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<br />The water rights for the Animas La Plata project have been decreed and legislated. By using <br />this source} there will be no impacts to rights of other water users in the project area. <br />The proposed water supply structure will be within the area permitted by the ALP project. <br />Therefore} the proposed water supply structure is not expected to have any significant <br />impacts and will meet all permitting requirements. All structures will be built according to <br />regulations for environmental protection and public safety. An abbreviated Environmental <br />Assessment of the project is currently underway. <br />j) The water activity promotes water conservation and efficiency <br />The project will provide means of utilizing a new water supply (the ALP reservoir) to several vested <br />interests. The intake structure is the most efficient way of accessing water from the reservoir and <br />distributing it to areas of southwest La Plata County and beyond. The system will be engineered and <br />operated as efficiently as possible in order to conserve water and reduce costs. For example} water <br />supply service will be provided at an escalating price schedule to encourage conservation. <br />k) The applicant has an existinG water conservation plan. <br />The Fort Lewis Mesa District Land Use Plan} which encompasses the portion of La Plata County that <br />will be served by the water supply system} addresses the need for conservation and careful water <br />management to meet the growing needs of the region. The water supply system will bring a needed <br />resource to the region and will comply with all standards set forth in the Land Use Plan. <br />/) The water activity will make new water available for use. <br />The ALP is creating a new reservoir and water source for the area while satisfying the water rights of <br />the tribal users} per the Colorado Ute Settlement Act Amendments passed in 2000. This project <br />proposes to develop this new water supply source that has been allocated for municipal and <br />industrial uses according to the interest of the invested parties. <br />m) The water activity involves reoperation, enlarGement, or rehabilitation of existinG facilities. <br />The intake structure will be based within the ALP infrastructure and create a means to utilize the <br />water in the new reservoir. <br /> <br />The Water Activitv Addresses Issues of Statewide Value <br /> <br />n) The water activity helps sustain aGriculture, and open space, or meets environmental or <br />recreational needs. <br />Because the water supply system will decrease competition for limited water resources in the La <br />Plata River basin} it will reduce stress on the agriculture irrigation in the area. The return flows from <br />the imported water will also benefit the shallow groundwater table that contributes to the health of <br />the La Plata River ecosystem. <br />0) The water activity assists in the administration of compact-entitled waters or addresses <br />problems related to compact entitled waters and compact compliance and the deGree to which <br />the activity promotes maximum utilization of state waters. <br />The requirements of the La Plata River Compact are a challenge for water users in Colorado. The <br />domestic water supply will be imported from the Animas River basin and decrease the demands on <br />groundwater and springs in the La Plata River basin while generating return flows that will benefit the <br />