Story by Brianna Kamienski / MSN

Water is essential to life, but it has an even deeper meaning for those without consistent, clean, reliable drinking water. The Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians has long struggled with aging infrastructure in Big Valley Rancheria in Lake County, California. Even though the tribe is located near Clear Lake, the water supply had ongoing quality issues, including discoloration and hardness.

“Our community is the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians. We have several villages around this area; it’s a longstanding community of over 1,200 citizens. The tribe really prides itself on its sovereignty. Part of that is water sovereignty,” Tribal Chairman Flaman McCloud Jr said.

The Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians understood that the water issues needed more than a technical fix. For the tribe, water is tied to independence, health, and the ability to provide and care for their community on their own terms. The tribal leadership desired a solution to their water infrastructure problems that would respect tribal sovereignty, match the quality standards of surrounding communities, and serve the tribe and future generations.