Mar 12, 2026 | News
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority has lifted the public health advisory for the Moenkopi Wash following a wastewater overflow near the Tuba City Wastewater Treatment Plant in Tuba City, Ariz.
Recent water quality tests confirm that E. coli levels are now well below permit limits, and the wash no longer poses a risk to public health, livestock, or wildlife.
The incident was first reported on February 27, 2026, when untreated wastewater reached the Moenkopi Wash approximately five miles southwest of the intersection of State Route 264 and U.S. 160.
Residents downstream were advised to avoid contact with the water and to keep pets and livestock away while cleanup, containment, and monitoring efforts were underway.
Following continued testing and mitigation measures, the advisory was officially lifted on March 6, 2026, and community members may now resume normal activities in the area. Ongoing monitoring will ensure water quality remains within safe standards.
“Protecting the health of our communities and the integrity of our water systems is a top priority,” said President Nygren. “I appreciate the patience and cooperation of our residents while this issue was addressed. Incidents like this remind us that continued investment in modern wastewater infrastructure is critical to prevent future overflows and safeguard our environment for generations to come.”
The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) responded immediately to contain the overflow and coordinate monitoring and remediation efforts. The authority continues to monitor water quality and provide updates to the public.
President Nygren and NTUA’s General Manager Walter Haase have also advocated for federal support to modernize water and wastewater infrastructure serving Navajo communities.
During recent meetings in Washington, D.C., they met with Christopher McLean of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service to explore financing opportunities for critical infrastructure improvements.
Discussions focused on expanding access to USDA programs that provide financial assistance for water and wastewater systems, electric power, telecommunications, and broadband services. These programs aim to expand economic opportunities, reduce utility costs, and improve quality of life for rural families, farmers, and ranchers.
Providing safe drinking water and sanitary waste disposal is essential to protecting public health and supporting sustainable community growth. Across the Navajo Nation, aging sewer lagoon infrastructure and continued population growth make upgrading wastewater treatment facilities increasingly urgent.
#NavajoNation #TubaCity #WaterSafety #CommunityUpdate
Mar 12, 2026 | News
Graduating seniors, undergrads, grads, and vocational students—plan ahead for next year! College costs can be challenging, but these resources can help.
Check out these scholarships with upcoming application dates:
Be proactive: fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), review each scholarship’s requirements, and start your applications early to meet all deadlines.
#NativeScholarships #HigherEducation #ScholarshipOpportunities #2027Academics
Mar 12, 2026 | News
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren highlighted major infrastructure progress that continues to expand electricity and essential services to families across the Navajo Nation. Through coordinated efforts by tribal divisions and partner utilities, hundreds of homes gained access to reliable power in 2025, strengthening the foundation for economic opportunity, improved living conditions, and long-term community resilience.
In 2025, the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) delivered electricity to 492 homes, extended service to 452 additional households, connected 40 off-grid solar homes, and partnered with other utilities to reach 31 more households.
At the same time, the Navajo Nation Division of Natural Resources completed a $950,000, six-mile powerline extension to the Four Corners Monument. The Division of Community Development also expanded electrical service in the Dilkon and Greasewood Springs areas, creating nearly 40 jobs and supporting local economic growth.
“In 2026, $47 million in improvements—upgrading water, powerlines, wells, and facilities—will move forward to expand Diné opportunities.” said President Buu Nygren.
#NavajoNation #ReliablePower #ThinkForTheFuture
Mar 11, 2026 | News
WASHINGTON D.C. — Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren today called on Congress to pass S. 953, the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, emphasizing the urgent need to secure safe, reliable water for thousands of tribal families.
Speaking before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, President Nygren shared personal stories from his childhood, highlighting the human cost of the ongoing water crisis.
“Roughly a third of Navajo households still lack running water,” President Nygren said. “I grew up hauling five-gallon buckets with my mom and grandma. Today, thousands of our people still travel over 30 miles round trip to meet basic water needs. It costs on average $600 a month per family—crippling for those living below the poverty line.”
President Nygren stressed that S. 953 represents a historic and cost-effective federal investment, benefiting both tribal communities and the American taxpayer. Under the settlement, tribes are waiving claims to Colorado River Basin water in exchange for funding to improve infrastructure and enhance Lake Powell’s reserves, achieving these goals at roughly 25 percent lower cost per tribal member than previous Indian water settlements.
Addressing concerns from several Upper Basin states, President Nygren noted that the Navajo Nation is uniquely positioned in both the Upper and Lower Colorado River Basin.
“Any tribal lease to the Lower Basin requires an act of Congress,” he explained adding that the settlement includes provisions to create a 17,050 acre-feet per year water savings pool in Lake Powell for 20 years, supporting critical infrastructure and benefiting all Upper Basin states.
President Nygren highlighted the lasting economic impact of the Navajo Generating Station closure, explaining, “This is half of what was previously used for decades by the Navajo Generating Station, whose closure devastated the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe economically.”
He noted that while some Upper Basin states have raised concerns about temporary water leasing under S. 953, the amount of water involved is relatively small.
“The revenue the tribes could generate by using their water rights to fund infrastructure is transformative,” President Nygren added, emphasizing that the settlement allows the Navajo Nation and its neighbors to rebuild economic opportunities and critical community resources lost after NGS’s closure.
Hopi Chairman Lamar Keevama highlighted the practical and cultural importance of the settlement for his people.
“This settlement brings certainty and stability to the Colorado River Basin by resolving longstanding claims through cooperation, not decades of litigation. Reliable water allows the Hopi people to continue living and practicing our way of life on our ancestral homeland,” Keevama added “Water is sacred—it supports our ceremonies, our culture, and our communities. This settlement is more than a legal agreement; it is a path forward.”
Vice President of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe Johnny Lehi Jr. highlighted the settlement’s role in fulfilling a decades-long promise.
“S. 953 ratifies a 26-year-old treaty establishing a permanent reservation for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe—the only federally recognized tribe in Arizona without an exclusive reservation. It provides tribal lands, water rights, and a trust fund to develop community water systems, allowing our families to stop hauling water long distances,” he said.
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Scott Cameron provided the federal perspective, emphasizing that negotiated settlements like S. 953 avoid lengthy litigation, protect federal investments, and support tribal sovereignty.
“The bill would accomplish a lot of good things…providing drinking water for folks who haven’t had it forever,” Cameron said, noting that the administration looks forward to working with the tribes and Congress to explore cost-effective ways to implement the settlement.
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) said, “…To know that one in three households in Navajo do not have running water … It is a challenge to the families. It’s a challenge to your health status. And this is the United States of America in 2026, and I think the basic request to have access to clean, safe drinking water is not too much to ask in today’s world for our people.”
Mar 10, 2026 | News
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) General Manager Walter Haas met with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service Assistant Administrator Christopher McLean to discuss financing opportunities for critical infrastructure improvements across the Navajo Nation’s rural communities.
The meeting focused on expanding access to funding through the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service, which provides financial assistance for water and wastewater systems, electric power, telecommunications, and broadband services. These programs are designed to expand economic opportunities, reduce utility costs for consumers, and improve the quality of life for rural families, farmers, and ranchers.
“These meetings in Washington, D.C. ensure that Navajo Nation projects and priorities remain at the forefront of federal funding discussions,” President Nygren said. “We are advocating for the resources necessary to build modern infrastructure that serves our people today and for generations to come.”
Under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, the Electric Program offers direct loans, loan guarantees through the Federal Financing Bank (FFB), grants, and other energy project financing to electric utilities serving rural customers. These funding resources are essential to advancing the Navajo Nation’s “Light Up Navajo” initiative.
Other resources under the Rural Utility Service can be used to pursue distance learning and telemedicine grants under their broadband arm and obtain technical assistance and financing necessary to develop drinking water and waste disposal systems under water and environmental programs.
The ability to provide safe drinking water and sanitary waste disposal systems is critical to protecting public health and ensuring sustainable community growth. Across the Navajo Nation, aging sewer lagoon infrastructure combined with population growth in rural communities makes the need for upgraded wastewater treatment facilities increasingly urgent.
The USDA expressed its commitment to working collaboratively with the Navajo Nation to plan and fund critical infrastructure projects. Continued investment in electrification and utility infrastructure not only improves living conditions but also creates long-lasting, well-paying jobs for Navajo workers.
The Navajo Nation remains committed to strengthening partnerships at the federal level to advance essential utility, water, and wastewater projects that support economic development and community well-being.
Mar 10, 2026 | News
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Diné Native Plants Program (DNPP), under the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife, is strengthening land stewardship and cultural knowledge across the Navajo Nation through the collection, preservation, and cultivation of native plant species.
In 2025, the program produced 19,700 native plants in its greenhouse facility and conducted 80 seed collection events for the DNPP seed bank. These efforts help preserve plant species that are essential for ecological restoration, traditional foods, and medicinal uses that have long been part of Diné culture.
The Diné Native Plants Program was established under the Navajo Natural Heritage Program after a Bureau of Indian Affairs-funded feasibility study identified a significant need for locally sourced native plants on the Navajo Nation. Since then, the program has worked to collect seeds, build a seed bank, and grow genetically appropriate plant materials that can be used to restore landscapes and strengthen ecosystems across the Nation.
The program also hosts hands-on community workshops that teach plant identification, restoration techniques, and the cultural uses of native plants, helping connect younger generations with traditional knowledge and the land.
President Buu Nygren’s administration supports initiatives like the Diné Native Plants Program as part of a broader commitment to environmental stewardship, sustainability, and community well-being.
By promoting the use of Indigenous seeds and native plant species, the program helps support local gardening, food sovereignty, and long-term land restoration efforts. Through programs like DNPP, the Navajo Nation continues to strengthen its connection to the land while building a more resilient and sustainable future for generations to come.
