Senators Padilla, Schiff and Reps. Issa, Calvert Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Update Pechanga Water Rights Settlement

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both-D-Calif.) and Representatives Darrell Issa (R-Calif.-48) and Ken Calvert (R-Calif.-41) this week introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to make targeted, technical updates to the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Mission Indians Water Rights Settlement Act, ensuring the agreement reflects current trust lands and modern water quality challenges.

"For generations, the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Mission Indians has been a dedicated steward of land and water resources within the Santa Margarita River Watershed," said Senator Padilla. "This legislation makes long-overdue updates to the Pechanga Band Water Rights Settlement to reflect current trust lands and confront modern water quality challenges like PFAS contamination. Tribal water rights are fundamental to sovereignty, public health, and long-term sustainability, and this bill ensures the Tribe has the tools and flexibility to continue protecting its water resources for future generations."

"This much-needed legislation will help uphold water rights for the Pechanga tribal land and expand resources to improve water quality - helping support tribal agriculture, public health, and economic security," said Senator Schiff.

"The Pechanga Band of Mission Indians is a critically important civic and cultural institution to our Southern California community, and I know they will carry out its rightful stewardship with precision and care to preserve and protect tribal lands," said Representative Issa. "We worked diligently to introduce this legislation that will allow Pechanga to address important community concerns, and I thank Senator Padilla for his partnership and support of tribal communities across California."

"Pechanga is grateful to Senators Padilla and Schiff, and Representatives Issa and Calvert for championing this bill - a common-sense solution that honors the intent of our water settlement, protects Pechanga's sovereign rights, and ensures we have the tools to safeguard our water from emerging threats like PFAS. Water is central to our people and our homelands. We deeply appreciate their leadership in standing with Pechanga to protect this vital resource for generations to come," said Mark Macarro, Chairman of the Pechanga Band of Indians.

The legislation updates the settlement agreement to ensure it keeps pace with the Tribe's current land base and evolving water needs. Specifically, it would:

• Update the definition of "Reservation" to include current and future lands taken into trust, ensuring those lands are eligible for Pechanga's water rights.
• Expand allowable uses of the water quality fund to support a broader range of water quality improvement efforts, including addressing PFAS and other emerging contaminants.

The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Mission Indians is a federally recognized Tribe. Since the 1950s, the Tribe has worked collaboratively with surrounding water users to protect the long-term sustainability of the Santa Margarita River Watershed, culminating in a negotiated settlement with the Rancho California Water District, Eastern Municipal Water District, Metropolitan Water District, and the United States. That agreement was authorized as part of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act in 2016 and became fully enforceable in 2020. It clarified the Tribe's water rights and established cooperative water management frameworks with local agencies.

All impacted water agencies have expressed support for these technical updates, which are needed to reflect additional lands taken into trust and to address water contaminants identified since the original agreement.

The full bill text can be found here.