WATER · ISSUE 5 OF 5
Chapter Waterline Projects Stalling
What it is
ARPA-funded waterline extensions, braided federal funding, and rights-of-way that take years to clear — projects get announced and then stall. Marcella Yazzie named specific extensions fifteen to twenty miles east of Cameron Canyon, tied to ARPA-funded homes for 2026. A single waterline project can involve NTUA, IHS, the chapter, a federal transportation program, BIA land, and a county road — each with its own authority and timeline.
The seam: The coordination drag is not a funding problem alone — it is a handoff problem. No office is currently responsible for the handoff between agencies a waterline project crosses.
Learn
Understand the system — then consult an expert
Infrastructure 101 — braided funding, rights-of-way, and why projects stall across jurisdictions.
Chapter Government & the LGA — chapters are the first door for local waterline projects.
The Seams — the coordination handoff problem is a documented seam in the law.
Consult an expert: Ask about waterline project accountability →
Plan & Assess
Where candidates stand — weigh it yourself
Infrastructure — candidates side by side — who named stalled projects and proposed fixes for the coordination problem.
Boil snow — includes the Cameron Canyon extension reference and the pattern of stalled projects.
Ask any candidate: What waterline projects are pending in this chapter, and what is holding them up? Full list →
Act
What you can do now
Request the data: Ask your chapter what waterline projects are pending, their funding source, and current status. How to request the record →
Report the stall: If a project was announced and has gone quiet, document it. Share what you observe →
Report & Monitor
Track progress — hold the right office accountable
What should be public: A list of pending waterline projects by chapter, funding status, and cause of delay. What should be public →
Track: Community survey → · Community Findings →