Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians would get confirmed water rights, $500 million, and over 2,700 acres of land.
This bill would confirm the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians' right to use a specific amount of groundwater each year and set aside $500 million for water projects. It would also transfer over 2,700 acres of federal land to be held in trust for the Tribe. These changes aim to settle long-standing water rights disputes and provide resources for the Tribe's water management.
Today, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has ongoing lawsuits regarding their water rights and related fees. Federal land within their ancestral territory is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and Riverside County collects a specific property tax on the Reservation. After this bill, the Tribe's water rights would be legally confirmed, and they would receive $500 million for water infrastructure. Over 2,700 acres of federal land would become part of their Reservation, and the Tribe would take over collecting a specific property tax on the Reservation, ensuring other local agencies still receive their share.
S 4368 · 119th Congress · April 22, 2026 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 10/10
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