Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve, Flagstaff, AZ
When
Speaker(s)
The City of Flagstaff and the Navajo Nation, both located in northern Arizona, have participated in decades of investigations and water rights negotiations. Most recently, Flagstaff signed the Northeast Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement that includes the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe and the San Juan Southern Piute. Flagstaff engaged the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the Navajo Nation to investigate a Regional Water Supply Project utilizing groundwater from the City’s Red Gap Ranch, which is adjacent to the southwestern boundary of the Navajo Nation Reservation. In 2025, Reclamation facilitated a group of City and Navajo Nation specialists with decades of water resource planning experience to conduct a Value Planning Study. The Study identified the Regional Project as the highest-ranking alternative to provide critical water supplies to the region. It also provided scoping details and partnering opportunities for a future appraisal-level study. Flagstaff and the Navajo Nation have requested Reclamation to conduct an appraisal-level study to compare supply alternatives based on costs, resiliency and reliability. In this WRRC Water Webinar, the team will share updates on their water planning efforts, water supply challenges, and how the appraisal would allow Flagstaff, Navajo Nation, and other stakeholders to evaluate water supply options and other alternatives.
John Leeper joined WSP USA Environment & Infrastructure Inc. (WSP) as a Senior Project Manager in 2012 after a distinguished career with the Navajo Nation Water Management Branch. At WSP he is supporting the water claims of the Santa Clara Pueblo in the Abbott Rio Santa Cruz General Stream Adjudication, the Isleta Pueblo in the Middle Rio Grande General Stream Adjudication, and the Confederated Colville Tribes in the Columbia River Basin Adjudication. He is also providing water rights and water development technical assistance to the Navajo Department of Justice, Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, and Navajo Department of Water Resources.
Valerie Swick is a professional hydrologist and certified floodplain manager. She has worked with the Phoenix Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation as a Water Resources Planner for 8 years. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.S. in Watershed Management. After graduation, she worked for the Flood Control District of Maricopa County as a hydrologist and planner for 31 years prior to working for Reclamation.
Lee Williams is the Water Services Director for the City of Flagstaff. With over 13 years of experience in water services, he previously served as the Water Operations Section Director and has held various roles, including Operations Supervisor and Plant Operator in the public sector. He has a bachelor's degree in chemistry and mathematics and is a certified operator in water treatment, distribution, and wastewater management. Lee is an alumnus of Northern Arizona University.
Erin Young is the Water Resources Section Director for the City of Flagstaff. She has 13 years in water management with the City of Flagstaff and 12 years working in groundwater consulting. Her expertise is in water use and efficiency, water resources management and associated regulatory frameworks. Young is in her 9th year as a board member, as a now past-president, of WateReuse Arizona, is the president of the Arizona Hydrological Society's Flagstaff Chapter, and is on the board of the AHS Foundation. She has a bachelor's degree in geology from Arizona State University, a master's degree in geology from Northern Arizona University, and is a registered geologist in Arizona.