Impacts of Drought on Tribal Economies in Arizona

Sustaining agricultural production on tribal lands will become progressively more challenging in the future due to decreased water availability, extended droughts, and changes in precipitation amounts and timing. The objective of this fact sheet is to illustrate the economic impacts of drought on agriculture and reservation economies in Arizona. Arizona is the fourth driest state in the United States, with average yearly precipitation of 11.24 inches, and 78% of the state experienced abnormally dry conditions over the past 20 years. The results discussed here cover five reservations located in Arizona, including the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, San Carlos Apache Tribe, Tohono O’odham Nation, and White Mountain Apache Tribe