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1:3 '':Ii.:! ~r.~~--I'J-1TI"L::J,~HU-1JKl) l' ~J.~ m___ -"',"1/1, Because the alternatives planning was so extensive, however, the Southwestern Wat.r Conservation District even filed on water rights on the lower Animas River for both the Bondad Reservoir site and the Durango Reservoir site; these alternatives were rejected because they failed to provide critically needed water for some of the project sponsors. Some plans would not provide a water supply for the municipalities In Colorado and New Mexico. Some plans did not provide a municipal and industrial water supply for the Indian Tribes. Some plans did not provide for an irrigation water supply for either the Indian Tribes orthe non-Indian irrigators, An Indlan-only project alternative was also studied and submitted to the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribes for their consideration. They resoundingly rejected that idea, The present project plan, as set forth in the OPR, evolved as the plan which best meets the needs of all the water users In the San Juan Basin of Colorado and New Mexico. No altematlve other than the current plan provides for a multiple use project which allows the full and efficient irrigation of Project lands, provides supplies for our tribal neighbors, meets municipal water needs. and supports so many recreational benefits, The present plan will enable the states of Colorado and New Mexico, the Tribes, the Irrigators, and the municipalities In the Project area all to benefit from the Project. B, ,Events Since the 1970's Events have occurred since the FES which restrict the reasonable alternatives available to Reclamation regarding construction of the AlLP Project to the present AlLP plan. 1. fubllc- Mandate for the AlLP Prol~ata Coun~ Colorado and San Jua~ CountY. New ~ ... , .. In both La Plata County, Colorado and San Juan County. New Mexico. elections were held on Reclamation's decision to move fOlWard with the AlLP Project as set forth in the OPA and the FES. Almost all of the current objections to the Draft SEIS were raised and discussed In pUblic forums during the course of the election campaigns In thai' communities, Including the following Issues: no analysis of alternatives, adverse Impact on rafting, no water for the Indians. reduced flows In the Animas River, ability of farmers to pay for water, effect on wstlands, and the Impact on trout and elk habitat. Countless letters to the editors of local newspapers discussed all of the beneficia/Impacts of the AILP Project, At the end of the process, the general public voted overwhelmingly, on December 8, 1987 in La Plata County, Colorado, and on April 17, 1990 in San Juan County, New Mexico. to endorse Reclamation's construction of the AlLP Project. 2. Cast Sha[tna Aareement Reclamation's consideration of a .project other than the AlLP as set forth In the DPR is also limited by the results of the Cost Sharing Agreement which resulted from the 3 ... .~o~'j-