Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan and Chairman Merlyn Dixon of the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribes of Nevada today signed agreements settling water disputes dating back to the early years of this century.
"The agreements mark a big step forward toward final resolution of the dispute between the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribes and the U.S. Government," Lujan said. "This will allow the Tribes and the U.S. Government to put the conflicts of the past behind them, and work toward a better future." The agreements will implement provisions of the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribal Settlement Act which includes a million endowment fund for the tribe. The $43 million is to be paid in installments over a six-year period. The tribes can use interest from the fund for economic development and other purposes. Up to 20 percent of the fund can be loaned to the tribes for certain purposes but must be repaid.
The agreements settle disputes that arose from construction of the first major Federal reclamation project, The Newlands Project of 1902.
