Current Status of the Aamodt Settlement

Mark Nicastre, Communications Director for Rep. Ben Ray Lujan sent the following e-mail, explaining the status of the Aamodt settlement.

Currently the water settlement legislation is pending passage before congress.  The Federal government has spent millions in litigation and litigation-related expenses for the last 4 and half decades. This settlement was revised in 2006 and was agreed to by all the settlement negotiating parties.

This settlement will protect both the Pueblo and non-Pueblo communities by ensuring long-term access to water supplies and protecting traditional use for agriculture. One of the most important points about the settlement is that individual well owners can continue using their domestic wells if they choose. If a settlement is not approved and a severe drought were to hit northern New Mexico, the Pueblos would be within their rights to make a priority call against junior water rights holders.

Approval of this settlement by both houses of Congress will  protect all water users in the Valley from losing their use water through the enforcement of a priority call or a diminished ability to use water if the Aamodt case goes to trial.  Additionally the settlement is likely save American taxpayer significant financial resources compared to the liability of the United States were these claims brought to trial.