WSPC01369

• File Number: 8064
• Description: Federal Water Rights - Colorado Indian Negotiations
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 4/4/1986
• Author: Unknown
• Title: The Agreement in Principle - Briefing Paper
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

;"._~J~)

o Water from the AnImas-La Plata and Dolores Projects in satisfaction of
and in lieu of reserved water rIghts claims on certaIn rivers;

o Tri ba 1 development funds to construct and operate the facll1tlesneeded
to put Tribal water supplies to use on the reservations; and

o QuantificatIon of claIms on certain tributary streams to the San Juan
River.

In return the State seeks a decree that the Indian water rights claIms have
been fully satisfied. The Ute Mountain Ute TrIbe will accept their allocation of
project water from the Dolores and AnImas-La Plata Projects plus the right to all
currently unused water on the Mancos River and certain amounts of water on two
other streams In satisfaction of all their claims. They have requested a $40.5
million development fund.

The Southern Ute Tribe will accept theIr allocation of project water from the
AnImas-La Plata Project in satisfaction of their claIms on the AnImas and La Plata
Ri vers. The Tri be ha s requested a $20 million deve 1 opment fund. The state, the
TrIbe and major non-Indian water users will' settle water claims on the Florida
River and all streams to the east.

Cost-Sharing

The basIs for the f.1nancla1 negotiations Is the commitment of the Reagan
AdminIstration to move forward "to develop much needed, enVironmentally sound and
economlca 11 y prudent water resources projects" through Federa 1-State partner-
shIps. The settlement to the Indian water rights claIms proposed by the State of
Colorado not only meets these crIteria as of this date, but does so on a precedent-
setting cost-sharing basIs. Of the projected cost of approximately $562 mIllion.
water users in Colorado and New Mexico would contribute $160.1 million:

Source

Amount ($ mIllion)

New Mexico
Colorado
Power Development Authority
Indian MunIcipal and Industrial
Non IndIan MunIcIpal and Industrial
Local ContrIbutIons
Ute MountaIn Ute IrrIgatIon
Colorado Water Conservation Board

Total

$ 22.8

42.4
51.3
7.3
0.2
30.5
~

$160.1

Of the proposed $60.5 mIllIon In the development fund, the State has proposed
that 1t contrIbute $11 mIllIon with the remaInder by the federal government. In
additIon, the TrIbes have requested that currently repayable project costs be made
non-reImbursable or at least deferred until the water could be put to use.

8882A

.