Southwest - La Plata West Rural Domestic Water Supply_Basin Application

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6. What alternative sources of water or alternative management ideas have you considered? Are there water rights conflicts involving the source of water for the project? If so, please explain. The ALP is a secure water source. No alternatives were required or considered. 7. How has public input been solicited and is there local support for the project? Have the beneficiaries solicited funding, letters or other documentation to demonstrate support? A rural domestic water supply system was first considered decades ago. La Plata County and area residents recognize the need for a domestic water supply system in the region. The Upper La Plata Water Users Association (San Juan County, New Mexico) currently pumps water up from Farmington to meet their demands. Receiving a gravity-fed supply from Lake Nighthorse is a preferable source for the Association. The Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Indian Tribes have expressed interest in accessing their allotted water resources from Lake Nighthorse. Local entities that are providing support and advice to the project include the ALPWCD, LPWCD, La Plata County and the Bureau of Reclamation. 8. Is there opposition to the project? If there is opposition, how have those concerns been addressed? To date, no opposition to the project has been expressed. 9. How does the project affect the protection and conservation of the natural environment including the protection of open space? The project will import water into the water-short La Plata River basin and will generate return flows that should supplement the baseflows in the La Plata River and improve the riparian corridor. The project will help to conserve groundwater that is currently used to supply domestic wells. 10. What is the impact of the proposed action on other non-decreed values of the stream or river? Non-decreed values may include things such as non-decreed water rights or uses, recreational uses and soil/land conservation practices. Any increase in return flows will benefit the riparian corridor in the basin, for example, in the BOR riparian mitigation area for the ALP project. The return flows from the system will also help to meet La Plata River Compact requirements and generate more Colorado agriculture water. 11. How does the project relate to local land use plans? If conflicts exist how will these be addressed? The La Plata County Comprehensive Plan recognizes that within the project area (referred to as Fort Lewis Mesa) there are several potential 'growth hubs'. The local Fort La Plata West Water Authority La Plata West Rural Domestic Water Supply System 12/27/2007 Page 4