Reclamation's Great Plains Regional Director Michael J. Ryan, on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior, announced the delivery of more than $74 million in settlement funds this morning as part of the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement, saying, "These funds will create vital jobs and improve the Crow Irrigation Project. I am proud that Reclamation was able to facilitate the execution of this contract which will ultimately bring more than $131 million to the Crow Nation to rehabilitate critical infrastructure and support the development of local energy resources," said Ryan.

Construction will begin this fall on the rehabilitation and improvement of the irrigation project on the Crow Reservation. The water rights settlement also provides for the planning, design and construction of a modern and robust municipal, rural and industrial water system and gives the Tribe exclusive rights to develop hydropower at the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam.

Earlier this summer, Secretary Ken Salazar, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Mike Connor and Ryan visited the Crow Indian Reservation to participate in a celebration of the recently approved Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement.