20 ‎(8)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 7/22/2009
• Description: WSP Section - Animas La Plata
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

LA PLATA WEST WATEIt AUTH~RITY
PO B~X 631
DllI~ANGO, CU S 13U~
Apri123, 200g
Alexandra L. Da~is
Assistant Direct~r for Water
Cvlorado Department af Natural Resaurces
1313 Sfierman Street, Rovm 718.
Denver, Colorada 8U203
Re: Animas La Plata VVater
Dear Ms. Davis:
The La P~ata West'Water Authority (the "Authvrity") was recently fvrmed to assist in the
de~elopment of Ariirr-as La I'lata. {ALP} Water. The Authority has taken a l~ading role in initial
stages of the de~elopment of a water de~i~ery systern in partnership with the LTte Tribes.
Attached is a press release that descrihes the fir~ancing and construction of a water intake
str~cture at the Animas La Plata reservair by the Authority. Additional information on the
Authvrity is ~~vailable ak the website, www.lpwwa.nrg.
The Authority is working wit~ the Animas La Plata Water Canserr~an~y Distcict (the "District"}
ta acc~uire certain ALP water rights. Pursuant to an agreemer~t between the District and the
Colorado Water Resource and P4wer Dev~lopment Autharity, the District has an optian to
purchase 7U0 acre feet of annual depletians in the ALP reser~+air. Subject to funding
atrangements, the Authority is working ta acquire and exercise the District's optivn fvr that ALF
water. T'he Autharity belie~es that, ultimately, the demand far water within the Autharity's
propase[i ser-~ice area will exceed 700 acre feet and, therefare, the Authority is explaring options
for additional water.
Tlte purpase vf t~is letter is to indicate the Autharity's interest in acquiring additi~nal water that
may hecome a~ailable. We are aware that the State af Colvrado, acting through the Depaz-m~ent
vf Natural Resources, can acquire water rights for up to 5,23d acre feet af depletion in the ALP
Reser~air. The Authority understands that all go~emment agencies in Coloracio, and in
particular those agencies dealing with the de~elopment af water resources, have ~ery linnited
funding at the present time. Notwithstanding the current limitations an funding, the Board af
Directors af th~ Authority belie~es that the acquisition, prptectian and de~elaprnent of water
resaurces are of ~ital importance to the State of ~vloradu in general, and, since the ALP
reservvir is lo~ated here, ta Southwest Colorada in particular. T'he water now allacated to the
State of Colarado wiil re~ert to the Ute Trihes if not purchased hy the State nr anvther agency, so
it is vitally importat~-t to explare alI optivns for retaining that wat~r to help maintain a broad
ai~ersity af ownership vf ALP water. In order for the State of Colorado or other state entity to
hecorr~e a vating participant in the Operations, Maintenance and Replacement Associadon, a