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PRESS RELEASE The La Plata West Water Authnrity is o~verseeing the constxuction of an intake stxucture in Lake Nighthorse (the Animas La Plata reservoir). The intake struct~re is the first phase of a rurai w~.ter pmject that will same ciay provide treated dvmestic water tv se~eral entities that may ir~clude the Southern Ute Indian Trihe, the LJte Mountain L]te Tribe, southwestern La Plata County and users in the La Plata R~~er Basin in New Mexicv. The La Plata West Water Authority is an independent pnlitical subc~ivision created by the Animas La Plata Water Conservancy District arid the La Piata Water Conservancy District. The Authority wili cvntinue a lang histary of work ta pm~ide a damestic water supply in rural sauthwest La Plata County. Many area residents, including Fred Kroeger, began warking an this prgject as part of the ALF project in 1959. Federal government and local water distcicts have alsv heen cantributing #o the effort for decades. The Authority has cantracted with EPC Carparation to design and build the ir-take structure. T'he design stage was campieted in No~ember and cvnstructivn began in eaxly December. The intake structure is plaruied to be complete before spring 2~d9, when Lake Nighthvrse is scheduled to camm~nce filling. The intake structure is critical to pror~iding access ~to the ALP water supply. T'he Authority has w~rked clnseiy with the Bureau of ReclamatiQn and other go~vernrnent agencies to ensure that the project was apprapriately reviewed and complies with aIl appurter~ant regulations. The intake structure project was issued all necessary permits and en~iror~mental appro~als prior to construction an BaR tand. Funding for the $5 milli~n intake structure has heen provided from the Sautherrt Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Mountain LTfie Indian Tribe, the Colorado Water Canservation Board Statewide Entity a~nd Southwest Basin Roundtable, the Sautttwest Water Conser~ation District, and the Animas La Plata Water Canservancy District. The Tribes have agreed to request the release vf monies from their Resource Funds f~r the prvject. These Funds were appropriated for the Tribes as part of the Colorada llte Indian Water Rights Settlement Act Arnendrnents of ZOaO, and are designated fvr use in partn~rship with non-Tribal entities in the area. The Colarada Water Resource and Fower De~elopment Authvrity has assisted the Auth~rity by providing a bridge loan, which will be repaid when the Resaurce Funds are ~leased. The Aut~arity ext~nds its gratitude ta the funding partners. The participation of the []te Tribes has made this praject passible. Additionaliy, many indi~iduals have worked diligently to make this prvject a r~ality. Senator Jirn Isgar, in ~articular, was instruinental in helping to secure funding fvr the project, a~ain demonstrating his leadership on ~olorada water issues. Ma~ing fQrward to the next phase af the project, the LPWWA will continue warking r~vith the Tribes, SDR, La Plata Caunty and engage the public, patticularty residents in the patential fiuture ser-~ice area, ta de~elop the se~pe and the design for the water supply system.