WSPC05759

• File Number: 8064.100
• Description: Ute Tribes
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 9/1/1972
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Animas La Plata Project
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

.0896

September 1972

AHlllAS-LA PLATA PROJLCT. COLORADO

LOCATION :
----

Southwestern Colorado and iiorthwestern Clew Hexico
in the Can Juan River Drainage of the Upper
Colorado River Basin.

AUTHORIZATIO,i: Construction, Operation and ilaintenance of the
Animas..La Plata Project was Authorized as a ?arti..
cipating Project of the Colorado Storage Project
by Congress on September 30, 1968.

DLSCRIPTIOH.

The plan presented in the authorizing report provided for delivery
of additional irrigation water to 25,600 acreS of land which have an
insufficient water supply and a full irrigation water supply to 46,520
acres of land which are idle or presently dry fanned. Approxi-
mately 7,520 acres are located on the Southern and Ute j,jountain
Ute Indian reservat ions. Mso provided is 76,200 acre-,feet of
iiunicipal, Domestic and Industrial water for the communities and
areas surrounding Durango, Colorado and Aztec and FarminGton, ITew
i-lexica.

Jlinimum pools and recreation facilities are planned at all project
reservoirs.

In the authorizin~ documents the principal project storage 'Would
be provided at the 78,000 acre..foot JIowardsville Reservoir on the
Animas River. I,!ost of the releases from the reservoir and river
accretions in the 23 ,uiles of channel below the reservoir would be
diverted into the Animas Diversion Canal and conveyed southwest
for use in the La Plata River drainage area. The remainder would
be used for municipal and industrial purposes at Durango. Colorado,
and Aztec and F~"ington, Hew Mexico. The Durango water, consisting
of releases from the Animas Diversion Canal and flows of Falls and
Junction Creeks, would be stored in the 17,000 acre.-foot Animas
J.Iountain neservoir for release to the city's municipal system.
Part of the water would replace that now diverted to Durango from
the Florida River. The replaced water would then be used for
irrigation of land under the Florida reclamation project. ,later
for Aztec and Farmington would flow down the Animas River past the
head of the Animas Diversion Canal to the diversion points of the
mu~icipal systems.

~he Animas Diversion Canal would cross the La Plata River and de-
lIver water to the 53,000 acre-.:foot Hay Gulch Reservoir at its
terminus. l.:nrollt_c we.t.er W'o111 rl be releR.~cci to the potential Red

1