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

0899

September 1972

The Animas-La Plata Project is one of 25 potential projects in the
Upper Colorado River Basin that was given priority in the completion
of planning reports by the Colorado River Storage Project Act of
April 11, 1956 (70 [tat. 105).

The construction, operation, and maintenance of the Animas-La Plata
Project was authorized under ~itle V of Public Law 90-537, September
30, 1968 as a participating project under the Colorado River Storase
Project Act (70 Stat. 105 43 U.S.C. 620). The Secretary was directed
to proceed as nearly as practicable with construction of the Animas-
La Plata Project (and the four other Colorado projects) concurrently
with the construction of the Central Arizona Project, to the end
that such projects shall be completed not later than the date of first
delivery of water from said Central Arizona Project; Provided, That
an appropriate repayment contract for each said participating project
shall have been executed as provided in section 4 of the Colorado
River Storage Project Act (70 Stat. 107) before construction shall
start on that particular project.

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1'he States of Colorado and ;Ie" I.lexico, the city of Durango, and local
interests have actively supported develo]lInent of the Animas,..La Plata
Project and have contributed funds towards the cost of project fea..
sibility investigations. The La Plata ]vater Conservancy District in
Colorado and the La Plata Conservancy District in .iew Hexico have
been organized under laws of the respective states to serve as con-
tractual and operating agencies for the project.

R~IARKS

The Regional Director's report on the AnirnasnLa Plata project was
transmitted to the effected states of the Colorado River Basin and
to other Federal agencies on October 12, 1962, for review as required
by the Flood Control Act of 1944. On April 13, 1966, the Secretary
of the Interior transmitted the report including the supplement
dated Harch 31, 1966, which updated the February 1962 plan of develop-
ment. to the President through the Bureau of the Budget. Following
receipt of comments frou the Bureau of the Budget, the Secretary of
the Interior transmitted the report to the House of nepresentatives
lIay 4, 1966 with the recommendation that the project be authorized
for construction. Congress authorized construction of the Animas-
La Plata Project by Public Law 90-537, September 30, 1968.

Public Law 90-537 further directed that the Anilnas,La Plata Federal
reclamation project should be constructed and operated in substantial
accordance wi.t.h thp ~nf:in~~)"1nr: pl RnR RCt. out in the report of the

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