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/.

1st Quarter, October 2019

Latest Construction Contract Awarded on NGWSP

By Hubert “Chico” Quintana - Bureau of Reclamation

On September 12, 2019, the Bureau of Reclamation awarded the latest section of 

the NGWSP, Block 4C-8, to Oscar Renda Contracting, Inc., of Roanoke, Texas, for 

$83.7 million. This section of the project will include construction of nearly 30 miles 

of 48-inch and 42-inch diameter pipeline spanning from the Navajo communities of 

Little Water to Naschitti, New Mexico.

region. I will continue working to uphold the federal commitments in 

Navajo Nation Water Rights Settlement Agreement and ensure that ou

in Indian Country have the resources they need to thrive.”

Work under this contract will begin in January 2020 and is expected t

approximately 2 years. Construction will be visible from U.S. Highwa

“This award continues our important 

work to develop and modernize water 

infrastructure, honor the Department’s 

federal Indian trust responsibility and 

strengthen partnerships with tribal and 

local communities,” said Department of 

the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt. 

Reclamation Commissioner Brenda 

Burman added, “Completing the 

Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project 

is a key priority for Reclamation as 

we work to improve water supplies for 

tribal and rural communities.” 

“The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply 

Project will be trans-formative for 

communities in the Navajo Nation, the 

Jicarilla Apache Nation, and Gallup. 

Over the last decade, I’ve been proud to 

fight for the major federal investments 

necessary to finally deliver longterm clean drinking water supplies 

to thousands of families throughout 

northwestern New Mexico,” said 

Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM).

“The construction of this major project

is also creating jobs and promoting 

economic development throughout the 

the historic 

r communities 

o last for

y 491.

The green line shows the nearly 30 miles of 

pipeline that will be constructed.

Faces of NGWSP

My name is Brent Esplin, and 

I’m the Bureau of Reclamation’s 

Regional Director for Interior 

Region 7 – the Upper Colorado 

Basin. In Reclamation, we 

take our mission seriously—to 

manage, develop and protect 

water and related resources in an 

environmentally and economically 

sound manner in the interest of 

the American Public. I’m excited 

for the progress being made on 

the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply 

Project and the reliable water 

infrastructure it is bringing to the 

Navajo Nation and northwest New 

Mexico.

I’m just over two months into 

my assignment as Reclamation’s 

Regional Director. In those 

two months, along with the 

time I previously spent as 

Deputy Regional Director, 

I’ve been impressed with the 

dedication, professionalism and 

determination of our employees 

and partners. Perhaps nowhere is 

the Reclamation can-do attitude 

more prominent than in this region. 

Much of that is due to the positive 

Continued on back

Those interested in seeking employment opportunities on the project with 

ORC and its subcontractors can apply through the New Mexico Workforce 

Connection offices in Farmington (505) 327-6126 (600 W Arrington St, 

Farmington, NM 87401) or Gallup (505) 863-8181 (2918 E Hwy 66, Gallup, 

NM 87301). Alternatively, applicants can apply through the Navajo Nation 

Department of Workforce Development Workforce Centers (928) 871-7707 (Tribal 

Hill Drive Building # FA-2754, Window Rock, AZ 86515).
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/.

1st Quarter, October 2019

From front

working relationships we enjoy with 

our partners—tribal governments 

and organizations, states, cities, 

water users and others, and I’m 

committed to maintaining and 

strengthening those relationships. 

As the cornerstone of the Navajo 

Nation San Juan River in New 

Mexico Water Rights Settlement 

Agreement, the NGWSP is a top 

Reclamation and Department of 

the Interior priority as part of the 

federal government’s American 

Indian trust responsibilities—

including to the Navajo Nation and 

Jicarilla Apache Nation that this 

water supply project will serve. 

I look forward to continued 

progress and our ongoing 

partnerships on the project. I’m 

proud of the work being done to 

bring clean, reliable water to tribal 

communities and northwestern 

New Mexico. And, I’m excited 

for the system to begin delivering 

water; something we anticipate on 

the Cutter Lateral as early as next 

summer. 

By Pat Page, Bureau of Reclamation

NGWSP Delegation at World Water Week (L-R): David Palumbo, Bureau of Reclamation; Chris Banet, Bureau of Indian Affairs; Kristine 

Smith, Bureau of Reclamation; Jason John, Navajo Nation; Tracy 

Goodluck, Dept of the Interior; Pat Page, Bureau of Reclamation

Representatives from the Department of the Interior and the 

Navajo Nation recently traveled to Sweden to participate 

in the Stockholm International Water Institutes’s World 

Water Week. The annual event, which attracted over 

4,000 participants from 138 countries was held August 

25-30, 2019. The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project was 

the subject of one of the 277 sessions at the conference. 

The NGWSP delegation presented an overview of Indian 

Water Rights Settlements in general, and the Navajo-San 

Juan NM Settlement in particular, with a focus on the 

NGWSP. The theme for this year’s conference was “Water 

for Society: Including All” and many sessions focused on 

water issues that indigenous people throughout the world 

are facing. It was surprising to many attendees to learn that 

Native Americans in the United States are confronted with 

similar water access and shortage issues. It was notable 

however that several of those that attended the NGWSP 

presentation expressed admiration and praise for the great 

progress that has been made on the project that, as soon as 

2020, will bring clean, wet water to portions of the Navajo 

and Jicarilla Apache Reservations. The trip was sponsored 

by Reclamation’s Native American and International 

Affairs Program. 

Navajo-Gallup on the World Stage

491 Chapters Group 

will meet Tuesday, 

Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. at 

Rock Springs Chapter 

House

Cutter Lateral OM&R 

Transfer Contract 

Negotiation Meeting 

will meet Thursday, 

Nov. 14 at 10 a.m. at 

NTUA Headquarters 

in Fort Defiance, AZ

BBN9 Cutter Lateral 

Group will meet 

Wednesday Sept. 18 

at 10 a.m. at White 

Horse Lake Chapter 

House

NGWSP Project 

Construction 

Committee will meet 

Thursday Jan. 30 at 

9 a.m. at the El Morro 

Events Center in 

Gallup

Nov.

12

Nov.

14

Dec.

18

Jan.

30