Empty dams, broken laws: Diné ranchers call for change
Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
Cattle graze near a dry, cracked earth dam on June 24 in Burnham, N.M., as drought conditions persist across the region.
TWIN ARROWS, Ariz.
A rusting water tank spray-painted with the words “Water is Life” sits beside a windmill outside in Greasewood Springs, Arizona.
Cattle lie next to it, perhaps resting before wandering off into the overgrazed lands to seek nourishment.
About 150 miles to the northeast, another herd of cattle seems to be waiting for rain to fill a dry earthen dam in Burnham, New Mexico. They stand quietly and still as rain clouds to their south attempt to bring the area’s monsoon rainstorms.
So far, no rain has fallen in the area.
Navajo farm board members and grazing officials gathered Saturday to deliver such stark reports to the Navajo Nation Resources and Development Committee. The meeting was held at the Twin Arrows Casino and Resort.
They spoke of failing irrigation systems, overgrown farmland, outdated laws, and a lack of enforcement, making it nearly impossible for many to sustain their farms and livestock.
Among the most urgent concerns was the breakdown of irrigation infrastructure during peak planting season. Dan Smith of the San Juan River Farm Board said a major siphon leak had cut off water, placing crops at risk.
To read the full article, please see the June 26, 2025, edition of the Navajo Times.
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