ART BUNCE

Art Bunce has served as a tribal attorney for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians since 1978, handling legal matters on land use, jurisdiction, taxation, establishment of gaming prior to state compact, water and sovereignty.

In 1983, he began working as tribal attorney for the Barona Band of Mission Indians in San Diego County, handling legal matters, including sovereignty, tribal use of groundwater, and establishment of gaming.

In 2017, Mr. Bunce began serving as Associate Special Water Counsel for San Luis Rey Indian Water Authority, which concluded 48 years of water rights litigation in 2017 with favorable settlement by Congress. He currently managing relations with San Diego County Water Authority and others and is assisting in the formation of Groundwater Sustainability

Daniel Shillito

Currently, a Consultant on Native American issues representing Tribes and allotted Indians. Formerly the Regional Solicitor, Department of the Interior, Sacramento, California, responsible for representing the Departmental interests within the State. Over forty years experience in areas of litigation, commercial leases, and natural resource matters developed as a working practitioner with the federal government and two law firms. Earlier positions included the Field Solicitor, Palm Springs, California; Associate Solicitor for both the Divisions of Conservation & Wildlife and General Law. Lead counsel for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during the ESA Exemption Process for the Northern Spotted Owl. Associate Solicitor, General Law (1990-1991) responsible for matters involving procurement, labor law and the U.S. Trust Territories. Lead evidentiary counsel for the Department of Interior on the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

Served as the legal advisor to the Secretary of Interior (1) on various Indian Water Settlements, (2) wrote the legislation, H.R. 4841, enacted by Congress on January 3, 2008 and signed by the President on July 31, 2008, and (3) authored the Environmental Compliance Guidelines for the Secretary’s Indian Water Rights Settlements consistent with the promulgated policy created in “Criteria and Procedures for Indian Water Rights Settlement,” 55 Fed.Reg. 9223, March 12, 1990.

Education: University of Dayton, BS, 1970, Ohio Northern School of Law, 1973

Heather Whiteman Runs Him

Heather Whiteman Runs Him is a citizen of the Crow (Apsaalooke) Tribe of Montana. She currently serves as Director of the Tribal Justice Clinic and Associate Clinical Professor at the Rogers School of Law at University of Arizona in Tucson. Heather’s teaching and research focuses on tribal water rights and water governance, Indigenous Peoples’ rights and international human rights, tribal law, and tribal legal institutions. Heather previously worked as a senior staff attorney at the Native American Rights Fund in Boulder, Colorado, focusing on tribal water rights, natural resource and sacred site protection, and international legal advocacy on the rights of indigenous peoples. Prior to working at NARF, Heather served as Joint Lead Counsel for the Crow Tribe of Montana, where she oversaw a wide variety of legal issues and worked to secure federal and tribal ratification of the Crow Water Rights Settlement. Heather also practiced in New Mexico as an Assistant Public Defender, and additionally worked as an associate attorney in private practice, serving tribal governmental clients on a wide variety of issues.

Heather received her Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School. She received her B.A.F.A. with high honors in Art History, and with honors in Studio Art from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, and her A.F.A. from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She currently serves on the Arizona Advisory Committee on Civil Rights and is a judge for the Southwestern Intertribal Court of Appeals. She is admitted to practice before the state bar of New Mexico, and several federal trial and appellate courts.

THOMAS J. DAVIS, AICP

Mr. Davis recently retired as the Chief Planning and Development Officer for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in Palm Springs. Prior to working for the Tribe, Mr. Davis was a partner in two consulting firms over a fourteen-year period serving cities, counties and real estate development companies. His past public experience includes over two years with the City of Chula Vista Planning Department, Planning Commissioner of the City of Coronado, and several appointments with the City of San Clemente. Mr. Davis presently sits on the Board of One Future Coachella Valley, recently appointed to the City of Prescott Board of Adjustments and Industrial Development Authority; and he is an emeritus member of the California Planning Roundtable. Mr. Davis previously served on the Colorado River Regional Water Quality Control Board under three governors of California. Mr. Davis has extensive experience with multi-discipline, complex land planning projects.

Mr. Davis was the principal planning executive for the Tribe for almost three decades. The Reservation covers 32,000 acres over four local jurisdictions (Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, and the County of Riverside). This federally recognized Indian Tribe has many challenges and opportunities. Mr. Davis’ position included coordination and development of all projects occurring on Tribal land and as a local government liaison, monitoring community development that affects Tribal land. Reporting directly to the Tribal Council, his department oversaw Tribal economic development, cultural resource protection, environmental review, land acquisitions and land use management.

Mr. Davis received his Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture at California State Polytechnic University. He has completed postgraduate coursework in real estate development and received his MA in Education from California State University San Bernardino. Mr. Davis is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners and past volunteer activities have included serving as President of a Chamber of Commerce, Guide Dogs of the Desert and a Boys and Girls Club.

Russ Martin

Russ Martin was elected to the Board of Directors of Mission Springs Water District in 2010, serving three terms as President and four terms as Vice President. He has served the Desert Hot Springs area for many years, including serving as President of Cabot’s Pueblo Museum Foundation, the Past Chairman of the Desert Hot Springs Redevelopment Agency Oversight Board, the Past Chairman of the Desert Hot Springs Public Safety Commission and as an Alternate Riverside Countywide Oversight Board Member and representative for 5th District County Supervisor on two separate Committees. Mr. Martin is also retired from his law enforcement career.

Water is Life

The Agua Caliente Water Authority manages and regulates groundwater within the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation

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About us

Our Mission

The Agua Caliente Water Authority is a branch of Tribal Government that regulates and administers the Tribe’s groundwater to protect the public health, safety and welfare and the economic security of the Tribe, its Members, Tribal Entities, and the Reservation Community.

Our Plan

The Agua Caliente Water Authority is focused on water stewardship policies to protect the water supply now and into the future.

Our Vision

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, long-time stewards of our Valley's natural resources, created the Agua Caliente Water Authority to ensure water security for present and future generations.

Operating Documents

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Resolution 24-01

FY 2025 Groundwater Production Fee

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Resolution 23-02

2024 Meeting Schedule

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Resolution 23-01

FY 2024 Groundwater Production Fee

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Resolution 22-02

2023 Meeting Schedule

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Resolution 22-01

Tribal Water Authority

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Annual Goundwater Conditions Report

Tribal Water Authority

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Ordinance 55

Tribal Water Authority

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Well Drilling Permit

Application

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Resolution 44-19

Groundwater Storage

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Resolution 45-19

Board Appointment

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Resolution 21-02

Groundwater Production

Water is Life

Meeting Agenda

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Online Meeting Notice

September 25, 2024

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Online Meeting Notice

June 26, 2024

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Online Meeting Notice

April 24, 2024

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Online Meeting Notice

February 28, 2024

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Annual Meeting Notice

December 13, 2023

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Online Meeting Notice

September 27, 2023

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Online Meeting Notice

June 28, 2023

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Online Meeting Notice

February 22, 2023

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Annual Meeting Notice

December 14, 2022

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Online Meeting Notice

September 28, 2022

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Online Meeting Notice

June 22, 2022

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Online Meeting Notice

April 27, 2022

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Online Meeting Notice

February 23, 2022

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Annual Meeting Notice

December 15, 2021

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Online Meeting Notice

September 22, 2021

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Online Meeting Notice

June 23, 2021

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Online Meeting Notice

April 28, 2021

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Online Meeting Notice

February 16, 2021

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Online Meeting Notice

December 2, 2020

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Online Meeting Notice

September 23, 2020

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Meeting Notice

April 31, 2020

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Meeting Notice

January 31, 2020

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Meeting Notice

December 9, 2019

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Meeting Notice

October 30, 2019

Board of Directors

Agua Caliente Water Authority

CEO

buncelaw@aol.com

M: (760) 807-3250

H: (760) 747-1618

W: (760) 489-0329

101 State Place, Suite C P. O. Box 1416 Escondido, CA 92033-1416

Art Bunce

abunce@acwaterauthority.org


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dshillito@aol.comm

M: (760) 402-4074

H: (760) 542-9580

W: (760) 978-5671

1133 Catalina Blvd. San Diego, CA 92107

Daniel G. Shillito

dshillito@acwaterauthority.org


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buncelaw@aol.com

40199 Calle Loma Entrada Indio, CA 92203

Heather Whiteman Runs Him

hwhitemanrunshim@acwaterauthority.org


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bmurillogolf9766@gmail.com

Thomas J. Davis

tomdavis@acwaterauthority.org


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rmartin@mswd.org
rmartin93068@yahoo.com

M: (760) 902-1924

H: (760) 329-5145

W: (760) 329-5169 ext.137

11465 Pomelo Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240

Russ Martin

rmartin@acwaterauthority.org


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Newsroom

Q&A

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has sovereign authority over its territory and property. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that territory and property includes groundwater under the Agua Caliente Reservation. By establishing a Water Authority and implementing a permitting process for the production of groundwater on the Agua Caliente Reservation, the Tribe is taking a significant step towards exercising its sovereign authority over its vital water resource.

The Agua Caliente Tribe has authority under its Constitution and federal law to enact laws for the governance of its Reservation. The Tribal Council, acting under this authority, enacted the Water Authority Ordinance on August 6, 2019, and published notice of the ordinance in the Desert Sun on August 20, 2019 and August 27, 2019. The Water Authority Ordinance is codified as Chapter 7.12 of the Agua Caliente Tribal Code.


The long term availability of abundant, clean groundwater is of paramount importance to the health, security, and economic well-being of the Tribe, its members, and the entire Reservation community. The Water Authority will help to ensure that this critical need is met by regulating and tracking where and how the Tribe’s federally reserved groundwater is produced and used, monitoring groundwater levels and quality, and implementing responsible management and permitting practices that ensure the appropriate and responsible use and administration of this resource for present and future generations.

Agua Caliente, in exercising its sovereign authority over its federally reserved water right, is cognizant of longstanding water use on the Reservation and of the importance of groundwater to the entire community, tribal and non-tribal alike. The Tribe understands that the health and wellbeing of the entire community is interdependent, and it stands ready to work with all stakeholders to ensure that its regulations are implemented in the least disruptive manner possible consistent with the Water Authority’s purpose of responsibly managing and protecting groundwater


The Authority will be governed by a board of six members, including one Agua Caliente Tribal Council member serving in an ex officio capacity and 5 members with professional experience in water management and related fields. The Authority, through its Board, will be responsible for monitoring, managing, and reporting on groundwater production and conditions within the Agua Caliente Reservation. The Agua Caliente Tribal Council will appoint the board members.


No, the Water Ordinance makes the production of water under the Agua Caliente Reservation less expensive than it is now. The Water Ordinance provides that the fees CVWD and DWA impose are preempted and that the Tribe’s fees must be lower than the water districts’ fees. Therefore, groundwater production on the Reservation should be less expensive as a result of the Ordinance.


As you’re likely aware, Agua Caliente has been involved in a federal lawsuit with CVWD and DWA for the last several years regarding the Tribe’s groundwater rights. In the course of that litigation, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals confirmed that the Tribe has federal water rights in the groundwater under the Reservation.

Based on the ruling from the Court, and in the interest of monitoring, protecting, and exercising its decreed water right, the Tribal Council approved the Water Authority Ordinance.


The Water Ordinance only applies to individuals or entities who have wells on the Agua Caliente Reservation or who pump groundwater from under the Reservation.


One of the ways that the Water Authority will carry out its responsibilities is by implementing a new permitting system for on-Reservation well drilling and groundwater production. The Water Ordinance requires that all entities and individuals producing groundwater within the Reservation file a permit application by December 4, 2019 – 120 days after the effective date of the Ordinance. For new wells drilled on the Reservation, applications must be filed before drilling and groundwater production can occur


Applicants will need to provide, among other things: (1) the legal description of the parcel where groundwater is or will be produced; (2) the approximate amount of groundwater to be produced each month for the coming year; (3) for what purpose and where the water will be used; and (4) available data regarding the history of groundwater production and groundwater quality at the site in question, including available well logs. These requirements are spelled out in more detail in Chapter 2, Part I.B of the Ordinance. Gathering this data in connection with the permitting process will enable the Water Authority to track the amount and location of groundwater being produced on the Reservation and assist in the Authority’s management of the resource

It is important to note that while the Ordinance requires a valid permit to produce groundwater on the Reservation going forward, it also contains a limited grandfather clause. Under this clause, any current groundwater production or production commenced prior to December 4, 2019 will continue to be lawful pending the Water Authority’s grant or denial of a permit, as long as a permit application is submitted by the December 4, 2019 deadline.


The Tribe has the authority under the Ordinance to order the cessation of production from wells currently in operation on the Reservation if applications are not filed and permits granted by the Authority under the time periods described above. It also has the authority to stop the drilling of new wells that are not permitted, if the owner or operator ignores Tribal law. The Tribe and the Water Authority intend this new law to play an important role in protecting the groundwater aquifer underlying the Reservation for the benefit of all Reservation residents. The Tribe and the Authority intend to work cooperatively with current and future producers of groundwater to achieve these objectives.


The Ordinance requires the Authority Board to take action on any permit application within 6 months of filing.


The Ordinance empowers the Water Authority to levy and collect fees on the production of groundwater on the Reservation. These fees would compensate the Tribe for production of the Reservation’s groundwater and fund the Water Authority’s regulatory activities. No fees are set to go into effect immediately. They can only be implemented by the Authority Board, and the Ordinance requires that the Authority provide notice to all producers and hold a public meeting to discuss any proposed groundwater production fee before it goes into effect.


When the United States established the Agua Caliente Reservation, it reserved the groundwater underlying the Reservation to the full extent necessary to meet the Reservation’s future needs. Agua Caliente holds both property and sovereign interests in this reserved groundwater just like it does the land constituting the Agua Caliente Reservation. Accordingly, under federal and tribal law, Agua Caliente has the right to regulate the use of the groundwater reserved for the Agua Caliente Reservation.

The permitting system and groundwater production fee, if one is implemented by the Water Authority, are valid exercises of the Tribe’s sovereign and property rights over its groundwater


Settled federal law makes clear that the replenishment assessments currently levied on the on reservation production of the Tribe’s groundwater by the Tribe, its members, or their lessees are preempted by the Tribe’s federal water right and federal law. Accordingly, any groundwater production fees that may be levied by the Water Authority as fees that would be charged instead of, rather than in addition to, the districts’ replenishment assessments. The Tribe and the Water Authority recommend that any groundwater producers consult their own legal counsel if they have any questions about the extent to which they should continue paying those assessments.


In accordance with settled and longstanding federal law, the Tribe’s position is that Tribal law governs the production of groundwater on the Reservation. Nevertheless, you should consult your own legal counsel on this question.

Contact Us

Margaret Park AICP, MBA
Chief Planning Officer

Address

5401 Dinah Shore Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92264

Phone Number

760-699-6800

Email

mpark@acwaterauthority.org