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Chapter 2 <br /> Development of Alternatives <br /> 2.1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND <br /> This Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement(FSEIS)has been developed using existing <br /> data to the maximum extent possible. The 1980 Final Environmental Statement(1980 FES)and the 1996 <br /> Final Supplement to the Final Environmental Statement(1996 FSFES) for the Animas-La Plata Project <br /> (ALP Project)analyzed in great depth the impacts associated with a project which had depletions three <br /> times those that are now being considered. Depletions associated with the original ALP Project were <br /> primarily for irrigation. Within that previous analysis, considerable information exists regarding impacts <br /> associated with a much smaller project focusing on municipal and industrial(M&I)needs as is now being <br /> proposed. <br /> The objective of this FSEIS is to provide an evaluation of environmental and other critical factors to <br /> assist the Department of the Interior(Interior)and other involved parties in reaching a final settlement of <br /> the water claims of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe(Colorado Ute <br /> Tribes). ALP Project water would be used primarily for M&I purposes and would be allocated among <br /> the Colorado Ute Tribes and other designated water users. In order to complete an objective National <br /> Environmental Policy Act(NEPA)analysis of the Colorado Ute Tribal M&I water uses,which represent <br /> nearly three-fourths of the total project water allocations,projections of potential future M&I water uses <br /> were made for the Colorado Ute Tribes' portion of ALP Project water. Likely sources of water were <br /> identified and a range of potential conveyance options was developed that would transport and/or store <br /> the water from these sources for these projected future uses. <br /> Recognizing the reserved rights doctrine and Tribal sovereignty,the potential future water uses discussed <br /> in this FSEIS are non-binding on the Colorado Ute Tribes,and are intended to provide a range of the <br /> types of uses upon which ALP Project alternatives can be evaluated. Building on these projected non- <br /> ' binding future water uses, as well as analyses that have been completed for previous NEPA documents,a <br /> broad range of alternatives was developed which incorporated both structural and non-structural <br /> elements. <br /> This chapter describes the alternatives considered,the process by which the alternatives were analyzed, <br /> and the method used to refine alternatives in order to consider whether a particular alternative would <br /> secure an Indian water rights settlement. The adequacy of existing environmental data for each <br /> alternative was evaluated,and additional information gathered as necessary to make a complete analysis <br /> of each of the alternatives at a comparable level of detail. The alternatives were compared to the ALP <br /> Project.purpose and need and their relative environmental impacts and technical and economic factors <br /> were also evaluated. <br /> This chapter presents information on <br /> T}, ❑ Identification of future M&I water needs and uses <br /> e x <br /> _ ❑ Sources of water to meet needs and uses <br /> ❑ Overview of alternatives evaluated <br /> .}`,' 2-1 2.1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND <br />