The podcast explores the history and challenges of water management in Southern Arizona, specifically focusing on the Tohono O’odham Nation and their sustainable practices. It discusses the intricate canal systems built by the Huhugam and Tahanaothum tribes, the impact of the DAWS Act on tribal lands, water management in a desert community, and the practice of dryland farming. The episode also highlights efforts for water rights, legislation for Colorado River Water access, and preserving cultural traditions.
The Tohono O’odham Nation and its predecessors had sophisticated canal systems to manage water, demonstrating the importance of conserving and managing water resources collectively.
The arrival of white settlers in the region led to challenges in water management, including the depletion of groundwater and drying up of rivers, but efforts to restore water sources have been made through legislation and the adoption of traditional farming techniques.
Deep dives
Resilience through Traditional Water Management Systems
The Hukum and Tohanaothum nations created sophisticated canal systems to manage water and sustain flood irrigation for farming. These systems, built by their ancestors, were among the most extensive and complex in North America. They understood the importance of conserving water and managing resources collectively and sustainably, ensuring the needs of future generations and other living beings were met.
Impact of Settlers on Water Management
With the arrival of white settlers, water management in the region faced significant challenges. The settlers used water as if they were still in greener environments, not realizing its scarcity in the desert. Reservoirs were built downstream, deeper ditches were dug, and water-intensive crops like pecans were introduced, depleting the groundwater and leading to a decline in farming and drying up of rivers.
Revitalization Efforts and Water Rights
The Tohanaothum nation fought for their water rights in the 1970s, resulting in the passing of the Southern Arizona Water Rights Settlement Act in 1982. This legislation granted the tribe a share of Colorado River water through the Central Arizona Project, leading to the partial restoration of water sources. Efforts to stabilize riverbanks, create floodwater channels, and adopt traditional farming techniques have also contributed to the restoration of water and land in the area.
The Tohono O’odham Nation and its predecessors, the Huhugam, have used canals to move water around Southern Arizona for millenia. As settlers arrived, they dug deep and changed the face of water management in the area, drying up rivers and tightening resources. Now, the Tohono O’odham Nation is looking into older practices around water and bringing some back into the fold.
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