Tribes could lease their water to dry states. Why is it so hard?

The Colorado River Indian Tribes have recently gained the ability to lease their water rights off-reservation, a move that could potentially alleviate water shortages in communities grappling with drought due to climate change. This option is seen as a financial opportunity for the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT), but the process for Indigenous Nations in the Southwest to sell their water is complex and time-consuming. Through a historic agreement signed by CRIT leadership, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, and Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, CRIT can now lease their water to government entities and corporations off-reservation. Despite their significant water rights along the Colorado River, obtaining the ability to lease water was a challenging journey for CRIT. The Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act was passed in 2022 to allow CRIT to enter into water sharing agreements, highlighting the need for legislative changes to streamline the process for tribes to lease their water. The potential for tribes to earn substantial revenue through water leasing underscores the urgency of addressing the complex process currently in place.