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(}i)Jt,.;; Animas-La Plata Project (Continued) , Indian Interests The project vould be of particular value to the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Tribes through the irrigation of Indian land, as identified above, and through uaking vater availa.ble for municipal and industrial development of primarily ~neral resources--largely coal--both on and off reservation lands. Depressed Area The entire project area is encompassed within the boundaries of the Four CQrners Economic Development Region--an area designated under the Public Works and Economic Develcpaent Act of 1965, because of depressed personal income and persistent high unemployment. The cities of Durango, Colorado, and Farmington, New Hexica, both of which are trade centers for the project area, are listed (December 1972';eligible for assistance under Title I of the Public Works and Economic Development Act on the basis of unemployment. The project area lrould also qualify under Title IV of the Act on the basis of an Indian rese~.ation (Southern Ute) which manifests a high degree of economic distress. Enviror.rn.ental Impact Advance plans are underway to alter the feasibility plan of including Howardsville Reservoir and the Animas Diversion Canal, both of which would have a detrimental topact on the environnent from the stand- point of their effect on vater quality and aesthetics of the area. The alternate plan for pumping water from the lover Animas River to serve the project lands would significantly reduce the environmental ~ect of the project. Sufficient water would be released downstream to maintain fishery in the Anioas River below the diversion. The environmental il:::.pact of irrigation will be ednor as most lands in the project are either presently irrigated or dryfarmed. There may be some increases of salinity in the Colorado River from irrigation and M&I use of water by the project. Secondary effects of providing ~~ter for pr! vate developments, such as possibly a thermal powerplant in the area, will need to be determined and remedial measures identified to reduce pollution. Political Considerations -Por ca.ny years the people along the Anitt..as and La Plata Rivers in south- western Colorado and northwestern Nev Mexico have been striving to regu- late and develop the unused water supplies for ~icipal and industrial, irrigation, and recreation purposes. ~s includes people generally located at Durango, Colorado, and FarmdngtoD, Nev Mexico, and areas be- tween, including the Ute ~~untain and Southern Ute Indian Tribes who 7 _.J