WSP12217

• File Number: 8220.106
• Description: Animas-La Plata
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 5/7/1992
• Title: Agenda Item 4 Animas-La Plata Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Board Memo

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Animas-La Plata Project is located in

La Plata and Montezuma Counties in southwestern Colorado and in San Juan

County in northwestern New Mexico. It involves the diversion of water
fro. the Animas River to the La Plata and Mancos River drainages. The
project includes two off stream reservoirs, Ridges Basin and Southern Ute
Reservoirs; two pumping plants; three conveyance systems; a power
transmission line; and two diversion dams on the La Plata River. The

project water supply will average 198,200 acre-feet per year for

irrigation, municipal, and industrial use.

Reclamation prepared and filed a final environmental statement

(FES) for the Animas-La Plata Project with the Environmental Protection

Agency on July I, 1980 (INT FES 80-18), and executed a Record of

Decision on August 18, 1980, to proceed with the recommended plan for

the project contained in the September 1979 Definite Plan Report. The

1980 FES incorporated the Definite Plan Report by reference.

The supplement will build upon the 1980 FES and will incorporate

by reference environmental analyses from that document. The supplement

will address: (1) exemption of additional specific project features

from the requirement to obtain a Clean Water Act-Section 404 permit, (2)

changed requirements on certification of project lands for potential

toxic or hazardous irrigation return flows, (3) new or updated

information that has become available since 1980, and (4) evaluation of

design and other refinements to the project.

Reclamation intends to pursue an exemption from applying for a

dredge and fill permit from the Corps of Engineers under Section 404(r)
of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (Pub. L. 95-217). The supplement will