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! l' I. . . . Ridges Basin Reservoir, Long Hollow Tunnel, and Dry Side Canal to the turnout to Dry Side Lateral are to be completed so as to enable delivery of water to the Tribes on or before January I, 2000. These features are included in Phase I. . If those features are not completed by January 1, 2000, then by January I, 2005, the Tribes must elect to either retain the Project water rights or commence litigation or renegotiation of their pending reserved water rights claims. The Settlement Act also established a Tribal Development Fund (TDF) totaling $60.5 million for the Tribes. The purpose of the TDF is to enable the Tribes to develop their resources, including water resources, on the reservations. The Southern Ute Indian Tribe received $20 million, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe received $40.5 million. The United States' financial contribution to the TDF is $49.5 million, which has been made in three annual installments. The State of Colorado's contribution to the TDF is $11 million, allocated as follows: (I) $5 million direct contribution to the TDF and (2) $6 million for construction of the Towaoc Pipeline and a domestic water distribution system (to be credited to the TDF). In addition, Colorado is required to contribute $5.6 million to Ridges Basin Dam construction costs under terms of the Settlement Agreement. Final consent decrees, which implemented certain provisions of the Settlement Agreement and the Settlement Act, were signed in U.S. District Court for Water Division No.7, State of Colorado, on December 19, 1991. With the consent decree in place, the Tribes waive any and all claims to water rights in the State of Colorado not expressly identified in the decree after certain requirements are completed. In summary. unless Phase I Stage B of the Proiect is completed the Tribes mllY litigate their reserved rights claims on the Animas and La Plata Rivers PROPOSED ACTION INTRODUCTION This section describes the Bureau of Reclamation's (Reclamation) currently proposed action (the preferred alternative, or Proposed Plan). Proposed Plan The Proposed Plan incorporates refinements and modifications to the Project and addresses new information relevant to environmental concerns that has become available since the 1980 FES. It incorporates phased construction and operation of the entire Project, consistent with the Settlement Act and Endangered Species Act (ESA)- 21