Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

This bill, the Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025, resolves long-standing water rights claims for the Yavapai-Apache Nation in Arizona by approving a settlement agreement and authorizing a new water infrastructure project. The legislation confirms the Nation's water rights to approximately 6,837 acre-feet per year from the C.C. Cragin Dam and Reservoir and establishes a pipeline to deliver this water to the reservation, along with a drinking water treatment facility. The bill also creates two separate trust funds to manage settlement payments and infrastructure costs, totaling over $900 million in federal funding. Additionally, the legislation requires the transfer of several parcels of land into federal trust for the Nation and includes provisions for the Nation to lease or exchange water rights within Arizona while prohibiting permanent sale of water.