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<br />000756 <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />A basic premise of the project is that senior water rights in New Mexico will be protected. As the <br />project planning proceeds forward, projected operating schedules will have to be developed by <br />the Bureau of Reclamation, in close cooperation with the New Mexico State Engineer, which will <br />adequately demonstrate that senior water right holders will in fact be protected. <br /> <br />The bill contains language directing the Secretary of the Interior to assign a portion of the water <br />right permit, now held in the Secretary's name, to certain non-Indian project beneficiaries in NM. <br />Although, we have made recommendations on appropriate language on the assignment issue, our <br />changes have not yet been incorporated into the bill. Once these changes are made, we can <br />support this assignment language. <br /> <br />Additionally, we have had discussions with the Navajo Nation to include language in the bill to <br />insure that the water which they will receive under the project can be delivered to the Navajo <br />communities downstream of Farmington to Shiprock. Currently, the City of Farmington supplies <br />up to 3 million gallons per day of treated potable water, via a 30 year old ductile iron pipeline, to <br />Shiprock and Navajo families living on the south side of the San Juan River. Over the past two <br />decades, Shiprock's population has swelled. Proposed amendments to the bill, which are now <br />being discussed, would allow for the construction of a new Farmington to Shiprock pipeline to <br />augment the existing pipeline. This pipeline is essential to address the public health and safety of <br />the Navajo communities and is a project which the State very much endorses. The State <br />welcomes the involvement in these ongoing discussions to insure that the water rights of all <br />parties are properly defined pursuant to state law. <br /> <br />. <br />The proposed Animas La Plata project settles the claims of two Colorado Ute Indian tribes to <br />waters of the Animas and La Plata rivers. This is an important aspect of the project to the New <br />Mexico water users on these two rivers in order to assure the water available to them from their <br />water rights. <br /> <br />In closing, S. 1771 will aid in providing a more dependable water supply for both Indian and non- <br />Indian communities in northwest New Mexico. Northwest New Mexico is growing and it is <br />important to provide an adequate water supply for the area's future. <br /> <br />Thank you. <br />