OPINION – In 1922, a small group of leaders divided the Colorado River behind closed doors. They ignored the Tribal Nations who lived near the water for centuries. They also ignored how the river actually worked. They looked at a few wet years and guessed there would always be plenty of water. They were wrong.

For a long time, big dams hid those mistakes. But today, the water is running out. The seven states that use the river face a major federal deadline of Feb. 14. If they cannot agree on a new plan, the government may take control. The old days of using “paper water” that does not exist are over. Everyone must face the reality of a dry river.

This is where tribal power changes the game. Tribes are now in the center of the fight using senior rights, money and new management roles. First, tribes hold the oldest legal rights to the water. In the West, seniority is everything. The person who had the water first keeps it when the river goes dry. Together, 30 tribes own about one-fourth of the river. Recognizing these rights makes everyone else's pie smaller. For a century, cities used this water for free. That is over.

Second, tribes have set a new market price for water. They are being paid about $400 per acre-foot to save water. The Gila River Indian Community received hundreds of millions of dollars to leave water in Lake Mead. This proved that tribal conservation keeps the system alive.

Finally, tribes are demanding a seat at the table. They want to help run the river, not just give advice. With the states stuck in an argument, tribal consent is now required for any deal. The tribes are reminding everyone of a simple truth: if we take more than the river can give, no deal will work.

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