Tribal Nations
The Original Stewards
[Possibly begin with a foreword from CWCB Director Cloud about Tribes in the Colorado River Basin? Or maybe a collection of quotes from Becky?]
UCRC MOU Letter
On March 22, the six Upper Basin tribal nations signed a memorandum of understanding with the Upper Division States to engage and cooperate on Colorado River issues of shared interest. The MOU is the culmination of years of work and underscores a collective commitment to mutual respect, shared responsibility, and sustainable management of the Colorado River.
Upper Basin 4 U’s Letter
Much of the Upper Basin Tribes’ water is still undeveloped, meaning that the water rights are appropriated to the Tribes, but have not yet been put to use. This water has been flowing downstream and into Lake Powell, where it is used by others.
The Upper Basin Tribes coined the term “the Four U’s” to summarize the problems that the Upper Basin Tribal Nations face with their water rights:
- Undeveloped water rights;
- Unquantified water rights;
- Unused water rights; and
- Uncompensated water rights.
The Upper Basin States support the Upper Basin Tribes deriving benefits from settled, quantified, and adjudicated federal reserved tribal water rights, related to the Four U’s.
10 Tribes Partnership
The Ten Tribes Partnership is a coalition of Upper and Lower Basin Tribes. Formed in 1992, the goal of the Ten Tribes Partnership is to increase the influence of tribes in Colorado River management and provide support for the protection and use of tribal water resources.
Water & Tribes Initiative
The Water & Tribes Initiative emerged in 2017 with two objectives:
- Enhance the capacity of Tribes to manage water resources and to engage in water policy and governance discussions; and
- Support sustainable water use through collaborative problem-solving.
Visit Water & Tribes Initiative Website
Map of the 29 Federally Recognized Basin Tribes
The federal government recognizes 29 Tribal Nations in the Colorado River Basin, spanning Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and California.
Indigenous Women’s Leadership Network
The Indigenous Women’s Leadership Network is a leadership program of the Water & Tribes Initiative. It was launched in 2021, recognizing that Indigenous women play many important leadership roles in Tribal communities.
Southern Ute Indian Tribe History
The Ute people are the oldest residents of Colorado, inhabiting the mountains and vast areas of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Eastern Nevada, Northern New Mexico and Arizona.
Disclaimer: The resources listed on this page are provided for public education and exploration. Inclusion does not imply endorsement by the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, and the views expressed are those of the original creators. This list is not exhaustive, and the absence of a particular resource should not be interpreted as disapproval or disagreement. We aim to offer a range of perspectives to support a broader understanding of the Colorado River.