Nevada Appeal Capitol Bureau
Thursday, December 23, 2021
Nevada and Utah have begun the process of negotiating with the Goshute Tribes to sort out the unquantified water rights reserved for the tribes in a federal treaty signed in 1863.
The Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation hold a total of 112,870 acres of land straddling the Nevada-Utah border 170 miles south of Elko. There are more than 600 enrolled members of the tribes living in the two states.
Gov. Steve Sisolak said the treaty contains protections including water rights to meet the needs of the tribal communities. But, he said, the federal government has not given the issue the attention necessary over the years.
He said the goal of the negotiations is to analyze all existing water rights claims, resource availability and future needs and reach a mutually agreeable water rights settlement.
“We look forward to working together with all sovereign partners on this settlement effort, while providing support, resources and technical guidance every step of the way through the process,” Sisolak said.
