Leaders of the Ak-Chin Tribe in Arizona and the Department of Interior have signed an "agreement in principle” for the revision of legislation designed to assure the Tribe of a permanent water supply, provided in an economically efficient manner, according to William P. Horn , Interior Deputy Under Secretary .
Horn said that revisions in the 1978 Act, which detailed the means to provide the Ak-Chin reservation with rights to adequate water, are necessary because "problems which have developed in the interim would result in significantly increased costs and reduce the possibility of providing a sufficient and permanent water supply."
The settlement follows more than a year of negotiations with Tribal leaders, Horn said.
The agreement in principle provides:
A permanent water supply for Ak-Chin in 1988
The means of securing interim water until 1988.
A reduction cost to the United States Government
Interior Secretary James Watt and the Tribe will be seeking support from both Congress and Arizona officials to have the agreement codified into new legislation, Horn said.
