[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 96 (Thursday, June 19, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S3864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FLAKE (for himself and Mr. McCain):
  S. 2503. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to enter into 
the Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Water Rights Settlement Agreement and 
the Hualapai Tribe Bill Williams River Water Rights Settlement 
Agreement, to provide for the lease of certain land located within 
Planet Ranch on the Bill Williams River in the State of Arizona to 
benefit the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, 
and to provide for the settlement of specific water rights claims in 
the Bill Williams River watershed in the State of Arizona; to the 
Committee on Indian Affairs.
  Mr. FLAKE. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator McCain and myself I am 
pleased to introduced S. 2503, the Bill Williams River Water Rights 
Settlement Act of 2014.
  This measure would confirm important water rights claims of the 
Hualapai Tribe to water in the Bill Williams River watershed; provide 
protections for the Tribe's culturally significant springs in that 
area; secure a non-federal contribution toward a future settlement of 
the Tribe's claims in other river basins; provide certainty for 
continued water use by the Freeport Minerals Corporation, Freeport, at 
the Bagdad Mine complex and townsite; and facilitate the transfer of a 
portion of land known as Planet Ranch for use in the Lower Colorado 
River Multi-Species Conservation Program or MSCP. It would do all of 
this without any new spending authorizations.
  Water users in Arizona have a long history of pro-actively addressing 
complex water challenges. Among the State's many accomplishments is the 
resolution, in whole or in part, of water rights claims asserted by 13 
of the State's 22 federally recognized Indian tribes. This measure 
would carry forward that strong tradition by recognizing reserved water 
rights to a total of 694 acre-feet per year, afy, on three different 
parcels along the Big Sandy River as well as the Tribe's claims to the 
Cofer Hot Springs.
  For non-Indian communities, this legislation would confirm Freeport's 
right to withdraw 10,055 afy at the Wikieup Wellfield, which serves the 
Bagdad Mine and townsite. Achieving this level of certainty with regard 
to water supply would help to ensure continued economic benefits 
throughout the State.
  By enabling the transfer of a portion of Planet Ranch to the Lower 
Colorado River MSCP, the settlement would help Arizona, California, and 
Nevada meet their obligations to both water management and Endangered 
Species Act compliance. However, in order to properly effectuate the 
transfer, Congress must act before five-year window for abandonment and 
forfeiture of Planet Ranch's water rights expires.
  Finally, this bill would help to set the table for future 
negotiations regarding the Tribe's claims to water in the lower 
Colorado River and the Verde River by securing a non-federal 
contribution toward those settlement efforts. As those negotiations 
continue, I look forward to fully and fairly evaluating any subsequent 
settlement on its own merits.
  I am pleased to have the opportunity to work with the parties that 
have negotiated this settlement, and I am committed to bringing it to 
fruition through congressional enactment. The settlement resolves 
significant legal claims, provides certainty for water users, and 
enhances the MSCP without including any new spending. Therefore, I urge 
my colleagues to support this legislation.

                          ____________________