WSPC02054

• File Number: 8064.100
• Description: Ute Tribes
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 9/1/1989
• Author: Harris Water Enginee
• Title: Ute Mountain Ute Tribe - Delores Project Irrigation - Small Reclamation Loan Application Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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2654

Develo~ment
$15 m~llion
primary and
Reclamation
along with
Development
development
application.

The Colorado ute Indian Water Rights Settlement, which
resolves Indian claims on rivers and streams throughout the San
Juan Basin in Southwestern Colorado, was entered into by the ute
Mountain ute Tribe with the understanding that the Tribe would
receive allocations outlined above from the Dolores and
Animas-La Plata projects and an Economic Development Fund
adequate to develop these water allocations. The loan requested
in this application is essential to the timely development of
the Dolores project, while allowing for Tribal development of
Animas-La Plata irrigation allocations within a reasonable time
after water is available under the terms the Settlement.

Fund constraints outlined above will require that
be appropriated through BIA for construction of
service roads and power, and that a 40 year Small
Loan in the amount of $18,323,000 be secured which
$15,319,000 in matching funds from the Tribal
fund will be used for the 8,028 acre on-farm
program and municipal facilities outlined in this

2. Current Reservation Water Development

There is presently about 240 acres of irrigated land on the
reservation: with about 120 acres irrigated from a direct
diversion from the Mancos River and about 120 acres irrigated,
near Towaoc, with shares in the Montezuma Valley Irrigation
Company. The Mancos land has been irrigated by ditch since the
early 1900's. The land near Towaoc is irrigated with 1 center
pivot and 3 sidero1l sprinklers, which were installed in 1984
and 1986 respectively, to demonstrate sprinkler irrigation in
preparation for Dolores project water.

The ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council created the ute Mountain
Tribe Farm and Ranch Enterprise in 1987 to manage the Tribal
cattle herd, operate the demonstration sprinkler systems, and
plan, design, construct, and operate the facilities necessary to
utilize water from the Dolores Project. The Farm and Ranch
Enterprise is the administrative entity for development of the
Dolores Project irrigation facilities, for the Ute Mountain Ute
Tribal Counc~l.

The Tribal town of Towaoc has a population of about 1300
persons, but is growing at a rate of about 2% - 3% per year.
The ~resent source of drinking water is canal water that is only
chlor~nated. Sand filters installed about 20 years ago, have
never adequatelY treated the water for human consumption and as
a result the Tribe has drinking water trucked to homes and
offices. A reliable, and safe source of drinking water is
necessary. The Tribal Public Works Department is the
administrative entity which manages current municipal water
facilities and will assume responsibility for municipal water
supplies developed from the Dolores Project.

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