Fort Mojave Indian Tribe Fights for Water Rights Amidst Colorado River Disputes
The Fort Mojave Indian Tribe is actively fighting for its water rights along the Colorado River, which flows for 17 miles through its reservation spanning Arizona, California, and Nevada. Chairman Timothy Williams highlights the tribe's reliance on the river for economic and cultural sustenance, including a significant alfalfa and upland cotton operation that funds essential services like healthcare, housing, and education. Despite having substantial water rights—133,000 acre-feet annually—the tribe faces challenges as water levels drop, making it difficult to pump water for their crops. Last winter, the tribe's pump was inoperable for four months due to low water, a first-time occurrence. The tribe is often excluded from negotiations between states and the federal government regarding the river's future, despite 22 out of 30 tribes having established water rights, with others still having unresolved claims. The Secretary for the Fort Mojave Indian Tribal Council, Colleen Neolge Garcia, emphasizes the trib...