Quenching the Thirst of a Nation: Returning Water to the Navajo People

Abstract

Fresh water is perhaps the most precious natural resource on Earth. This is especially true for arid regions, such as the American Southwest, where freshwater sources are scarce. Despite being fully aware of the limited availability of water, policymakers adopted a “build first, ask questions later” attitude during the rapid development of the Southwest, choosing to turn a blind eye to the real threat of a future water crisis. To make matters worse, when the Colorado River resources were divided, parties with potentially enormous water claims were left out of negotiations. Specifically, Navajo Nation and many other regional American Indian tribes were overlooked during this process. Ignoring the claims of the American Indian communities may have been to the immediate benefit of Colorado River developers and expanding Southwestern metropolises, but their need for instant gratification could ultimately undermine the interests that users were initially trying to protect. The Navajo Nation is in the process of settling water rights claims to the Colorado and Little Colorado Rivers that could completely uproot the existing system of Colorado River allocation. On one hand, if the claim is successful, the Southwest could face a serious water crisis if parties fail to respond responsibly. On the other hand, this settlement represents an opportunity for Southwestern cities to address past shortcomings by proactively implementing sustainable water policies and infrastructure. Despite the real threat of a water shortage, the Navajo Nation should not be punished for the irresponsible water usage of the twentieth century. The Navajo claims to the Colorado and Little Colorado Rivers are long overdue, and the region will have to make adjustments to its own water habits to ensure that the Navajo people finally have access to water that is rightfully theirs.