WSPP00021

• File Number: 8064
• Description: Indian Water Rights
• State: CO
• Date: 1/1/3000
• Title: Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights-Final Settlement Agreement-December 10 1986-Breifing Paper No 1-Fact Sheet on the Settlement
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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BRIEFING PAPER NO.1:

FACT SHEET ON THE SETTLEMENT

Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights

Final Settlement Agreement

On December 10, 1986, the State of Colorado, the Ute Moun-
tain Ute Indian Tribe, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the
United States culminated 2 years of negotiation and 10 years of
litigation by signing a comprehensive settlement which quantifies
the Winters reserved water right claims of the two Tribes. These
claims were filed by the United States in December 1976, on over
twenty-five streams in southwest Colorado. This implementation
of the negotiated settlement Agreement will:

-- bring to a close the pending, complex
and costly litigation over the Tribes'
Winters reserved water right claims

-- reserve to these Tribes a dependable
quantity of water which will make their
tribal reservations viable economic
homelands

-- provide to the Tribes a trust fund which
will enable the Tribes to develop and use
their water resources

-- provide for the construction of a much
needed domestic pipeline to the Town of
Towaoc on the Ute Mountain Ute Indian
Reservation

-- provide the rationale and incentive for
federal participation in the construction
of the Animas-La Plata Project

-- integrate the administration of tribal
and nontribal water rights in a cooperative
and responsive manner

,
-- resolve potential tribal breach of trust
claims against the United States
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-- protect existing non-Indian water users
and local economies

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