Western tribes convene to discuss water rights, sovereignty 

Southern Ute Chairman Melvin Baker and Council Members, Lorelei Cloud and Dr. Stacey Oberly spent the majority of the week in Las Vegas, Nev. attending the Colorado River Water Users Association Conference. Tribal leadership along the Colorado River, as well as federal officials, attended the weeklong meetings alongside the Ute Mountain Ute and Ute Indian Tribes. The primary conference was held at Cesar’s Palace and took place on Tuesday, Dec. 14. — Thursday, Dec. 16. 

According to the CRWUA website, “The Colorado River Water Users Association is a non-profit, non-partisan organization providing a forum for exchanging ideas and perspectives on Colorado River use and management with the intent of developing and advocating common objectives, initiatives, and solutions.” 

“The main takeaway for me attending the 2021 conference, was realizing we have a lot of work to do,” Council Member Lorelei Cloud said. “The waters are at critical levels and we need the snowpack in the Upper Basin. Until we come to a consensus in the Upper Basin on how to manage the river, we will continue to be in this stage.” 

“Tribes have a large allocation in the river,” Cloud stated. “We need to continue to use our voices to be included in the decision-making. Our future generations are counting on us to make the best decision now — for them.” 

Over the past 75 years, the Colorado River Water Users Association has established itself as the most consequential and highest profile gathering of Colorado River stakeholders. To both celebrate and commemorate this achievement, CRWUA commissioned a historical report highlighting the association’s evolution to become the most respected forum for discussing the full spectrum of opportunities and challenges involving the Colorado River.  

More information can be found on the Colorado River Water Users Association website, including video recordings and presentations from this year’s conference. https://www.crwua.org/index.html