Laserfiche WebLink
<br />~IIArufr,r.r,!T D Ir:OI~rrplll('r" <br />H LJ_-..JJU!..J.'LL-J)~l~ JJlJ...1J.il.!J....UL <br /> <br />P~,GE 3 <br /> <br />THEIR POTENTIAL WATER RIGHTS IN LIEU OF RECEIVING WATER FROM THE <br />DOLORES AND ANIMAS-LA PLATA PROJECTS, <br /> <br />By BUILDING THESE TWO PROJECTS, THE UNITED STATES GOVERN- <br />MENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECTIFY SERIOUS SOCIAL AND ECONOMICAL <br />InJUSTICES THAT IT HAS CREATED BY: (1) ViAITING FOR OVER A CENTURY <br />AFTER THE UTE RESERVATIONS \'!ERE ESTABLI SH::D BEFORE IT MADE ANY <br />ATTE~1PT TO QUANTIFY THE I'IATER RIGHTS TO WHICH THE TRIBES ARE HITlT- <br />LED, AND (2) BUILDING THE MANCOS RECLAMATION PROJECT AND OBLIGATING <br />THE WATER USERS OF THAT PROJECT TO A REPAYI1ENT OBLIGATION WITHOUT <br />ANALYZING THE EFFECT OF POTENTIAL INDIAN WATER RIGHTS ON THE PAYi~- <br />ENT CAPABILITY OF THOSE WATER USERS. <br /> <br />THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS PREPARING TO INITIATE OTHER <br />SUITS FOR THE PURPOSE OF QUANTIFYING THE WATER RIGHTS OF OTHER IrJD- <br />IAN TRIBES THROUGHOUT THE WESTERN UNITED STATES, THE COOPERATIVE <br />APPROACH TO SOLVING THE SOCIAL AND ECONOJl'ilC PROBLEMS RESULTING FRor~ <br />THE ESTABLISHMENT OF INDIAN WATER RIGHTS, AS DE~10NSTI\ATED BY ThE <br />T\~O UTE TRIBES, COULD SET A PRECEDENCE OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICM'!CE, <br /> <br />,~ ' <br /> <br />-14- <br />