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the A -LP. The process began in October 1996, with the Lt. Governor facilitating discussions <br />between A -LP opponents, proponents, Interior and EPA. Both sides provided proposed solutions <br />to the complex and highly controversial issues surrounding the 1986 Colorado Ute Indian Water <br />Rights Settlement Agreement on July 31, 1997. Governor Romer and the CWCB have since <br />endorsed the proponent's proposal known as A -LP Light and EPA and Interior are now <br />considering the proposals. Further efforts to insure the USA, Colorado, and New Mexico meet <br />their legal and financial obligations are in progress. This needs to include consideration of the <br />Animas -La Plata Project Compact. <br />San Juan River Basin Recovery Program — This program was originally developed to <br />provide the reasonable and prudent alternative for the A -LP discussed above. In the SJRIP, we <br />have protected 57,100 AF of depletion approved for the "A -LP" and are applying the CRDSS to <br />the identification of projects and depletions in Colorado that were also protected under the 1991 <br />biological opinion for the A -LP (that also protected all existing projects as of October 1991 and <br />depends upon the successful implementation of the SJRIP). Currently in the process of <br />completing a 7 -year research period (ends in December, 1997) required as part of the Program <br />and deeply involved in the process of developing flow recommendations. Also, there is extensive <br />work ongoing to refine the "baseline" conditions that will serve as input to the hydrologic <br />computer models being developed by Reclamation that will provide the hydrologic basis for <br />development of the flow recommendations. CRDSS has proved to be immensely helpful in <br />checking Reclamation's work and in helping to refine the hydrologic model. The determination <br />of instream flow recommendations by the FWS is expected to indicate whether (and where) <br />additional water supplies may be developed within the basin. There are, however, large claims by <br />the Navajo Nation that are pending. <br />U.S. Forest Service Federal Reserved Water Right Claims — The process of quantifying <br />the claims in the San Juan is just beginning. Several meetings have been held to discuss the <br />process to be followed and procedures to be used. <br />CRBSCP — The Dolores Project features are essentially complete. The USDA McElmo On- <br />Farm portion now depends on limited EQIP dollars for project completion. The Ute Tribes are <br />also eligible for EQIP dollars and the program should work with the Tribes in the identification <br />and implementation of qualifying projects. <br />La Plata River Compact — The La Plata River is a water short drainage and the development <br />of new water supplies or facilities that would assist in better management of existing water <br />supplies would be of benefit to the basin. A -LP remains a critical means for addressing these <br />shortages, but will not be able to do so under the current Biological Opinion for the project. <br />San Juan — Chama Project Operations — The San Juan -Chama Project supplies water to <br />New Mexico water users in the Rio Grande Basin. Colorado water users have asked for <br />assistance from time to time in trying to determine exactly how the project should operate. Staff <br />could assist in a review of current operations and accounting procedures if a high enough priority <br />were assigned to this effort. <br />RIO GRANDE BASIN <br />Decision Support System - Scoping Study. In 1994, the CWCB and State Engineer adopted <br />a Long Range Plans which placed a high priority on the development of high quality data for each <br />of the principal watersheds and a set of electronic communication tools to enable water interests <br />C;\msoffice \win word \document \basinissues <br />December 30, 1997 <br />Page 10 of 19 <br />