Animas-La PLata Project Environmental Impact Statement

CHAPTER1
vi iRPnSE OF, AND NEED FOR THE
Citizen's Coalition Conceptual Alternative, focused on providing of existing direct flotw water rights, sdwell
purchase water from existing projects, and/or the acquisition
as the use and/or modification of existing federal facilities.
consensus was reached on any of the alternatives developed an AdminisRtration Proposal to implemens
No of Interior presented
a result, on August 11, 1998, the Secretary
the Settlement Act. The proposal calls for a down ado Ute Tribes and other project bBneficiaries (e.g.,
municipal and industrial (M &I) water to the Colo District (ALPWCD), and the San Juan
the Navajo Nation, the Animas -La Plata Water Conservancy Dis
Water Commission (SJWC)). The proposal also contains a non - structural element as part of the
settlement implementation. Further, under the Administrative Alternativese(RPA) contained inithe 1996
match the depletions permitted in the Reasonable and Prudent water depletions to
final Biological Opinion for the ALP Project. This 4 2 1.2 forlfurtherediscusg on oft a Biological
57,100 acre - feet/year (afy). See Chapter 4, Section
Opinion.
Because these proposals represent a significant modificati 999, Reclamation evaluated
announced its ntent�tc
additional environmental analysis is required. On January The DSEIS
prepare a Draft SEIS (DSEIS) to the 1996 FS U e (Federa
Ovate$ rights may be settled . 1).
The DSEIS was
analyzed various ways in which the Colorado publication in the Federal
released for public review and comment on January 14, 2000 following
Register of the Notice of Availability. Following release of the DSEIS, public hearings were held on
S Colorado; Farmington, New Mexico, and Denver, Coloradc
February 15, 16, and 17, 2000 in Durango,
respectively. The public comment period closed on April coy, 2000. t period and Reclamation's respons
P the public include copies of all comments received during P
i will be prepared following release of the FSEIS.
to those comments. A Record of Decis on
1.2 PROJECT HISTORY
The ALP Project was authorized by the Colorado River Basin un y Project
n northwestern New Mexico. The A
Plata County in southwestern Colorado and in San Juan County supplies to the Colorado Ute Tribes and of
Project was designed to provide irrigation and M &I watts Final Settlement Agreement (Settlement
project beneficiaries. A Colorado Ute Indian water Rig
(see Attachment A located in Volume 2 of this eSwa er rights signed low the Colorado Ute Tr
Agreement)
which quantified the Colorado Ute Tribes water rights. water supplied from the ALP Project. In
to obtain water from several rivers and projects, including PP
Congress incorporated the ALP Project into the Settlement Act in order to settle Colorado Ute Triba
water rights claims.
As a result of an 1868 treaty entered into between the United the Colorado
That reservatio
Tribes acquired a large reservation encompassing much o
provides the Colorado Ute Tribes with significant re sen or to -Colorado non
the region. The Col - Colorado Ute Indian water
orado Ute Tribes' water rights are
'- For oses of this project, M &I refers to water for industries and cities, as well as for livestock and wildlife uses,
PAP
recreation, and tourism development.
1 -2
12 PROJECT HISTORY