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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ANIMAS-LA PLATA PROJECT Project Setting The Animas-La Plata Project is a multiple-purpose water resources development project designed to serve many of the water needs of southwestern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico. The Project area includes the cities of Durango, Colorado; Farmington, Aztec, Bloomfield, and Shiprock, New Mexico; and several small communities along the La Plata River in Colorado and New Mexico. The project has undergone various stages of detailed planning, and over the years, a number of modifications have been made (phasing of the project). These changes were the result of close coordination and negotiation with federal, state, county and local agencies, project beneficiaries, and special interest groups. Authorization On September 30, 1968, the project was authorized by Congress as part of the Colorado River Basin Act. The project will be constructed in two phases in accordance with the Cost Sharing Agreement of June 30, 1986, between the project beneficiaries and Federal government. The December 10, 1986 Indian Vater Rights Settlement Act defined and divided equitably, Indian and Non-Indian water rights. Project Features The Animas River is the main source of water for this project. Yater will be pumped from the river during periods of excess flows and stored in Ridges Basin Reservoir. To maintain downstream water uses and river aquatic habitat, predetermined river flows have been established below where the pumping operation will stop and the river will continue to flow naturally. The Durango Pumping Plant will divert water through an inlet channel rather than an on-stream diversion dam to allow safer river recreation use. From the pumping plant, water will be carried into the reservoir through the Ridges Basin Inlet Conduit. The pumping plant will also pressurize the Durango municipal and industrial pipeline for water deliveries to the Durango water treatment plant. Ridges Basin Reservoir will store 280,000 acre-feet of water behind an earth-filled dam. Most of the construction materials for the dam will come from nearby areas. The dam will have a crest length of approximately 1,600 feet and a height of approximately 313 feet above the streambed. Ridges Basin Reservoir will have a surface area of 2,270 acres and a length of slightly over 4 miles at its longest point. To supply the water demands west of the reservoir, water will be pumped by the Ridges Basin Pumping into the Shenandoah pipeline and Dry Side Canal. A 3.2 mile long, 10.5 foot diameter, Long Hollow Tunnel will carry water into the La Plata River drainage.