Opinion ID: 3179092
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act

Text: -8- As part of the general stream adjudication, the Pueblos, the United States, the State, Santa Fe County, and the City of Santa Fe entered into a settlement agreement that Congress approved through the Settlement Act. Id. §§ 601-26, 124 Stat. at 3134-56. The Settlement Act aims to settle the Pueblos’ water rights in the Basin, id. §§ 621-23, 124 Stat. at 3149-51, and apportions federal funds to pay for a regional water distribution system, id. § 611, 124 Stat. at 3137. In addition, the Settlement Act states the district court must enter “a final decree that sets forth the water rights for all parties to the Aamodt Case” no later than September 15, 2017. Id. § 623, 124 Stat. at 3151. If the district court fails to enter a final decree by that date, any unexpended federal funds will be returned to the federal government. Id.