Navajo–Gallup Water Supply 

Project Newsletter

If you would like to learn more about the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, you can visit our 

website at https://www.usbr.gov/uc/rm/navajo/nav-gallup/.

4th Quarter, July 2019

The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project will provide a clean, reliable drinking 

water supply for current and future generations of the Navajo Nation, the Jicarilla 

Apache Nation, and the City of Gallup. The dependable water supply will allow 

communities to thrive and grow and will be delivered to homes and businesses by 

local utility companies and municipalities that include the Navajo Tribal Utility 

Authority, Jicarilla Apache Utility Authority, and the City of Gallup. 

These local communities are starting to plan for how they are going to use their 

water. Potential uses include commercial development such as convenience stores, 

laundromats, and hotels, as well as new housing projects and new public and 

community buildings like schools, wellness centers, and medical facilities. The 

drinking water will be delivered to existing homes and used for domestic uses such 

as drinking, cooking, bathing, laundry, and other household needs, and for outdoor 

uses such as landscaping and small gardens. 

What will the water be used for?

By Pat Page - Bureau of Reclamation

Project water will either replace or supplement existing groundwater supplies for 

public and private use. As the construction on the Project continues, planning and 

development activities in the Project service area will increase as the communities 

get ready to receive water from the Project – water is scheduled to arrive as early as 

next year on the Cutter Lateral!

Faces of NGWSP

Ya’a’teeh, I’m Brenda Jesus, 

originally from St. Michaels, 

Arizona. I’m of the Tsi’naajiinii 

born into To’dachiinii and 

Maternal Honaghaanii and 

Paternal To’aahanii.

The portion of the NavajoGallup Water Supply Project 

that will deliver water to the 

Rock Springs Chapter - Reach 

12.2 - Codetalkers Lateral – will 

address future water needs of 

Rock Springs Chapter who has 

framed a development consisting 

of governmental facilities and 

economic development on an 

80-acre tract, along with 70 units

housing development.

The dwindling groundwater brings 

concern especially for Dine people 

that still have viable lifestyle in 

harvesting crops and caring for 

livestock. 

Understanding the daily actual 

practice of our constituents in 

areas of geography, lifestyle, and 

agricultural practice of people sets 

a good map of water resources 

planning for attainable projects.

491 Chapters 

Group will meet 

Tuesday, Aug. 

13 at 10 a.m. at 

Hozho Sheep 

Camp

BBN9 Cutter 

Lateral Group 

will meet 

Wednesday 

Sept. 18 at 

10 a.m. in the 

Nahodishgish 

Chapter House

NGWSP Project 

Construction 

Committee will 

meet Thursday 

Sept. 26 at 9 a.m. 

at the El Morro 

Events Center in 

Gallup

Aug.

13

Sept.

18

Sept.

26
Navajo–Gallup Water Supply 

Project Newsletter

If you would like to learn more about the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, you can visit our 

website at https://www.usbr.gov/uc/rm/navajo/nav-gallup/.

4th Quarter, July 2019

Construction Progress Update

Spotlight – Connecting Communities to Navajo-Gallup

By Natanya Y. Garnenez, Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources, Water Management Branch

The Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources – Water Management Branch is assisting chapters with a Regional 

Water Funding Plan. This Regional Water Funding Plan will include planning, design, improvement, and construction of 

water lines and related facilities to connect to the San Juan Lateral of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.

The construction phase includes the 

The first phase includes:

1. Acquisition of the necessary easements and Right of way

2. Archaeological and environmental clearances

3. Surveys

4. Permitting

5. Design

construction of proposed facilities, including 

water supply lines, water line extensions, or 

improvements to the existing water distribution 

systems and related facilities. Recently, the 

WMB executed a construction contract with 

the BIA. Under this contract, the WMB is 

finalizing the necessary paperwork to begin 

engineering services on the first Conjunctive 

Groundwater Project for the Chichiltah Chapter. The WMB intends to continue funding more of the connections of these 

communities to the San Juan Lateral of the NGWSP. Additionally, WMB and their consultants are assisting chapters to 

prepare for the upcoming Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan with the State of New Mexico for fiscal year 2021-2025. 

These connections will ensure that water from the NGWSP can get to the communities that desperately need that additional 

source of clean drinking water. The WMB is trying to collaborate with other programs that have other ongoing projects that 

are increasing water demands in these chapters. Working together we can make sure that the connections are constructed in 

a timely manner, and will be there when they are needed.

For more information, contact Natanya Garnenez at (928) 729-4113 or ngarnenez@navajo-nsn.gov.