described in the Hydrographic Survey Report, such water rights for allotted lands shall be 

fulfilled or serviced by rights of the Navajo Nation quantified in the Decree or in this Supplemental 

Decree, or the depletions of flow of the San Juan River resulting from the use of water under such 

rights for allotted lands shall be fully offset by a forbearance of use of rights of the Navajo Nation 

quantified in the Decree or in this Supplemental Decree. Nothing in this paragraph shall create a 

right of any Allottee to delivery of water by the Navajo Nation.

6. LIMITATIONS.

The Navajo Nation is hereby enjoined from the diversion or depletion of the surface or 

underground waters within the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico except in accordance with the 

rights described in the Decree and this Supplemental Decree, rights in any supplemental decrees 

adjudicating water rights acquired by the Navajo Nation after entry of this Supplemental Decree, or 

decreed rights or rights under New Mexico State Engineer permits or licenses that are acquired after 

the date of entry of this Supplemental Decree. Beneficial use shall be the limit of the rights to use 

water adjudicated to the Navajo Nation by this Supplemental Decree. The Navajo Nation shall not 
August 9, 2010, Draft Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 13

be entitled to receive, nor shall the United States or the State of New Mexico be required to deliver, 

nor shall non-Navajo water users be required to curtail water uses to provide to the Navajo Nation, 

any water not then necessary for beneficial use under the rights adjudicated herein or acquired 

hereafter. This Supplemental Decree is binding upon political subdivisions, utilities, agencies and 

other entities of the Navajo Nation and the United States, and on successors and assigns.

7. DISCLAIMERS.

Except as explicitly provided herein, nothing in this Supplemental Decree confers 

jurisdiction on the New Mexico State Engineer to administer or regulate the use of federally 

reserved rights on lands held by the United States in trust for the Navajo Nation or lands allotted by 

the United States to members of the Navajo Nation. Because the description of the Navajo Nation's 

water rights adjudicated in this Supplemental Decree is based upon a negotiated settlement, the 

procedures and methods used to quantify and describe the Navajo Nation's water rights in this 

Supplemental Decree shall not be binding under the law of the case doctrine upon any other water 

right claimant, the State of New Mexico, or the United States in the adjudication of other water 

rights in this case and should not be relied upon as precedent under the stare decisis doctrine in any 

other water right adjudication suit.

8. JURISDICTION AFTER ENTRY OF DECREE.

This Supplemental Decree is a final order under Rule 1-054(C) NMRA 200__, and it may 

be modified only pursuant to Rule 1-060(B) NMRA 200__. This Court retains jurisdiction to 

interpret and enforce this Supplemental Decree. Subject to the provisions of the Decree and this 

Supplemental Decree, the State Engineer has authority under state law to administer water rights 

within, and to supervise the apportionment, diversion and use of the waters of, the San Juan River 
August 9, 2010, Draft Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 14

Basin in New Mexico, including by appointment of watermasters, according to the orders and 

decrees of the Court in the Stream Adjudication and the licenses and permits issued by the State 

Engineer in the Basin..

9. METERING OF WATER USES.

As part of the metering and monitoring of water uses in the San Juan River Basin in New 

Mexico, the Navajo Nation shall be responsible for metering and monitoring its uses of water under 

this Supplemental Decree as follows:

(a) The Navajo Nation within two years from the date of entry of this Supplemental 

Decree shall cause to be installed and maintained flumes, gages, stage recorders, totalizing 

meters or other flow measuring devices on all surface water and ground water diversions 

within the physical drainage of the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico made pursuant to 

the rights adjudicated by this Supplemental Decree; except, that diversions for livestock 

water uses pursuant to subparagraphs 3.A and 4.A of this Supplemental Decree and for 

other water uses may be estimated using technically sound methodologies where actual 

measurement of uses is not practical for technical or economic reasons. The Navajo Nation 

shall be responsible for rating all gages and for collecting the data necessary to accurately 

account diversions in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico for administration by the 

State Engineer of this Supplemental Decree.

(b) The Navajo Nation within two years from the date of entry of this Supplemental 

Decree shall cause to be installed and maintained storage or water surface gages at all 

reservoirs of ______acre-feet or more storage capacity that the Nation has a right to store 

water in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico pursuant to this Supplemental Decree; 
August 9, 2010, Draft Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 15

except, that amounts of water in storage may be estimated using technically sound 

methodologies where actual measurement of storage is not practical for technical or 

economic reasons. The Navajo Nation shall read at or near the end of each month the 

reservoir storage gages at all reservoirs of 100 acre-feet or more storage capacity that the 

Nation has a right to store water in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico, and shall 

periodically, but not less than quarterly, read the reservoir storage gages at reservoirs of less 

than 100 acre-feet storage capacity. The Nation shall be responsible for updating and 

maintaining current elevation-area-capacity data for reservoirs with a storage capacity of 

______acre-feet or more.

(c) The New Mexico State Engineer shall be granted access to diversion and storage 

data, and shall be allowed to inspect flow and storage measurement facilities and gages 

upon reasonable request to the Navajo Nation, as may be necessary for the State Engineer to 

administer the diversion and use of water from the San Juan River stream system.

(d) The Navajo Nation beginning the year following the date of entry of this 

Supplemental Decree shall during June or July each year conduct a field inventory of 

irrigated acreage on Navajo lands in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico for the 

irrigation uses made pursuant to this Supplemental Decree, and shall provide the results of 

the inventory to the New Mexico State Engineer within two weeks of completion of the 

inventory. The Navajo Nation shall allow the State Engineer to participate, in cooperation 

with the Navajo Nation, in conducting the acreage inventory. The Navajo Nation may use 

technically sound methodologies to estimate acreage and crops irrigated outside the Navajo 

Indian Irrigation Project, the Hogback-Cudei Irrigation Project and the Fruitland-Cambridge 
August 9, 2010, Draft Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 16

Irrigation Project that are not practical to field check every year for economic reasons. 

Aerial photographs, satellite imagery or other records or documentation may be used in 

conjunction with field surveys to determine or verify lands irrigated in a particular year.

(e) Depletions for the municipal, industrial, commercial and domestic uses that are 

described in paragraph 4.C shall be computed as diversion less measured return flow. The 

Navajo Nation shall be responsible for measuring any return flows.

(f) The Navajo Nation shall meter farm deliveries for irrigation uses under the rights 

decreed herein using technically sound methods if the State Engineer or the Court 

determines such metering to be necessary for the State Engineer to administer water rights 

in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico.

10. RECORDS OF WATER USE.

The Navajo Nation shall within two years from the date of entry of this Supplemental 

Decree, and annually thereafter, prepare and maintain detailed and accurate records of the acreages 

of all Navajo lands, including lands held by the United States in trust for the Navajo Nation and 

lands owned by the Navajo Nation in fee, in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico irrigated 

each year from the San Juan River, its tributaries or underground water sources, and of the annual 

diversions and depletions of water, including re-uses, for its uses in the San Juan River Basin in 

New Mexico from the San Juan River, its tributaries and underground water sources, pursuant to 

this decree, all stated separately as to each source of water. The Navajo Nation shall prepare and 

submit to the Secretary of the Interior and the New Mexico State Engineer on or before October 1 

of each year a report of its records and calculations of actual acreage irrigated and diversions and 

depletions, by a methodology acceptable to the State Engineer, of San Juan River Basin waters for 
August 9, 2010, Draft Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 17

the previous calendar year. The records and calculations shall be segregated by each use specified 

in paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Supplemental Decree. Diversions and depletions for livestock water 

uses pursuant to subparagraphs 3.A and 4.A, and for other water uses to be reported under this 

paragraph, may be estimated using technically sound methodologies where actual measurement of 

uses is not practical for technical or economic reasons.

11. ADMINISTRATION.

The authority of the Navajo Nation to administer the Nation’s diversion and use of water 

under the rights adjudicated by this Supplemental Decree shall be as specified by paragraph 17 of 

the Decree. In addition to any otherwise applicable requirements, any change of place or purpose 

of use or point of diversion of the uses described in paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Supplemental Decree 

shall be subject to the following requirements:

(a) Any change of place of use or point of diversion of the stock uses described 

in paragraph 3(A) of this Supplemental Decree shall comply with the provisions of 

paragraph 17(c) of the Decree; except that any proposed change of point of diversion that is 

to be located within 100 feet of the original point of diversion as described in the 

Hydrographic Survey Report attached to the joint motion as Exhibit _ and that does not 

relocate the diversion to a point below the confluence of the original water course with 

another water course shall not be subject to: 

(1) the notice provisions of subparagraph 17(c)(1) of the Decree; 

(2) paragraph 18 of the Decree; 

(3) paragraph 12 of this Supplemental Decree, or 

(4) the requirement that the Navajo Nation in its administrative process described in 
August 9, 2010, Draft Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 18

paragraph 17(c) of the Decree consult with the New Mexico State Engineer on 

proposed changes and potential impairment. 

The Navajo Nation each year shall make a report to the State Engineer identifying changes 

of points of diversion for stock uses. In addition, the purpose of use of stock uses described 

subparagraph 3(A) of this Supplemental Decree shall not be changed; and any change in 

point of diversion or place of use shall not result in any increase in depletion over and above 

the quantity of historic average annual depletion at the move-from location, and shall be 

supplied from the same tributary water course or ground water source. 

(b) Any change of place or purpose of use or point of diversion of the recreation 

uses described in paragraph 3(B) of this Supplemental Decree shall comply with the 

provisions of paragraph 17(c) of the Decree. In addition, any such change in recreation use 

shall not result in any increase in depletion over and above the quantity of historic average 

annual depletion at the move-from location, and shall be supplied from the same tributary 

water course or ground water source. 

(c) Any change of place or purpose of use or point of diversion of the irrigation 

uses described in paragraph 3(C) of this Supplemental Decree shall comply with the 

provisions of paragraph 17(c) of the Decree. In addition, any such change in irrigation use 

shall not result in any increase in depletion over and above the quantity of historic average 

annual depletion at the move-from location, and shall be supplied from the same tributary 

water course or ground water source. 

(d) Any change of place or purpose of use or point of diversion of the uses 

described in paragraph 4 of this Supplemental Decree shall comply with the provisions of 
August 9, 2010, Draft Supplemental Partial Final Judgment and Decree – page 19

paragraph 17(e) of the Decree.

12. NOTICE.

In addition to any notice provisions under applicable law, at least 30 days prior to any 

change in the place or purpose of use or point of diversion in the exercise of the water rights 

identified herein, the Navajo Nation, acting through its Department of Water Resources, shall 

complete notice of such change by publication in a newspaper of general circulation within the San 

Juan River Basin in New Mexico once per week for three consecutive weeks and by letter to the 

New Mexico State Engineer; except, that emergency replacement wells and emergency transfers for 

domestic and sanitary purposes may be made with less than 30 days notice. Both such forms of 

notice shall specify the proposed purpose and place of use, point of diversion, diversion rate, annual 

diversion and depletion amounts, and source of water.

DATED: ________________

______________________________________

_
APPENDIX 3

WAIVERS AND RELEASES

August 9, 2010
WAIVERS AND RELEASES

1.0 Claims by the Navajo Nation and the United States

In return for recognition of the Navajo Nation’s water rights and other benefits as set 

forth in the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico Navajo Nation Water Rights Settlement 

Agreement and its three referenced appendices (collectively referred to in this appendix as the 

“Settlement Agreement”) and the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act, Subtitle 

B of Title X of the Act of March 30, 2009 P.L. 111-11, (123 Stat. 1367) (“Settlement Act”), the 

Navajo Nation, on behalf of itself and members of the Navajo Nation (other than members in the 

capacity of the members as allottees), and the United States, acting in its capacity as trustee for 

the Navajo Nation, hereby waive and release:

1.1 all claims for water rights in, or for waters of, the San Juan River Basin in the 

State of New Mexico that the Navajo Nation, or the United States as trustee for 

the Navajo Nation, asserted, or could have asserted, in any proceeding, including 

but not limited to the stream adjudication, up to and including the effective date 

described in paragraph 6.0, except to the extent that such rights are recognized in 

the Settlement Agreement or the Settlement Act;

1.2 all claims for damages, losses, or injuries to water rights or claims of interference 

with, diversion, or taking of water (including but not limited to claims for injury 

to lands resulting from such damages, losses, injuries, interference with, 

diversion, or taking) in the San Juan River Basin in the State of New Mexico that 

accrued at any time up to and including the effective date described in paragraph 

6.0;

1.3 all claims of any damage, loss, or injury or for injunctive or other relief because 

of the condition of or changes in water quality related to, or arising out of, the 

exercise of water rights; and

1.4 all claims against the State of New Mexico, its agencies, or employees relating to 

the negotiation or the adoption of the Settlement Agreement.

2.0 Claims by the Navajo Nation against the United States. 

The Navajo Nation, on behalf of itself and its members (other than in the capacity of the 

members as allottees), hereby waive and release:

2.1 all claims against the United States, its agencies, or employees relating to claims 

for water rights in or waters of the San Juan River Basin in the State of New 

Mexico that the United States, acting in its capacity as trustee for the Navajo 

Nation, asserted, or could have asserted, in any proceeding, including but not 

limited to the stream adjudication;

2.2 all claims against the United States, its agencies, or employees relating to 

damages, losses, or injuries to water, water rights, land, or natural resources due 
to loss of water or water rights (including but not limited to damages, losses, or 

injuries to hunting, fishing, gathering, or cultural rights due to loss of water or 

water rights; claims relating to inference with, diversion, or taking of water or 

water rights; or claims relating to failure to protect, acquire, replace, or develop 

water or water rights) in the San Juan River Basin in the State of New Mexico that 

first accrued at any time up to and including the effective date described in 

paragraph 6.0;

2.3 all claims against the United States, its agencies, or employees relating to the 

pending litigation of claims relating to the Navajo Nation’s water rights in the 

stream adjudication;

2.4 all claims against the United States, its agencies, or employees relating to the 

negotiation, execution, or the adoption of these Waivers and Releases, the 

Settlement Agreement, the Contract defined in paragraph 2.5 of the Settlement 

Agreement, or the Settlement Act; and

2.5 all claims against the United States, its agencies, or employees relating to the 

negotiation, execution, or the adoption of the Settlement Agreement, the Contract

defined in paragraph 2.5 of the Settlement Agreement, or the Settlement Act. 

3.0 Reservation Claims. 

Notwithstanding the waivers and releases described in subparagraphs 1 and 2, the Navajo 

Nation on behalf of itself and its members of the Navajo Nation (including members in the 

capacity of the members as allottees) and the United States acting in its capacity as trustee for the 

Navajo Nation and allottees, retain:

3.1 all claims for water rights or injuries to water rights arising out of activities 

occurring outside the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico, subject to 

subparagraphs 8.0, 9.3, 9.12, 9.13 and 14.9 of the Settlement Agreement; 

3.2 all claims for enforcement of these Waivers and Releases, the Settlement 

Agreement, the Contract defined in paragraph 2.5 of the Settlement Agreement, or 

the Settlement Act, through any legal and equitable remedies available in any 

court of competent jurisdiction;

3.3 all rights to use and protect water rights acquired pursuant to state law after the

date of enactment of the Settlement Act;

3.4 all claims relating to activities affecting the quality of water not related to the 

exercise of water rights, including but not limited to any claims the Navajo Nation

might have under:

(1) the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability 

Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.);

(2) the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.); and

(3) the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.);
3.5 all claims relating to damages, losses, or injuries to land or natural resources not 

due to loss of water or water rights; and

3.6 all rights remedies, privileges, immunities, and powers not specifically waived 

and released under the terms of the Settlement Agreement or the Settlement Act.

4.0 No Effect on Claims of Allottees. 

Nothing in the Settlement Agreement affect the rights or claims of Allottees, or the 

United States as trustee for or on behalf of Allottees, for water rights or damages related to lands 

allotted by the United States to Allottees by public land orders or otherwise.

5.0 Tolling of Claims.

5.1 Each applicable period of limitation and time-based equitable defense relating to a 

claim described in these Waivers and Releases shall be tolled for the period 

beginning on March 30, 2009 and ending on the earlier of March 1, 2025 or the 

effective date described in subparagraph 6.0.

5.2 Nothing in this subparagraph revives any claim or tolls any period of limitation or 

time-based equitable defense that expired before March 30, 2009.

5.3 Nothing in this paragraph precludes the tolling of any period of limitations or any 

time-based equitable defense under any other applicable law.

6.0 Effective Date.

6.1 The waivers and releases described in subparagraphs 1.0 and 2.0 shall be effective 

on the date on which the Secretary publishes in the Federal Register a statement 

of findings documenting that each of the deadlines described in section 

10701(e)(1) of the Settlement Act have been met.

6.2 If the deadlines described in subparagraph section 10701(e)(1)(A) of the 

Settlement Act have not been met by the later of March 1, 2025, or the date of any 

extension under section 10701(e)(1)(B) of the Settlement Act, the waivers and 

releases described in subparagraphs 1.0 and 2.0 shall be of no effect and section 

10701(e)(2)(B) of the Settlement Act shall apply.

7.0 Effect on the United States Acting in Sovereign Capacity or Other Capacity

Nothing in the Settlement Agreement:

7.1 affects the ability of the United States acting in its sovereign capacity to take 

actions to protect water quality or otherwise to protect health, safety, or the 

environment in the San Juan River Basin including but not limited to taking 

actions authorized by law such as action authorized under the Comprehensive 

Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601 et 

seq.); the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C 300f et seq.); and the Federal Water 

Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.); the Endangered Species Act (16 

U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 

et seq.), and the regulations implementing such Acts;