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Jicarilla Apache Nation Lease Agreement

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Jicarilla Apache Nation Lease Agreement

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Area: 5888268 km2
Countries:
Brazil; Peru; Suriname; France; Colombia; Guyana; Bolivia; Venezuela; Ecuador
Cities:
Santa Cruz; Manaus; La Paz
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Quick Info

Countries: United States of America
Basins: Colorado
Project SDGs:
Includes Sustainable Development Goals from the project and its locations.
Protect and Restore Ecosystems (SDG 6.6)
Stakeholder Participation (SDG 6.b)
Climate Resilience and Adaptation (SDG 13.1)
Project Tags:
Includes tags from the project and its locations.
Replenishment
Progress to Date: The water replenishment in secondary channels has opened up new breeding loctatinos for fish to use Recovery of threatened and endangered fish and increased water security for New Mexico
Services Needed: Financial support
Desired Partners: Business
Government
NGO / Civil Society
Language: English
Start & End Dates: Jun. 01, 2023  »  Ongoing
Contextual Condition(s): PHYSICAL: Ecosystem vulnerability or degradation
Additional Benefits: Long-term partnership(s) created
Beneficiaries: Ecosystems, Environmental users (e.g., fishers, recreational users), Local communities / domestic users, Other
Financial Resources: More than $500,000 USD
Primary Funding Source: pool
Project Challenges: RESOURCES: Lack of financial resources, Other
Project Source: Other
Profile Completion: 82%

Project Overview

Summary

The Jicarilla Apache Nation has an agreement with the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission to release 20,000 acre feet of water per year into the state’s Strategic Water Reserve. This type of agreement is unprecedented and will benefit all parties involved, including the threatened and endangered fish species in the San Juan River. The Strategic Water Reserve serves as a savings account for New Mexico’s water rights and has great potential to help New Mexico compl…

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Summary

The Jicarilla Apache Nation has an agreement with the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission to release 20,000 acre feet of water per year into the state’s Strategic Water Reserve. This type of agreement is unprecedented and will benefit all parties involved, including the threatened and endangered fish species in the San Juan River. The Strategic Water Reserve serves as a savings account for New Mexico’s water rights and has great potential to help New Mexico comply with its Interstate water obligations during a time of increasing water scarcity due to climate change. The state’s lease with the Jicarilla Apache Nation spans 10 years, but so far, the water releases are only funded for one year. Project partners will continue to support fundraising for the 10-year duration of the project.

Background

The Jicarilla Apache Nation Indian Reservation is in north central New Mexico. The majority of the JAN’s water rights claims are supplied by the Navajo Reservoir on the San Juan River. The Jicarilla Apahce Nation uses their water rights for community drinking water supply, cultural practices, and economic development activities. The JAN also subcontracts some of its water to users outside of the reservation, which further builds their economic stability while providing a stable water supply to those in need.

The water leasing agreement is bolstering flows in the San Juan River, which may help buffer against future cutbacks to Rio Grande water supplies from the San Juan-Chama Project. Increased flows in the San Juan River is providing ecological benefits for threatened, endangered, and sensitive fish species.

The Jicarilla Apache Nation is now recognized as a regional leader in water policy and politics, while receiving income contributing to economic self-sufficiency.

The collaborators on this project include the Jicarilla Apache Nation, The New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, The Nature Conservancy, US Bureau of Reclamation.

For information about the inclusion of tribes in Colorado River management negotiations, please visit: https://www.waterandtribes.org/

Project Videos

Basin and/or Contextual Conditions: PHYSICAL: Ecosystem vulnerability or degradation
Project Benefits: Long-term partnership(s) created
Indirect or Direct Beneficiaries: Ecosystems, Environmental users (e.g., fishers, recreational users), Local communities / domestic users, Other
Financial Resources: More than $500,000 USD
Primary Funding Source: Pool funding (i.e., joint funding of several partners)
Challenges: RESOURCES: Lack of financial resources, Other

Partner Organizations


The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. We acheive this through the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff, including more than 550 scientists, located in all 50 U.S. states … Learn More

Val Fishman
Primary Contact  

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