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<br />I <br />I <br />I- <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />It is noted that numerous upstream water users have filed water rights <br />applications in recent months to ensure that existing undecreed uses can be properly <br />enrolled in the priority system. Remaining undecreed water users continue to have the <br />option during 2006 to make Water Court applications. To the extent that these <br />undecreed uses were in existence prior to February 23, 2006, these water rights would <br />presumably be decreed as senior to the pending RICD claim if such applications are <br />filed during 2006. <br /> <br />Downstream Water Rights <br /> <br />Water rights downstream of the Boating Park would reuse water delivered <br />pursuant to the RICD within the State of Colorado.. The Animas River runs 21 river miles <br />below the Boating Park before reaching the state line. This river segment includes 120 <br />cfs of absolute direct-flow water rights and three acre-feet of absolute storage water <br />rights. With respect to conditional water rights, the District 30 tabulation indicates 420 <br />cfs of direct-flow water rights and 120,000 acre-feet of storage water rights. <br /> <br />Essentially all of the 120,000 acre-feet of conditional storage water rights are <br />decreed to the Animas-La Plata Project. Of the 420 cfs of conditional direct flow rights, <br />280 cfs is attributable to the Durango Pumping Plant that will divert water for the Animas- <br />La Project. The extent of downstream Animas River use will depend, in large part, on <br />development and operation of the Animas-La Plata Project. <br /> <br />Animas-La Plata Project <br />The Durango Pumping Plant will divert water from the Animas River below the <br />Boating Park location, as shown in Figure 1. The pump station will have a diversion <br />capacity of approximately 280 cfs. Water will be delivered to Lake Nighthorse, which will <br />be formed by Ridges Basin Dam southwest of the City. Lake Nighthorse will have a total <br />capacity of 120,000 acre-feet, of which 90,000 acre-feet will be active storage. Storage <br />releases will be made back to the Animas River for municipal and industrial uses within <br />Colorado and New Mexico. The Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau) will own and operate <br />the project. <br /> <br />8 <br />