Largest water settlement in US history returns water to Native American tribes

In the Western United States, water rights have been hotly contested for decades. Native American tribes have demonstrated their priority ahead of most claims as they've been using the water for centuries beforehand -- and after thirty years of litigation, the largest water settlement in Indian country has been reached between the Pima and Maricopa tribes and state and federal entities.

The water that the tribes lived off of for generations was diverted for commercial agriculture in the earlier part of the century. Now it will slowly return and hopefully help local agricultural efforts by tribes in an effort to restore health of members against the onset of problems like diabetes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/31/us/31diabetes.html?ref=health