Interior Announces $43 Million Agreement for Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly today announced a $43 million financial assistance agreement for design and construction of a portion of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project. The leaders broke ground in June on the historic project, which, when completed, will have the capacity to deliver clean running water to a potential future population of approximately 250,000. Today’s milestone is one in a series of steps that are part of the larger Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.

“Today’s agreement signifies not only another major milestone in progress toward the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, but also the high priority that the Obama Administration has placed on completing the project to deliver clean running water to Navajo communities—many for the first time,” said Secretary Salazar.

The $43 million agreed upon today will enable the Navajo Nation to complete the lower reaches of the Cutter Lateral—one of two branches of the project. The Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project will provide a long-term, sustainable water supply to 43 Navajo Chapters; the City of Gallup, New Mexico; and the southwestern portion of the Jicarilla Apache Nation. 

Read full press release here.