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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Providing a dependable long-tenn water supply for neighboring Indian and <br />non-Indian community water needs, including the Animas-La Plata Water <br />Conservancy District, the La Plata Water Conservancy District, the San <br />Juan Water Commission, and the Navajo Nation at Shiprock, New Mexico, <br /> <br />Needs for the Project are also described in the DPR and 1980 FES and are summarized <br />below: <br /> <br />· An unreliable and inadequate water supply for irrigation results from the <br />limited storage and river flow regulation available on either the Animas or <br />La Plata Rivers. <br /> <br />· The available water supply for municipal and industrial (M&I) use is <br />inadequate. <br /> <br />· Economic bettennent is needed for Project area residents, particularly the <br />Native American (Indian) and Hispanic populations, <br /> <br />· Expanded and new recreation facilities are required to meet present and <br />future demand. <br /> <br />. Local fishing opportunities are limited and should be enhanced. <br /> <br />The Project's purpose of providing a viable means to meet those identified needs remains <br />unchanged. In addition to providing agricultural, municipal, and industrial water, the <br />Project as proposed would now also satisfy the Project's portion of the Colorado Ute <br />Indian water rights claims as specified by the Settlement Act which is to: <br /> <br />· Provide for settlement of the claims of the Southern Ute Indian and Ute <br />Mountain Ute Tribes (Tribes) to beneficially use water for agricultural, <br />municipal, and industrial uses on, under, adjacent to, or otherwise <br />appurtenant to the Tribal reservations <br /> <br />· Settle existing disputes and remove potential causes of future water-related <br />controversy between the Tribes and the State of Colorado, the United <br />States, and other persons conceming Tribal rights to beneficially use water <br />in southwestern Colorado <br /> <br />· Settle all claims by the Tribes, and by the United States on behalf of the <br />Tribes, in water adjudication hearings <br /> <br />· Secure for the Tribes an opportunity to maximize an economic benefit from <br />the Project <br /> <br />. Enhance the Tribes' ability to meet their repayment obligations <br /> <br />15 <br />