Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project

Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project logo

The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project is a major infrastructure project that once constructed, will convey a reliable municipal and industrial water supply from the San Juan River to the eastern section of the Navajo Nation, southwestern portion of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and the city of Gallup, New Mexico via about 300 miles of pipeline, at least nineteen pumping plants, and two water treatment plants.

These service areas currently rely on a rapidly depleting groundwater supply that is of poor quality and inadequate to meet the current and future demands of more than 43 Navajo chapters, the city of Gallup, and the Teepee Junction area of the Jicarilla Apache Nation. Ground water levels for the city of Gallup have dropped approximately 200 feet over the past 10 years and over 40 percent of Navajo Nation households rely on hauling water to meet their daily needs. Inadequate water supply also impacts the ability of the Jicarilla Apache people to live and work outside the reservation town of Dulce.

The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project will provide a long-term sustainable water supply to meet the future (40-year) population needs of approximately 250,000 people in the referenced communities through the annual delivery of 37,764 acre-feet of water from the San Juan Basin. The project's eastern branch (Cutter Lateral) will divert approximately 4,645 acre-feet of water via the Cutter Reservoir annually with no return flow to the San Juan River. The project's western branch (San Juan Lateral) will divert the remaining 33,119 acre-feet of water with an anticipated average annual return flow of 1,871 acre-feet.

In 2020, water deliveries to Navajo communities began on the Cutter Lateral. Deliveries to the Jicarilla Apache Nation from the Cutter Lateral began in 2022. Construction on the San Juan Lateral has been underway since 2012 and now has approximately 100 miles of transmission line pipe installed and 5 pumping plants either complete or under contract. Design and construction has also begun on the San Juan Lateral Water Treatment Plant. Water deliveries are expected to begin in 2028.

Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project In-Depth

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Authorization Background

Authorization Background

The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project was authorized for construction by the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, Title X Part III (Public Law 111-11 on March 30, 2009) as a major component of the Navajo Nation San Juan River Basin Water Rights Settlement in New Mexico.

This act authorized the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation to construct, operate, and maintain the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project in substantial accordance with the preferred alternative outlined in the Planning Report / Final Environmental Impact Statement.

The PR/FEIS was one of several prerequisites specified in the legislation that had to be completed prior to initiating construction of the project. In addition to completion of the PR/FEIS and associated record of decision, a water rights settlement agreement and settlement contract with the Navajo Nation had to be executed, as well as a cost-share agreement with the state of New Mexico and required repayment contracts with project beneficiaries.

Reclamation completed the PR/FEIS in July 2009 and the ROD was signed by the Secretary of the Interior on October 1, 2009, approving Reclamation's selection of the preferred alternative described in the PR/FEIS The Navajo San Juan Water Rights Settlement Agreement among the United States, Navajo Nation, and state of New Mexico was executed on December 17, 2010, and the Settlement Contract between Reclamation and the Navajo Nation was executed on the same date. These historic agreements represent a significant milestone in fulfilling long-outstanding water rights claims of the Navajo Nation while protecting existing water uses and providing for future growth within the amount of water apportioned to New Mexico by the Colorado River Compact.

Following the process stipulated in PL 111-11, the signatory parties to the Settlement (Navajo Nation, State of New Mexico and the United States via the Secretary of the Interior) agreed to extend the completion date of the Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project from December 2024 to December 2029 to analyze, acquire, and incorporate water storage and intake features from the San Juan Generating Station into the NGWSP that would provide substantial benefits to the project. Formal extension was issued by Secretary Deb Haaland on September 20, 2024.

Project Documents

Project Documents

Construction Prerequisite Agreements

Related Documents

Project Timeline

Project Timeline

2025

  • April – Navajo blessing ceremony and groundbreaking ceremony for San Juan Lateral Water Treatment Plant.

2024

  • August – A $267 million contract was awarded to Jacobs for the to design and build the San Juan Lateral Water Treatment Plant
  • September – The completion deadline of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project was extended to December 31, 2029 through mutual agreement between the signatory parties to the Navajo Nation Water Rights Settlement on the San Juan River in New Mexico
  • October - Blessing Ceremony for beginning construction on Reach 10.1.1, Coyote Canyon, sub reach of the Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project

2023

  • March - A construction contract for Reaches 4A and 4B was awarded to SJ Louis Construction, Inc. in the amount of $66.8 million.
  • June - completed the transfer of the San Juan Generating Station reservoir to the US Bureau of Reclamation and renamed the reservoir in honor of WWII Code Talker Frank Chee Willetto.

2022

  • June - Operation and Maintenance responsibility of the entire Cutter Lateral was transferred to the Navajo Nation and Navajo Tribal Utility Authority through a commemoration ceremony held at the Cutter Lateral Water Treatment Plant.
  • September - $73.1 million construction contract awarded for Pumping Plants 2 and 3 on the San Juan Lateral to Archer Western Construction, LLC.

2021

  • December - $76.1 million construction contract awarded for the Code Talkers Sublateral (Reaches 12.1 and 12.2) to SJ Louis Construction, Inc.

2020

  • September - $45.9 million construction contract awarded for Pumping Plants 4 and 7 on the San Juan Lateral to Archer Western Construction, LLC.
  • October - Water deliveries begin on the Cutter Lateral following the substantial completion of the Cutter Lateral Water Treatment Plant, and Reaches 22a and 22B, as well as downstream reaches completed by the Navajo Nation.

2019

  • September - $83.7 million construction contract awarded for Reaches 4c through 8 of the San Juan Lateral to Oscar Renda Contracting, Inc.

2018

  • August - Reclamation entered into a $74.6 million financial assistance agreement with the Navajo Nation for the design and construction of the Crownpoint Lateral (also known as the Beacon Bisti/N-9 (BBN9) Sublateral) and Reach 12.3.

2017

  • September - $62 million construction contract awarded for Reaches 9 through 11 on the San Juan Lateral to Oscar Renda Contracting, Inc.

2016

  • April - $3.6 million construction contract awarded for Reach 12B of the San Juan Lateral to Weeminuche Construction Authority.
  • September - $37.0 million design-build contract for the Cutter Lateral Water Treatment Plant (Reach 21) was awarded to CH2M and a $29.3 million construction contract was awarded for Reach 22B of the Cutter Lateral to Moltz Constructors, Inc.

2015

  • September - $11.8 million construction contract awarded for Reach 22A of the Cutter Lateral awarded to Meridian Contracting.

2014

  • April - The first pumping plant construction contract is awarded for $20.0 million for the Tohlakai Pumping Plant awarded to Moltz Constructors, Inc.

2012

  • January - The repayment contract between Reclamation and the city of Gallup was executed on January 10.
  • April - The repayment contract between Reclamation and the Jicarilla Apache Nation was executed on April 12, and the first project construction contract for $10.75 million for Reach 12A was awarded to McMillen, LLC.
  • April - The first construction contract on the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project was awarded to McMillen, LLC for Reach 12A for $10.75 million.
  • June - Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Navajo Nation President Shirley and other distinguished dignitaries' broke ground for Reach 12A construction at a ceremony on June 2.

2011

  • June - The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project cost-share agreement between Reclamation and the state of New Mexico was executed.
  • August - President Obama issued a memorandum instructing federal agencies to accelerate the pace of major infrastructure projects through improved efficiencies in permitting and environmental review processes, to enhance accountability and transparency of federal actions. The NGWSP was selected as one of 14 federal infrastructure projects to be expedited.
  • November - A water service contract between the Jicarilla Apache Nation and the city of Gallup to provide the city with up to 7,500 acre-feet of water annually was approved.

2010

  • December - Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Navajo Nation President Joe Shirely signed the San Juan River Basin in New Mexico, Navajo Nation Water Rights Settlement Agreement on December 17, 2010 (New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson signed the agreement one week earlier). Reclamation Commissioner Michael Connor and Navajo Nation President Shirely signed the Navajo Nation Settlement Contract on the same date.

2009

  • March - President Obama signed the Omnibus Public Land Management act of 2009 (Public Law 111-11) authorizing among other things, the construction of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project subject to the completion of several prerequisite agreements
  • June - The first Project Pre-Construction Committee meeting was held which included representatives of Reclamation, Navajo Nation, city of Gallup, Jicarilla Apache Nation, and the state of New Mexico
  • July - The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Final Environmental Impact Statement/Planning Report was filed with the Environmental Protection Agency and distributed publicly.
  • October - Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar signed the record of decision for the NGWSP FEIS/PR.

2007

  • A draft planning report/environmental impact statement containing the five viable alternatives was published and public meetings were held at the same five locations in May and June.

2000

  • 2Public scoping meetings were held in Crownpoint, Gallup, Shiprock, and Farmington, N.M., and Saint Michaels Ariz., in the spring to present the five viable project alternatives that had been developed.

1993

  • Planning activities for the project resumed with write-in funding from Reclamation's general budget and cost share from project participants. Planning activities were directed by a steering committee chaired by the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments with representatives from the Navajo Nation, city of Gallup, New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Reclamation. The Jicarilla Apache Nation later joined as a project participant.

1988

  • Progress on the project stalled for a variety of reasons following a change in leadership for both the Navajo Nation and city of Gallup. Reclamation funding for project studies were suspended as a result.

1986

  • Reclamation prepared the "Gallup-Navajo Indian Water Supply Project, New Mexico-Arizona Technical Report" which evaluated five alternatives for providing water to Navajo communities and the city of Gallup.

1984

  • A Planning Report and Draft Environmental Statement were released for public review and public hearings were conducted.

1975

  • At the request of the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, the Gallup water supply study be expanded to include municipal and domestic water supplies for various Navajo communities in the eastern portion of the Navajo Reservation.

1971

  • Public Law 92-199 provided specific authority to conduct feasibility studies for the "Gallup Project, New Mexico" which culminated in a reconnaissance report in October 1973.
Current Focus

Current Focus

Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project

The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project was authorized in 2009 through Public Law 111-11 to be constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation. The Project consists of two primary branches, the San Juan Lateral (west) and Cutter Lateral (east). Construction on the Project began in 2012 just north of the city of Gallup on Reach 12A of the San Juan Lateral. Construction on the San Juan Lateral continues and is expected to begin providing water to local communities in 2028. Construction of the Cutter Lateral was completed, and water deliveries began in 2020.

San Juan Lateral Construction

Digital rendering of pumping plant number 7
Pumping Plant Number 7

Construction activities have progressed steadily from the south, moving northward toward the San Juan River as Reclamation has completed the construction of over 100 miles of transmission pipeline and three pumping plants along U.S. Highway 491 from just north of Gallup, NM, to areas southeast of Shiprock, NM. Additional sections of pipelines and other pumping plants are under construction and more remain to be completed.

Frank Chee Willetto Reservoir and San Juan River Intake location
Frank Chee Willetto Reservoir and San Juan River Intake

In 2023, Reclamation acquired an existing intake structure and reservoir previously associated with the San Juan Generating Station. The reservoir has since been renamed the Frank Chee Willetto Reservoir and will be used to store water for use through the San Juan Lateral. A new pumping plant at the intake will be constructed to convey water to the Frank Chee Willetto reservoir and then that water will be pumped to the San Juan Lateral Water Treatment Plant through an additional pumping plant on Reach 2. Modifications to the Frank Chee Willetto Reservoir are planned to increase functionality and reduce operational complexity.

Shiprock Connection location
Shiprock Connection

Once treated, the water will be carried downstream to the thousands of homes in communities along U.S. 491, Shiprock, New Mexico, Crownpoint, New Mexico and the City of Gallup, NM. Connections to and distribution of treated water into communities from the San Juan Lateral and sublaterals will be completed by the Navajo Nation through the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority.

Sublaterals to serve Coyote Canyon, Crownpoint, and surrounding communities
Sublaterals to serve Coyote Canyon, Crownpoint, and surrounding communities

Construction of the sublateral to the community of Coyote Canyon (Reach 10.1.1) began in February 2025 and is expected to be completed in 2026. Construction of the sublateral extending to Crownpoint, NM, (Reaches 10.1 – 10.3) is expected to begin in 2026.

Insert showing Reaches 12.1 and 12.2 near NM 260.
Insert showing Reaches 12.1 and 12.2 near NM 260.

The Codetalker sublateral (Reaches 12.1 and 12.2) has been installed parallel to NM Route 260 from Yah-te-Hey Junction to the Arizona border. This sublateral will provide water to Window Rock, Arizona through a short section that remains to be completed.

Cutter Lateral Construction

Cutter Lateral location
Cutter Lateral

Construction of the Cutter Lateral is complete except for Reach 24.1 Lybrook. Construction is anticipated to begin on that final section in early 2026.

Newsletter
News Releases

News Releases

Project Construction Committee Meeting Information

Project Construction Committee Meeting

The next meeting will be held July 31, 2025, from 9 a.m. to noon both in-person at NTUA Headquarters in Ft. Defiance and via Microsoft Teams. To participate virtually, please contact Sterling Acree at jacree@usbr.gov

Navajo Tribal Utility Authority
Indian Rte 12
Fort Defiance, AZ 86504

Past Project Construction Committee Meeting Summaries

For archived meeting summaries, please contact Sterling Acree at jacree@usbr.gov

2025

2024

2023

For questions or comments, contact

Bart Deming
Construction Engineer
Bureau of Reclamation, Four Corners Construction Office
1235 La Plata Highway
Farmington, NM 87401
(505) 324-5031
bdeming@usbr.gov

Last Updated: 5/6/25