Navajo farmers call for long-term sustainability and remediation following San Juan River flooding

SHIPROCK, NEW MEXICO — Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren has issued urgent safety warnings to residents on Tuesday as significant flooding continues to impact infrastructure and agricultural lands across the region. The flooding has saturated soils and damaged bridges, prompting the Navajo Nation to remain under an emergency declaration while chapters coordinate with the Navajo Department of Emergency Management. Zacahariah Ben, a sixth-generation farmer from Shiprock and owner of Bidii Baby Foods, is among those facing significant losses. Reporting for ICT, Kalle Benallie noted that Ben’s 30-acre farm in Cudeii was submerged, resulting in an estimated $85,000 in damages to infrastructure and products. The site was slated to host the Farmer-in-REZidence program, a dedicated initiative providing young farmers under the age of 30 with access to land and irrigation to increase the production of traditional foods. Despite the immediate challenges, including soil contamination from breached wastewater treatment plants, Ben is looking toward long-term solutions for the community. He has recommended that the Navajo Nation develop sustainability and remediation plans, such as working with FEMA to map floodplains and updating irrigation systems. Ben noted that improving collaboration with federal and state entities will be critical to bringing relief to Indigenous food systems adversely affected by the weather. Kelbie Kennedy, a former tribal advocate for FEMA, highlighted that the recovery process is sovereign-driven. She explained that President Nygren has the authority to coordinate with FEMA regional administrators to request further disaster declarations. While the recovery for some plots may take significant time, the focus remains on land remediation and establishing a contingency plan for future climate events to protect the resilience of Navajo agriculture.