Purposes

The purposes of this Act are— (1) to resolve, fully and finally, all claims to rights to water, including damages claims related to water, in the State, including in the Verde River Watershed and the Colorado River, of— (A) the Yavapai-Apache Nation, on behalf of the Yavapai-Apache Nation and the Members of the Yavapai-Apache Nation (but not Members in the capacity of the Members as Allottees); and (B) the United States, acting as trustee for the Yavapai-Apache Nation and the Members of the Yavapai-Apache Nation (but not Members in the capacity of the Members as Allottees); (2) to authorize, ratify, and confirm the Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Agreement, to the extent that Agreement is consistent with this Act; (3) to authorize and direct the Secretary to execute and perform the duties and obligations of the Secretary under the Agreement and this Act; (4) to authorize the appropriation of funds necessary to carry out the Agreement and this Act; and (5) to recognize the important cultural, traditional and religious value of the Verde River to the Yavepé (Yavapai) who know the Verde River as Hatayakehela (Big River) and to the Dilzhę́’é (Apache) who know the Verde River as Tú ńlį́į́níchoh (Big Water flowing) and to protect the existing flows of the Verde River, including flood flows, as described in the Agreement and this Act, on the Yavapai-Apache Reservation, now and in the future.