WSPC05636

• File Number: 8064
• Description: Federal Water Rights - Colorado Indian Negotiations
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 12/3/1987
• Author: Unknown
• Title: Senate Hearings Before the Select Committee on Indian Affairs and the Water and Power Subcommittee
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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OUTLINE OF ORAL TESTIMONY BY ERNEST HOUSEJ'
BEFORE THE SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE FOR INDIAN;7f
AFFAIRS AND THE SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL // is fiU . i~.
RESOURCES COMMITTEE ON S. B. 1415 .. if, U1 IF # fl/l II)
12/3/87 NOV ," l!! If!!!,

2/'11.987

1. My name is Ernest House. I am Chairman of t~,W~'1ADO Vl"-
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Mountain Ute Indian Tribe. The Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe' '0.'",

occupies a reservation in Southwest, Colorado, Northwest, New

Mexico and Southeast, Utah. The reservation was established as a
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result of the Treaty of 1868 and subsequent legislation.

2. The reservation contains over 500,000 acres of land. A

large portion of the land has desirable soils, good climate and a

strong potential for irrigated agriculture. In order to develop

the reservation for agricultural and other purposes the Tribe

requires a secure quantification of its water rights.

3. The Colorado Ute Water Rights Agreement of 1986 as

implemented in S.B. 1415 is designed to end a 100 year struggle

to quantify and secure for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe its water

rights in order to make its reservation a viable homeland. S.B.

1415 implements the Agreement, secures for the Tribes substantial

water supplies from direct river flows and from two federal

reclamation projects -- the Dolores Project and the Animas-La

Plata Project.

4. In addition S.B. 1415 is designed to create a

development fund for the benefit of both the Ute Mountain Ute and

Southern Ute Tribes. The monies in the development fund have

been contributed both by the State of Colorado and by the United

States and are in recognition both of past wrongs caused the

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