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" . ANIMAS-LA PLATA PROJECT . " 3. WHAT LIMITATIONS WILL BE PLACED ON THE WATER RIGHTS OF DURANGO SERVICE , '''^",',"' ,..' A'REA'AFTER 'THE PROJECTMI GHTBE COMPLETED? The project plan is pre- dicated on the assumption that 41.75 cfs of conditional water rights in the Animas River would be abandoned and that the remaining 16.78 cfs of Animas River rights would be limited in use to the period April through September. The Bureau of Reclamation assumed all this water would be used for raw water irrigation on public parks, etc. 4~ E PLA N CONDITIONAL AND ABS LUT RIGHTS. A conditional water right estab ~s s an ~ntent to use water bene ~c~ally at some time in the future. To obtain an absolute water right the water must have already been used beneficially. When a conditional right is applied to beneficial use, it re- tains a priority equivalent to the date intent to use was originally establish- ed. Hcwever, the owner of a conditional right must demonstrate due diligence every four years. 5. WILL DURANGO CONTINUE TO USE ITS WATER RIGHTS FROM THE FLORIDA RIVER? CAN IT RETAIN THOSE RIGHTS IF THEY ARE NOT USED? YES, Durango, will retain and use all of its 8.92 cfs rights in the Florida River. Since this water can be delivered by gravity with little cost, it will always be used as a base flow. There would be no danger of loosing these rights from lack of use. 6. WHAT HAPPENS TO DURANGO'S PRESENT TREATMENT PLANT? Durango's existing treatment plant would continue to be used to treat Florida River Water. 7. WHAT WOULD SYSTEM)? ' in standby valid. HAPPEN TO DURANGO'S ANIMAS PUMP AND FORCE MAIN (29TH STREET Until these facilities are actually needed, they would be condition and used only enough to keep its water rights. (9,28 kept cfs) 8. COULD THE PRACTICE OF RAW WATER PUMPING BE CONTINUED WITH THE PROJECT? YES. 9. ARE SUPPLIES FOR THE DURANGO SERVICE AREA ADEQUATE? IF SO, WHEN IS IT PROJECTED THAT THEY WILL NOT BE? The water supply available to Durango is adequate for the present population. However, if the project is not built the water entities must initiate an aggresive expansion program immediately. 10. WHAT POPULATION AND MUNICIPAL USE RATE WAS USED IN DESIGNING THE PROJECT? It was designed for an est1ffiated population of 48,900 in the year 2020. An average use rate of 2.52 gallons per capita per day was used. This excludes raw water use. The total annual demand for treated water was estimated to be 13,800 acre-feet. Of this amount the Bureau of Reclamation assumed an average of 5,600 acre-feet would be diverted from the Florida River and that the re- maining 8,200 acre-feet would be furnished by the project. The Bureau's assumption provides some padding for the Durango service area. Under ultimate development the Animas Pump and Force Main could be put back into operatin to deliver water to the existing treatment during the per- iod April through September. This would allow the service area to develop a total of 16,800 acre-feet of treated water and an additional 1,730 acre- feet of raw water. Refer to the graph on the following page. ~ 11. H0\1 MANY DOWNSTREAM WATER RIGHTS ARE SENIOR IN PRIORITY TO THOSE OF THE DURANGO SERVICE AREA? In Colorado there are 52 cfs'and~03 cfs in New Mexico making a total of 633 cfs. In addition, the pending water right suite by the Justice Department on behalf of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe could result in sizable rights that would undoubtedly date back to the 1868's when the Reservation was formed for the Tribe. 6