Jason Hauter, Senior Counsel, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.
This years WRRC Annual Conference addressing Indigenous Perspectives on Sustainable Water Practices was very timely and hopefully helped Arizonas larger water community and others better understand Arizona tribes and their members wide range of concerns and desires. Given the current drought conditions in Arizona and elsewhere in the west, collaboration among tribes, the State of Arizona, local governments, NGOs, and industry is necessary to ensure that the water demands in Arizona are met.
The water needs of tribes in particular can only be met through pragmatic solutions to problems that help achieve clearly identified goals. The Gila River Indian Community, which hosted this years conference, is an example of a tribal community that has adopted sustainable water management policies to tackle its water cost and supply issues. The Communitys creative program involving water storage and onreservation recharge not only helps restore the Gila River on its reservation, but does so in a cost-effective manner that ensures a healthy groundwater system. Governor Stephen Lewis and the rest of the elected leadership should be commended for their leadership in finding pragmatic solutions to manage the Communitys water supply in a sustainable manner.