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2016 Land & Water News Stories

Congress approves Pechanga water settlement (Valley News) 12/25/16

President signs bill including historic Oklahoma water agreement (Daily Oklahoman) 12/20/16

North Dakota tribe recovers ancestral lands taken by Army Corps (Indianz) 12/20/16

Several Indian Country bills enacted into law (National Law Review) 12/19/16

The year water protecting went mainstream (Fusion) 12/19/16

Interior agreements with tribes to implement land buy-back program now total 40 (Native News Online) 12/18/16

State Supreme Court may step in over tribal casino land (Appeal-Democrat) 12/17/16

Daines highlights importance of consolidated tribal land ownership at Senate hearing (Big News) 12/17/16

Congress fails to act on proposal to designate Santa Ynez Valley land as reservation land (KCLU) 12/16/16

Lawsuits filed over Klamath Basin operations that plaintiffs say allowed for parasite to kill salmon Columbia Basin Fish & Wildlife News) 12/16/16

President Obama signs land bills for two tribes in Oregon into law (Indianz) 12/15/16

Havasupai lawsuit a first for the tribe (Arizona Daily Sun) 12/14/16

Swinomish Tribe seeks recognition of original treaty boundary (Indianz) 12/14/16

National water bill offers a bunch of goodies for Indian Country (Indianz) 12/13/16

Oklahoma tribes win approval of water deal without so much as a hearing in Congress (Indianz) 12/13/16

Penobscot Nation cheers EPA ruling (Maine Biz) 12/12/16

Congress approves water infrastructure bill- includes approval of Oklahoma, Chickasaw, and Choctaw water agreement (Oklahoma Farm Report) 12/10/16

Nez Perce helping to purchase easement to provide habitat for spawning salmon (The Columbian Basin) 12/9/16

Mashpee Tribe files notice to Appeal Court ruling in effort to restart casino plan (Cape Cod) 12/8/16

US House approves Blackfeet water settlement (Great Falls Tribune) 12/8/16

Havasupai Tribe files water lawsuit (KNAU) 12/8/16

California case could set national precedent on Native Americans' water rights (Northern California Record) 12/7/16

Congress passes long-awaited land bills for two tribes in Oregon (Indianz) 12/6/16

Feds sued again for allegedly causing infection of Klamath River salmon (Times-Standard) 12/5/16

Columbia River Treaty negotiations topic of forum (Tri-City Herald) 12/4/16

Court to hear Crow tribal member's illegal elk kill appeal (Billings Gazette) 12/3/16

Yurok tribe blames feds for salmon die-off (Courthouse News) 12/2/16

Cherokee Nation files suit against federal government (Public Radio Tulsa) 11/29/16

California tribe files second land-into-trust application (World Casino News) 11/29/16

California case could set national precedent on Indian water rights (Water Deeply) 11/29/16

Crow Creek tribe sues US Government for $200 million (Missouri Lawyers) 11/28/16

New BIA director says land issues, law enforcement top list (Indian Country Today) 11/25/16

Obama sets new standard with land into trust (Indian Country Today) 11/24/16

Group of American Indians file suit to recover land promised 153 years ago (StarTribune) 11/23/16

In the Klamath River Basin, water rights are personal (KQED) 11/23/16

Pokagon Band secures historic approval to restore homeland in Indiana (Indianz) 11/23/16

Why the northwest is debating dams on the Snake River (again) (Oregon Public Broadcasting) 11/21/16

Dwindling salmon and treaty rights in the Puget Sound (Environmental Health News) 11/16/16

Sacred water: environmental justice in Indian Country Pt. 3 (Environmental Health News) November 2016

Tristan Ahtone: Tohono O'odham Nation determined to stop border wall (Indianz) 11/16/16

Blackfeet Water compact sails through key committee (Flathead Beacon) 11/16/16

Crow Creek tribe sues U.S. government for $200 million (Rapid City Journal) 11/13/16

Oneida Nation wins another decision in long-running land dispute (Indianz) 11/10/16

US says money for Indian land buys will come up short (Capital Journal) 11/3/16

In the Nevada desert, Bundy family warns of another standoff (Capital Gazette) 11/2/16

Interior Department highlights achievements of Cobell buy-back program (Indianz) 11/1/16

Tribal leaders laud water agreement, answer questions (The Ada News) 10/30/16

Adapting to climate change on tribal land explored (Nevada Appeal) 10/27/16

Tribe offers pipeline protesters a place to overwinter (ABC News) 10/19/16

Arizona senators introduce tribal water rights bill (Arizona Business Daily) 10/23/16

Fremont County awaits reservation boundary resolution (Billings Gazette) 10/23/16

Acoma Pueblo takes property tax fight to federal court (KANW) 10/21/16

Split Prior Lake City Council opposes tribal trust land request (Shakopee Valley News) 10/21/16

Does the Agua Caliente tribe have rights to groundwater? (Desert Sun) 10/20/16

Gov. Walker talks lands into trust, Outstanding Resource water protection (KHNS) 10/20/16

Inspector General says reclamation wasted $32 million on Klamath irrigators (IndyBay) 10/20/16

Agua Caliente Band back in federal court to defend water rights (Indianz) 10/20/16 (Turtle Talk Material)

Standing Rock Tribal Council identifies land for possible camp relocation (Daily Globe) 10/19/16

Ute Tribe declares political war with Rep. Rob Bishop (Salt Lake Tribune) 10/18/16

One tribe can't stop another tribe's casino (Courthouse News) 10/17/16

Federal judge declines to reconsider Massachusetts casino ruling (World Casino News) 10/17/16

When we buy land it can't be taxed, Acoma say (Courthouse News Service) 10/14/16

Tribe says Connecticut owes it $613M for land taken in 1800s (Record-Eagle) 10/14/16

Fight pipeline, drill for oil: either way, tribes want control of their lands (Bloomberg) 10/13/16

Prior Lake opposes Dakota tribe's latest land trust application (Star Tribune) 10/13/16

Alaska Tribes and the confusing land trust issue (Alaska Journal of Commerce) 10/13/16

Judge won't block changes in water standards [Seminole Tribe of Florida] (WGCU) 10/13/16

Obama administration fudges numbers to reach land-into-trust goal (Indianz) 10/12/16

BTBC adopts Buffalo/Badger Two Medicine Proclamation (Glacier Reporter) 10/12/16

One tribe's "long walk" upstream for environmental and cultural justice (Truthout) 10/10/16

Bishop approves first Indian land theft in 100 years denying existence of federal law (UB Media) 10/8/16

Blackfeet Tribe cites treaty rights in planned release of bison (Montana Public Radio) 10/7/16

President Obama signs Nevada Native Nations Land Act into law (Indianz) 10/7/16

Cronkite News: Hualapai Tribe pushes for water rights settlement (Indianz) 10/6/16

Lawsuit filed over tax increase (APG Media) 10/6/16

Oneida Nation battles longtime foe over activities on trust land (Indianz) 10/5/16

Seminole Tribe wants water standards delayed (WUSF) 10/5/16

Ute tribe opposes PLI "land grab" (UB Media) 10/4/16

Next step in the Hobart-tribe standoff (WTAQ) 10/4/16

Talks coming on 4 Snake River dams (The Columbian) 10/3/16

Sacred water: environmental justice in Indian Country Pt. 2 (Environmental Health News) September 2016

Ute Tribe continues battle against 'modern day Indian land grab' (Indianz) 9/28/16

Mashpee Tribe wins approval to join lawsuit threatening casino project (Cape Cod) 9/28/16

Senate bill would settle Hualapai claims to Colorado River water (KNAU) 9/23/16

UTE Indian Tribe fights to protect reservation from a modern day Indian land grab (KLKN TV) 9/23/16

Billings business ordered to pay $350,000 for lying about Indian preference (KTVQ) 9/21/16

River fight boosts a tribe's long-threatened culture (Environmental Health News) 9/20/16

Hualapai say proposed water deal could benefit tourism in the state (AZ Daily Sun) 9/15/16

U.S. Senate approves Blackfeet Water Compact (Flathead Beacon) 9/15/16

Indigenous peoples and communities face growing barriers to land ownership (World Resources Institute) 9/15/16

Judge dismisses Seminole's petition against new Florida water toxin rule (News-Press) 9/14/16

Lakota Country Times: Rosebud Sioux Tribe slams land transfer bill (Indianz) 9/14/16

Emotions run strong as #NoDAPL seeps into debate on controversial public lands bill (Indianz) 9/14/16

Grand Ronde Tribes ask Supreme Court to hear casino land case (Indianz) 9/13/16

History of the water rights of people in the Santa Margarita Watershed (Valley News) 9/11/16

Flake, McCain introduce major Arizona water settlement bill (Big News) 9/11/16

Collaboration on New Mexico's Rio Grande (InkStain) 9/8/16

Kickapoo Tribe reaches settlement in long-running water dispute (Indianz) 9/8/16

Tribe seeks endorsement of land transfer (Visalia Times-Delta) 9/7/16

Judge dismisses Klickitat's case over Yakama boundary (The Columbian) 9/7/16

How the U.S. government is helping corporations plunder Native land (In These Times) 9/6/16

Judge temporarily halts DAPL construction on select land but not on desecrated area (Indian Country Today) 9/6/16

Give Indigenous People land rights or fail on deforestation pledges, governors told (NY Times) 9/1/16

Sacred water: environmental justice in Indian Country Pt. 1 (Environmental Health News) August 2016

Legislation revives Grand Canyon development question (High Country News) 8/31/16

Appeals court amends its decision removing judge from Ute boundary case (Salt Lake Tribune) 8/29/16

Gwich'in people need protection for Draanjik River region (Alaska Dispatch News) 8/28/16

Mashpee Wampanoag casino case may be reconsidered (World Casino News) 8/26/16

Prairie land owned by Ted Turner transferred to Osage Nation (Tulsa World) 8/25/16

Cheyenne River Sioux tribe now part of Dakota Access Pipeline lawsuit (Native News Online) 8/22/16

Tainted water imperils health, traditions for Montana tribe (Environmental Health News) 8/22/16

In casino battle, tribe's sovereignty could be at risk (Boston Globe) 8/21/16

Land into trust litigation ends-historic victory for Alaska tribes (Alaska Business) 8/19/16

Tribal communities strive to protect water quality (News-Review) 8/19/16

Maine, Feds argue over tribe water rights (Maine Public Broadcasting) 8/18/16

Judge orders hearing about irrigation election legality [CKST Water Compact] (Lake County Leader) 8/17/16

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe files motion to join casino land dispute (Indianz) 8/16/16

DEP says Seminole water challenge filed too late (Tallahassee Times) 8/16/16

Alaska tribes enter new era as state drops land-into-trust battle (Indianz) 8/16/16

Tribes watch GOP effort to wrest control of federal land (Desert Sun) 8/15/16

Cheyenne River Chairman to Obama: halt pipeline from poisoning our children's water (Narcosphere) 8/14/16

Inside the landmark State and Tribal agreement that ends standoff over water in southeast Oklahoma (KGOU) 8/13/16

Native American youth to Obama: 'Rezpect' our water (Indian Country) 8/11/16

Salmon supporters win again in court [United States v. Washington] (High Country News) 8/11/16

Tribes, Oklahoma reach deal on water rights dispute (Washington Post) 8/11/16

Frustrated appeals court tries to bring finality to Ute boundary disputes [Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation v. Myton] (Salt Lake Tribune) 8/10/16

Parties keep up pressure as Klamath dam removal proceeds (Capital Press) 8/10/16

Seminole Tribe challenges revised water standards (Tampa Bay Times) 8/9/16

Indigenous land rights: how far have we come and how far do we have to go? (World Resources Institution) 8/9/16

Despite dam agreement, Klamath battles rage on (Record Searchlight) 8/6/16

Native American youths run across U.S. to defend sacred water (Narcosphere) 8/5/16

Colville Tribes continue legal fight for Columbia river cleanup (Gazette-Tribune) 8/5/16

Tribes reclaim Sioux San land: three Lakota tribes will share trust status (Native Sun News) 8/3/16

Water shut offs taking place in upper Basin (Herald and News) 8/2/16

Two tribes see conflicting rulings in long-running quests for casinos (Indianz) 8/2/16

A brief introduction to water law (Huffington Post) 8/1/16

Washington state adopts new clean-water rules after years of debate (Seattle Times) 8/1/16

Angry anglers protest closure of Skokomish river (Kitsap Sun) 7/30/16

Hoopa Tribe sues Reclamation (Herald and News) 7/30/16

Cowlitz Tribe wins major court ruling on land-into-trust application (Indianz) 7/29/16

Mashpee Wampanoag tribe sees setback in land-into-trust dispute (Indianz) 7/29/16

Federal judge: Wampanoag land into trust designation flawed (Cape Cod) 7/29/16

Settlement with the Navajo Nation may quell worries about the San Juan River streamflow (Coyote Gulch) 7/29/16

No peace in the valley [Santa Ynez Land Transfer Act of 2015] (Lompoc Record) 7/28/16

Ruling may not affect water compact (Leader Advertiser) 7/27/16

Crow Tribe celebrates end of long water fight (Last Best News) 7/23/16

Range could return to tribal management (Daily Bee) 7/23/16

Flathead water compact endures district court ruling (Flathead Beacon) 7/22/16

Showdown looms as controversial Chumash land trust bill advances (Pacific Coast Business Time) 7/22/16

Federal appeals court backs Gun Lake Tribe land-into-trust law (Indianz) 7/15/16

House committee OKs bill to expand Chumash reservation (Santa Barbara News-Press) 7/15/16

Rep. Tom Cole suffers defeat as land-into-trust fix goes down in House (Indianz) 7/13/16

Poarch Creeks win ruling in dispute over taxation of trust lands (Indianz) 7/12/16

Akiachak tribe takes next step toward federal trust (Juneau Empire) 7/12/16

Opponents challenge US decision granting tribe casino lands (The Bulletin) 7/11/16

Akiachak prepares to inventory land for trust status (KYUK) 7/8/16

Obama administration backs Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe casino bid (Indianz) 7/8/16

Controversy over Interior's trust authority in Alaska remains unresolved (JD Supra) 7/8/16

Tribal spokesman explains tax burden under Bison Range transfer (Lake County Leader) 7/7/16

House approves bills to transfer federal lands to tribes in California (Indianz) 7/6/16

Tribes in Alaska celebrate long-awaited victory in trust land case (Indianz) 7/4/16

Tribal water rights are a factor in river management (Post Independent) 7/4/16

Obama Administration supports structure, not price of CSKT water compact (Flathead Beacon) 7/3/16

Tribes stand together to protect lands - ITC granted consultation with FERC to address GRDA lake request (Miami OK) 7/2/16

Shinnecocks angered by Supreme Court's refusal to hear land claim (Newsday) 6/30/16

Senate committee takes on tribal water issues (Indianz) 6/30/16

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes press for water deal (Indianz) 6/30/16

Tribal water rights a component to unraveling #drought on the #ColoradoRiver — CPR #COriver (Coyote Gulch) 6/28/16

Shinnecock Nation hits the end of the line with ancestral land claim (Indianz) 6/27/16

Partial land-into-trust fix being watched by non-Indian interests (Indianz) 6/27/16

Susanville Tribes welcome back 300 acres of land via new law (Indian Country Today) 6/24/16

Another land-into-trust fix reportedly being drafted in the Senate (Indianz) 6/24/16

Tribes and water in the Colorado River Basin (Colorado River Research Group: Policy Report Series) June 2016

President Obama signs land-into-trust bill for Susanville Rancheria (Indianz) 6/22/16

National Bison Range: 108-year testament to public supported conservation (Missoulian) 6/20/16

Fight over Grand Canyon pits Native Americans against John McCain (GRIST) 6/17/16

NCAI applauds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announcement recognizing tribal sovereignty and cooperative management (Press Release Point) 6/17/16

A 'partial' land-into-trust fix added to Interior appropriations bill (Indianz) 6/16/16

Crow tribal member appeals after Wyoming poaching conviction (Billings Gazette) 6/16/16

Some Native Americans lack access to safe, clean water (US News) 6/16/16

Tribes craft transfer legislation for Bison Range (Daily Inter Lake) 6/10/16

Susanville Rancheria land-into-trust bill sent to President Obama (Indianz) 6/10/16

House passes land-into-trust bills for tribes in Nevada and Arizona (Indianz) 6/8/16

Big funds for Native farmers on the way (The Journal) 6/7/16

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to hear testimony on wildfires (Indianz) 6/6/16

Supreme Court won't hear long-running Seneca Nation casino case (Indianz) 5/31/16

Hoopa Valley Tribe: San Luis Settlement Agreement will 'condemn tribe to poverty' (Central Valley) 5/27/16

Lawsuit tackles National Bison Range giveaway legislation (YubaNet) 5/23/16

Crow member found guilty in Wyoming elk hunting case, appeal to follow (Indian Country Today) 5/19/16

Hoopa plan suit to increase Klamath flows (Herald and News) 5/19/16

Another 63 reservations added to Cobell land buy-back efforts (Indianz) 5/17/16

Supreme Court delays action on Seneca Nation gaming land case (Indianz) 5/16/16

Jewell announces $107M for Blackfeet land buy-back (Great Falls Tribune) 5/3/16

Tribes, Arizona politician ask Obama to protect nearly 2M acres at Grand Canyon (KTAR) 4/28/16

In rare bipartisan decision, Senate approves Yakima water projects (High Country News) 4/22/16

The Navajo are fighting to get their water back (Huffington Post) 4/22/16

Penobscot Nation appeals decision over whether it owns water in river (Bangor Daily) 4/21/16

Judge approves $380 million change to landmark 2010 Native American civil rights suit (Cortez Journal) 4/20/16

Senate approves bill to transfer federal lands to six Nevada tribes (Indianz) 4/14/16

Saving the salmon: Feds, States, Tribes ink plan to demolish four Klamath River dams (Indian Country Today) 4/14/16

For forests, a change in attitude in favor of indigenous communities (The World Bank) 4/12/16

Officials sign unusual pact to tear down Klamath dams (Valdosta Daily Times) 4/6/16

Supreme Court ruling emboldens tribes in another boundary case (Indianz) 3/25/16

Native American tribes steadily gaining reservation lands (Rutland Herald) 3/21/16

Threats to Indian Country highlighted by Pii Paash Nation at ‘Waters Connect Us’ event (Indian Country Today) 3/18/16

Tribe, allies add Klamath National Forest to Westside lawsuit (Yuba) 3/16/16

Forest Service nixes massive commercial development at Grand Canyon's edge (Indian Country Today) 3/14/16

Appeals court poses tough questions in Alaska land-into-trust case (Indianz) 3/7/16

Senate Indian Affairs Committee issues report on tribal infrastructure, road enhancement (Investor Point) 3/5/16

Senate Indian Affairs Committee issues report on land into trust for Indian tribes (Investor Point) 3/5/16

State faces tough questions in case over Native and federal land control in Alaska (Alaska Dispatch) 3/4/16

Tester introduces bill to fix checkerboarding of reservation land (Noodls) 3/4/16

U.S. restores millions of acres to Native Americans (Albuqurque Journal) 3/2/16

How the Oregon and Nevada Standoffs are linked (Magic Valley) 2/22/16

Mark Trahant: Federal land battle surfaces in presidential race (Indianz) 2/22/16

Congressman offers draft bill to resolve issues in Klamath Basin (Heartland) 2/22/16

Tribe out for more river land (Democrat Gazette) 2/18/16

Miami Nation scores another legislative win with land measure (Indianz) 2/16/16

Resolution to return much of Black Hills to Native Americans fails (Rapid City Journal) 2/11/16

Bureau of Reclamation emphasizes tribal water rights settlements (Indianz) 2/9/16

Supreme Court hears arguments in fight over Omaha tribal land (Truthout) 2/9/16

Indian treaty tensions run deep in Minnesota (Inforum) 2/6/16

Tribes voice concern over proposed changes to lakes, wetlands regulations (WPR) 2/5/16

House Natural Resources Committee passes Rep. Huffman's improved Lytton–Sonoma legislation (Rep. Huffman) 2/4/16

Blackfeet water settlement clears U.S. Senate committee (Great Falls Tribune) 2/4/16

Klamath Dam removal plan revived, with plan to bypass Congress (Pamplin Media) 2/3/16

Senate Indian Affairs Committee passes two water bills at meeting (Indianz) 2/3/16

Investor push urged to help secure indigenous land rights (Reuters) 2/3/16

Judge dismisses lawsuit over who owns roads crossing tribal land (Santa Fe New Mexican) 2/2/16

Hope fades for Klamath River accords (High Country News) 2/2/16

Shinnecock Indian Nation loses appeal to reclaim Hamptons land (Newsday) 2/1/16

Navajo lawmakers approve water rights settlement with Utah (The Washington Times) 1/27/16

PacifiCorp pursues dam removal after collapse of Klamath legislation (OPB) 1/20/16

It's time for Obama to make Bear Ears in Utah a national monument [OP-ED] (LA Times) 1/21/16

New Mexico pueblo reclaims swath of historic tribal homeland (BBNA) 1/15/16

NCAI President Brian Cladoosby urges support for land-into-trust bill (Indianz) 1/14/16

Tribes want water-rights deadline extended (Daily Interlake) 1/13/16

Federal status of Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's land now official (Cape Cod Times) 1/9/16

Alaska presses D.C. Court of Appeals to reject trust acquisitions in Alaska (JD Supra) 1/6/16

Enbridge settles pipeline dispute with Red Lake for $18.5M (Crookston Times) 1/4/16

 

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