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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Platte River Basin <br /> <br />Please see the memo under Agenda Item 22 for a thorough discussion of current issues. <br /> <br />Rio Grande River Basin <br /> <br />Reserved Rights: It is our understanding that on Mar. 15 the decree settling the U.S. <br />Forest Service Reserved Water Right claims in Water Division 3 was signed. This helps pave <br />the way to settle claims in Water Divisions 2 and 7. <br /> <br />USGS Gaging Stations: The USGS wiJl cease operation of gaging station 08217500, <br />Rio Grande at Wagon Wheel Gap, effective Apr. 10 unless cooperating agencies are identified. <br />We are evaluating whether to use our gaging funds to continue its operation. If others are <br />interested in becoming a cooperator to assure continued operation of this gage they should <br />contact Ron Steger at the USGS Pueblo Subdistrict Office (Phone 719-544-7155) <br /> <br />San Juan and Dolores River Basin Issues <br /> <br />Walcher Supports Animas-La Plata: PNR Executive Director Walcher supported <br />Reclamation's Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS)for the Animas-La <br />Plata Project at a Feb. 15 hearing in Durango. <br /> <br />"Colorado has been a long-time proponent of the project," said Walcher. "The EIS <br />analysis of the Animas-La Plata project protects both Indian and non-Indian water uses in the <br />region. We fully support Reclamation's proposed structural alternative because it meets the <br />objectiyes of both communities without significantly impacting wetlands. A final settlement of <br />the claims of the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Indian tribes is long overdue." <br /> <br />Walcher has also written to U.S. Representative John Doolittle, Chairman of the House <br />Resource Subcommittee on Water and Power, urging him to schedule a hearing on H.R. 3112, <br />introduced by Colorado Congressman Scott McInnis. The bill amends the 1988 Colorado Ute <br />Indian Water Rights Settlement Act and authorites the Interior secretary to move forward with a <br />final settlement whose allocations are different than those called for in the 1988 measure. <br /> <br />Walcher also submitted the CWCB's "Resolution in Support of the Animas-La Plata <br />Project," dated January 27, 2000, and the "1996 Opening Statement of the State of Colorado to <br />Participants in the Discussions to Resolve Issues Surrounding the Animas-La Plata Project," <br />which detailed Colorado's history with the issue and long-standing support. These two . <br />documents can be found on the DNR website WWW.dnr.state.co.us at the following addresses: <br /> <br />.. htlp ://www.dnr.state.co.us/cdnr news/edo/attachments/alo-resolution l.odf <br /> <br />· htto://www.dnr.state.co.us/cdnr news/edo/attachments/alo historv.odf <br /> <br />On January 14, 2000 the Department of Interior published notice in the Federal Register <br />announcing the completion of a draft environmental analysis on the Colorado Ute Indian Water <br />Rights Settlement and the Animas-La Plata Project. The analysis endorses a version of ALP <br />estimated to cost $300 million and allowing 57,100 AF of depletions annually. The project <br />includes a 120,000 AF reservoir, a pipeline to deliver water to the Navajos and a $40 million <br />fund for the two Ute Tribes to purchase additional land and water. This announcement started <br /> <br />13 <br />