The Navajo Nation Water Management Branch proposes to develop a brand new water infrastructure system to expand the use of water from Lake Powell to Navajo Chapters throughout the Western Navajo Agency.
Water is arguably the most important resource in the American Southwest, and this is especially true on the Navajo Nation. Like many areas, the communities of the Western Agency rely on limited supplies of groundwater, and water infrastructure is often limited or in need of improvement. With close coordination between Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA), Indian Health Services (IHS), and Navajo Nation Water Management Branch (NNWMB), the Western Navajo Pipeline (WNP) has been planned for development. The pipeline will bring fresh surface water from Lake Powell South to the communities of LeChee, Kaibeto, Coppermine, Bodaway/Gap, Cameron, Coalmine Canyon, and Tuba City, providing a stable, reliable, long-term water source. This project allows for Navajo communities to access the water they have the right to. The development and improvements to water infrastructure systems will improve access and expand the use of Lake Powell’s water throughout the Western Navajo Agency. The pipeline will eventually ensure the Navajo Nation has independent access and supply to needed water resources.
ETD has worked with Brown & Caldwell of Salt Lake City for the past 10 years on various water infrastructure planning and design projects for the NNWMB. The major project of this partnership, the WNP, has been broken into phases to complete. Phase I involves planning and construction of various water infrastructure projects and facilities within the communities of the Western Agency. The Navajo Council has approved the expenditure of $58,225,000 in order to complete design and construction of this first phase. Eventually, NTUA will own and operate the WNP system. ETD has been managing the environmental compliance of the first projects representing Phase 1 of the WNP. This work includes preparing Environmental Assessments, obtaining rights-of-ways, and obtaining appropriate clearances for the design and construction for several improvements to the distribution systems and intake facilities.
Since the closure of the Navajo Generating Station (NGS), WNP gives the opportunity to take advantage of the infrastructure and convert the Lake Powell NGS Water Intake Facility from industrial to municipal use for Navajo residents. There are a number of projects that are not waiting around for the construction of the pipeline. Rather, they are planning their construction around it. Projects like the Bodaway Gap Healthcare Center are building preemptively, with a supply well, storage tank and planned connections to the pipeline. Other infrastructure like booster pump stations and pipelines in Cedar Ridge, Cameron, and LeChee will help distribute and manage the water. A water treatment plant for the LeChee Chapter and Antelope Canyon Economic Development Corridor will treat water directly from Lake Powell. Additionally, future projects can use the pipeline to their advantage when considering water usage. Future developments include fire stations, laundromats, restaurants, and others that would not be possible without the ample and stable water supply from WNP.
The Western Navajo Pipeline project provides a unique opportunity to provide a safe and stable water supply for communities of Navajo Nation. The long-range planning and goals for infrastructure and use of the Pipeline are an exciting venture and ETD is proud to be a part of such a project supporting and brightening the future of native communities.