PIPE SPRING Cultures at a Crossroads: An Administrative History

Tribal Developments and Tribal-Monument Relations

Development activity on the Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation, begun during the late 1960s, continued into the 1980s. Fifteen new houses were constructed in 1980, a development known as Juniper Estates, located about 2.5 miles northeast of the monument. Park Service officials viewed development of recreational facilities and water resources by the Tribe as having a direct effect on the monument, as such activities had potential to adversely affect the flow of the historic springs. [2284] The Tribe drilled a new well near the monument's well in 1980. In 1981 the Tribe laid a water line from its new well that was independent of the system constructed in 1973 by the Park Service. As the new pipeline was being laid, a tribal agent indicated to monument personnel that the Tribe might discontinue using the Park Service's water system entirely. [2285] The Tribe's new well provided water for the Tribe's gym (the multi-purpose center), tribal office building, and Juniper Estates and Kaibab housing complexes. The Tribe's water system appears to have been out of operation in 1983. In January 1984, Herr submitted notification to Tribal Chair Dolores Savala that water use by the Tribe far exceeded the amount of water the Park Service was required to provide per year. [2286] The original 1972 water agreement between the Park Service and the Tribe provided that the Tribe be billed for use of water in excess of 7,884,000 gallons. In 1983 the Tribe's use of water from the Park Service system totaled 16,734,120 gallons, most of which went to Juniper Estates (13,243,500 gallons). Herr informed the Tribe with his notification that the Park Service wished to terminate furnishing water to Juniper Estates as of January 20, 1984, while adding,

This in no manner will decrease our obligation of the seven million gallons per year but is necessary at this time to limit equipment failure due to over use. As always, we stand ready to provide a water supply source in case of an emergency.

At this time we are not considering billing the tribe for the excess of water delivered during 1983. [2287]

It appears that the Park Service chose to not bill the Tribe for the excess water used in 1983, perhaps to "soften the blow" of their intention to turn off the tap, so to speak, to Juniper Estates. This seems to have hastened the Tribe's efforts to get their water system back into operation. By April, the Tribe was still being provided water from the Park Service well, but Herr notified Regional Director Mintzmyer that, while the Tribe had had some problems with broken pipes and valves, its pump was installed and "ready to go." [2288]