Navajo-Gallup Water Project now a reality
Azua represents Gallup at signing

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Bernie Dotson
Staff writer

GALLUP — Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joined New Mexico’s congressional delegation Thursday to advance a vital water supply that will provide clean, safe and reliable water to a quarter of a million people on the Navajo Nation, the city of Gallup and the Jicarilla Apache Nation. The action clears the way for resolving the Navajo Nation’s long-standing water rights claims in the state.

Joining U.S. Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall, and Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, Gallup Mayor Pro Tem John Azua and Navajo Nation Attorney Stanley Pollack, Salazar signed the Record of Decision for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Planning Report and Final Environmental Impact Statement. By providing certainty for future water supplies, the project is a key to the Navajo Nation and San Juan River Basin Water Rights Settlement.

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