The U.S. House took a major step Thursday in resolving two decades-old pueblo water rights cases in New Mexico, approving the Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act and the Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act.

Both bills go next to the Senate Indian Affairs committee, where U.S. Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall have worked to gain support.

The Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act settles the claims of Taos Pueblo and passed by a vote of 254 to 158. The Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act, which settles the water rights claims by the pueblos of Tesuque, San Ildefonso, Nambe and Pojoaque, passed on a 249 to 153 vote.

The Taos Pueblo bill authorizes federal appropriations to build and rehabilitate water systems in the Taos Valley and establishes a trust fund for the pueblo to buy water rights and allows the pueblo to market the rights. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will require $25 million in federal funds from 2010 to 2014 and $114 million after 2017.

"We are elated at the passage," Taos Pueblo Gov. James Lujan Sr. said in a statement. Lujan signed the draft settlement agreement in 2006 in his first term as governor.

The Taos Pueblo act also is supported by the state, the Rio de Tesuque Acequia Association, the Taos Valley Acequia Association, The Town of Taos, and 12 Taos Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Associations.

The Aamodt settlement act settles the four pueblos' claims to water and authorizes the appropriations of funds to build a regional water system. It also establishes a fund for the pueblos to maintain the system. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the act will cost $71 million in federal funds from 2010 to 2014 and $128 million after 2014.

While the Aamodt settlement is supported by the state, Santa Fe county, several acequia associations and some individual private water users, portions of it are still opposed by some nonpueblo domestic well owners. They believe a regional water system is unnecessary and expensive. In addition, they believe the settlement will eventually force well owners to plug their wells and tie into the regional system.

Contact Staci Matlock at 986-3055 or smatlock@sfnewmexican.com.