WSP09303

• File Number: 8220.106
• Description: Animas-La Plata
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 1/1/1979
• Author: Unknown
• Title: Questions and Answers - Animas-La Plata Project
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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~~?)IMAS-LA PLATA PROJECT
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5. WOULD THE ENTIRE PROJECT BE OPERATED BY COLORADO BOARD? Initially, the
project would be under the direct adm~nistration of the Bureau of Reclamation.
During this time, personnel from the La Plata Conservancy District in New
Mexico, the La Plata Water Conservancy District in Colorado, and the Ute
Mountain Indian Tribe would be trained in all phases of the project's opera-
tion. This training interval is known as "development period," after which
administration of the project would be turned over to the local organizations
(the conservancy districts and the Ute Mountain Tribe). The development per-
iod would probably last from two to three years. The Bureau of Reclamation
would still be available for consultation and technical assistance after the
administration has been turned over to the local organizations. It is antici-
pated that the two Conservancy Districts would operate the facilities in their
respective States except those on Indian lands which would be operated by the
rspective Tribes. A Master governing body would be formed from representa-
tives of the entities subscribing for project water, including representatives
of municipalities.

6, WHAT IS THE PRIORITY ON WATER IN RIDGES BASIN? Municipal and industrial
water users would be fully supplied every year. A full supply would be de-
livered to the sprinkler irrigation areas in most years although shortages
would occur in drought years. The period of 1951-1956 was the longest and
most critical drought in the last 75 years. A simulation of project opera-
tions indicated that irrigation shortages would have averaged 12 percent per
year during this six year period.

7. HO'I WOULD THE FED RA TMENT IN D?
The cost allocate to ~rrigat~on w~ll be repaid ~nterest free from four prin-
cipal sources: irrigators, ad valorem taxes, revenues from Colorado River
Storage Project (CRSP) Basin Fund, and revenues from the Colorado River De-
velopment Fund.
Irrigators would pay both allocated construction and operation and main-
tenance (O&M) costs up to their estimated payment capacity, which was deter-
mined through the use of a computerized farm budget program which computes
estimated net farm income. An allowance for the farm family is subtracted
out which gives the farmer a return for his management, labor and equity. The
balance of the net income is determined to be the farm payment capacity. The
balance of the costs allocated to irrigation would be paid by ad valorem taxes
assessed by the district and revenues from the CRSP Basin Fund, and the
Colorad River Development Fund. CRSP funds are derived from the sale of power
from the water storage projects on the Colorado River such as Glen Canyon Dam
and Flaming Gorge Dam, after these projects have been paid for. Excess reve-
nues from these storage projects are put into a fund which by law will be used
to repay part of the costs allocated to irrigation on projects designated as
CRSP participating projects, of which the Animas-La Plata Project is one.
Irrigators would pay approximately 10 percent of their allocated costs.
Ad valorem taxes would pay approximately 5 percent and the balance (85 percent)
woul come from CRSP funds. Costs allocated to Indian lands would be deferred
until such time that the Indian lands pass into non-Indian ownership, if ever.
Costs allocated at M & I water will be repaid with interest at 6.595% by
those who contract for the water. This repayment would be spread over a 50
year payout period. provision is made for a ten year deferral of costs
associated with storage for future years capacity provided the deferred costs
do not exceed 30 percent of the total project cost--for example:
Durango would be able to defer payment on 4100 acre-feet of water for
the first ten years. This would amount to an annual savings of
$274,700 each year of the deferral period.

8. WHAT WILL BE THE COST OF PUMPING? Operation and maintenance (O&M) costs
directly attributable to project pumping represent nearly 80 percent of the
total annual 0 & M costs of the Animas-La Plata Project. Included in the
pumping costs are electrical power and transmission costs, personnel and
equipment costs, supplies costs, major replacement costs, and special items
costs. A breakdown of these costs, based on current prices, is given in
the following table:

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