WSPP00153

• File Number: 8064
• Description: Indian Water Rights
• State: CO
• Date: 3/19/1987
• Author: Duane Woodard
• Title: Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights-Final Settlement Agreement-December 10 1986-Statement of Duane Woodard at the Southwestern Water Conservation District Fifth Annual Water Seminar
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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STATEMENT OF DUANE WOODARD
AT THE
SOUTHWESTERN WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
FIFTH ANNUAL WATER SEMINAR
MARCH 19 AND 20, 1987
STRATER HOTEL, DURANGO, COLORADO

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS GROUP, PAR-
TICULARLY IN LIGHT OF THE SUCCESSFUL SETTLEMENTS REACHED IN 1986,

THE JUNE 30TH BINDING AGREEMENT FOR ANIMAS-LA PLATA PROJECT COST

SHARING AND THE DECEMBER 10TH COLORADO UTE INDIAN WATER RIGHTS

FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. THESE ARE TRULY HISTORIC AGREEMENTS

WHICH TAKE THOSE STEPS NECESSARY TO REALIZE THE 1968 FEDERAL COM-

MITMENT TO CONSTRUCT THE ANIMAS-LA PLATA PROJECT.

I DON'T HAVE TO TELL MEMBERS OF THIS AUDIENCE THE SIGNIFI-

CANCE OF THESE AGREEMENTS. MOST OF YOU HAVE LIVED IN THE SHADOW

-e,

CAST BY THE UNQUANTIFIED, SENIOR WINTERS RIGHTS CLAIMS OF THE TWO
UTE INDIAN TRIBES. MANY HAVE SPENT THE LAST THIRTY YEARS ATTEMPTING

TO REMOVE THIS SHADOW BY MARSHALLING THE ANIMAS-LA PLATA PROJECT

THROUGH ITS INCEPTION, AUTHORIZATION, AND FINALLY, THESE COST-SHARE
AND SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS. I APPLAUD YOUR PERSEVERANCE AND YOUR

DEDICATED EFFORTS.

BEFORE I WROTE THAT .. NOV.., 1984 LETTER TO THE TRIBES
INVITING THEM TO THE NEGOTIATION TABLE, I KNEW THAT THE PROCESS OF
UNITING THE DIVERSE INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE STATES OF
COLORADO AND NEW MEXICO, THE SOUTHERN UTE AND UTE MOUNTAIN UTE
INDIAN TRIBES, THE VARIOUS WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICTS, THE RURAL
FARMERS AND THIRSTY MUNICIPALITIES OF SOUTHWEST COLORADO AND NORTH-

WEST NEW MEXICO WOULD NOT BE EASY: TIME HAS PROVEN ME CORRECT.
-4It REACHING THESE AGREEMENTS HAS BEEN A LONG AND COMPLEX PROCESS, A