C150307 Final Supplimental Impact Statement

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CHAPTER 2 DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVES 2.1.1.2 Colorado Ute Tribal Future Water Uses This section discusses the projections for future M&I1 water uses by the Colorado Ute Tribes. These future uses would be the subject of future NEPA review at the time the uses are determined. Structural components would be designed to convey water to those uses. Chapter 3,Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences,discusses the affected environment and potential environmental impacts associated with these potential future water uses to the extent it is possible to identify them at this time. Specific engineering, environmental, and cost analysis would be conducted in the future for those future water uses and conveyances that are proposed for implementation. The Ute Tribal Water Use Study(Dornbusch 1999)(see Technical Appendix 1)identified several non- binding end uses that could be employed by the Colorado Ute Tribes. This study did not fully allocate all of the Colorado Ute Tribes' ALP Project water. Further studies(Riley 1999a,Bliesner 1999)projected regional M&I water uses in the event that the Colorado Ute Tribes elect to lease or sell a portion of their ALP Project water to other users. The report by Dombusch includes examples for the types of water uses listed below. These are illustrated on Map 2-1. • Municipal water use • Industrial park • Recreation and tourism development • Energy development • Livestock and wildlife water use • Regional municipal water supply 2.1.1.2.1 Municipal Water Use Population growth between 1970 and 1990 approached 3 percent per year on both the Southern Ute Indian and Ute Mountain Ute Reservations. However,more recently,the enrollments of both Tribes have been increasing approximately 1.3 to 1.5 percent per year The U.S.Census Bureau(1990a) anticipates that Colorado's American Indian population will grow at an average annual rate of 1.9 percent per year through the year 2025 and then decline to 1.1 percent per year by 2065. Based on these growth rates,the population of the Colorado Ute Tribes is expected to increase from 3,287 in 1998 to approximately 15,000 by the year 2100. A housing shortage currently exists on both Colorado Ute Tribe reservations. To satisfy the existing housing shortage and to accommodate future growth,the Southern Ute Indian Tribe may choose to locate one 200-unit housing development in each of three areas, for a total of 600 housing units. One would be located near Colorado State Highway 172 on Florida Mesa,one in the La Posta area of the Animas River Basin,and the third in the Red Mesa area of the La Plata River Basin. Correspondingly,the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe may elect to satisfy the demands for housing on its reservation by constructing a 400-unit housing development in the southeastern corner of the Colorado portion of the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation. For purposes of this project,M&I refers to water for industries and cities,as well as for livestock and wildlife uses,recreation,and tourism development. 2.1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 2-4