Water crisis threatens Hopi way of life & future economic development<br>

The Hopi Tribe is facing a crisis that has been building for some time and is now staring us squarely in the face. Our way of life, our culture and future plans for any economic development are threatened because of the scarcity of water.

Like many other Arizonans, the people of the Hopi Tribe are desperate for a reprieve from the drought—now in its seventh year—that is draining all of our resources and alternatives dry. Our alluvial wells are running dry and our cattle are finding the trip to the watering tank longer each day as one or another tank dries up or is overdrawn. Our village drinking wells must be deepened with each passing year. The situation is complicated by the current heavy industrial usage of the N-aquifer (our only source of pristine drinking water) by Peabody Coal Company.

In the past, some have suggested, whether in jest or as a possible alternative, that we relocate to other areas in search of water. But this begs the question: Why should we even consider leaving the area that we have inhabited since 1 A.D?

Look around. The effects are felt by everyone everywhere. Salt River Project reduced delivery of water to Phoenix by 1/3 in January 2003 and is looking at continuing this trend in 2004 because of another below average winter (“SRP likely to cut water allocations 2nd year in row,” Arizona Republic July 23). The Grand Canyon has been significantly reduced in its water storage and even the town of Williams is drilling a well, nearly 4,000 feet deep to tap into underground pools of water in the Redwall, or, “R” aquifer (“Williams may dry up without 4,000-ft. well,” Arizona Republic, Aug. 2).

The Hopi Tribe has long worked with the Peabody Mine and the Mohave Power Plant owners in finding an alternative to bring about a C-aquifer (a sub-surface water body beneath most of northeastern Arizona) solution as a means of ending Peabody’s continuing reliance on the N-aquifer.

Throughout the years since the Hopi Tribe became involved in the Little Colorado River adjudication, the negotiating and litigating position of the tribe has been guided by the following principles:

• The Hopi Tribe has insisted that Peabody’s use of our N-Aquifer drinking water for industrial purposes must stop because of its effect on our domestic water supply, streams, washes and wetlands that are of religious and cultural significance.

• In order to stop a repeat of the current Peabody/Mohave situation, both the Hopi Tribe and the Navajo Nation must enter into a joint management plan for the N-aquifer restricting future usage by both tribes in an attempt to protect the N-aquifer for future generations of Hopi and Navajo.

• The N-aquifer is a limited source of water with an annual recharge limited to 3,000 to 6,000 acre-feet. The undeniable growth in the populations of both the Hopi and Navajo tribes will someday outstrip the aquifer’s recharge ability. As a result, the Hopi Tribe must import water from other sources in order to maintain the integrity of the N-aquifer and provide adequate supplies of water for domestic uses and economic growth.

• Finally, but most importantly, it is the policy of the Hopi Tribe that the Hopi reservation be developed as a permanent homeland for the Hopi people. This concept requires the development of a viable economy, a concept that is highly dependent on a sufficient quantity of quality water and the infrastructure and distribution system necessary to deliver that water throughout the Hopi villages for domestic and industrial uses.

The bottom line is that we continue to search for a way for Peabody to cease its use of the N-aquifer, our only source of drinking water and the lifeblood of both the Hopi Tribe and the Navajo Nation. Peabody and The Mohave owners have committed to get off of the aquifer when an alternative is in place.

However, every time the Hopi Tribe offers up a solution, our voice and efforts are continually drowned out by numerous parties including state authorities, environmental agencies, and yes, even our own people at times. In the face of this debate over solutions, what is evident is the fact that even as we speak, the quality and quantity of our water is steadily decreasing, leaving the Hopi Tribe to guess about a seemingly uncertain future. It seems that Nero is once again fiddling while Rome burns, or in our case goes dry.

At this point, the Hopi Tribe’s survival relies as heavily on the C-aquifer as the town of Williams hopes depend on more immediate access to the R-aquifer.

Numerous theories offer up speculation about the continuity of future spring flows in the face of current N-aquifer uses. However, what needs to be reinforced is that the existence of the Hopi Tribe is in danger now and that a viable solution must be effected immediately before our last chance for salvaging our dire water crisis evaporates.

(The Hopi Tribe’s Water Rights Team members include Team Chairman Donald Humetewa, Village of Kykotsmovi; Hopi Tribal Chairman Wayne Taylor Jr.; Florence Albert, Upper Village of Moenkopi; Velma Kalyesvah, Village of Bakabi; King Honani Sr., Village of Sipaulovi; Owen Numkena Jr., Village of Mishongnovi; and Richard Nayatewa, First Mesa Consolidated Villages.)

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