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<br />0015 .... .'
<br />ANIMAS-LA PLATA:
<br />Thelast,bigdamlo,;,theWest
<br />
<br />. . ".,' , . .,:"
<br />
<br />by Ste\'t H)b~hm'h
<br />
<br />. .
<br />0I8d0 aind New Mexico. .
<br />Tho tOali1l.!;ln bas *cady built sey~
<br />cral sirtlll DuRee projects - on the
<br />Mancoo.Plidra,l'IiJri"'ind,Pliien""
<br />- Old, In "'l~ jIulIed OIl the s;iJ
<br />mllllOfl ~~ projet!" which WM once
<br />011 PreJldcntCarter'sramotts"hllIlllL"
<br />Tho crowning pioject Jii to be ~nl. .
<br />mas-LlI Plaia, whlcti MayneS caUs "tbiJ
<br />smncldJddy of,lheai aiL" It,wl!i supply
<br />walCt Cot tb&ddeS and lbCii' liew subut.' ""
<br />bin deYelopnien~ ~reilO a.recreation
<br />reservoIr.outsldo Diidngo: allow dcvel-"j.'
<br />opment of die kea'..iuM(anllal toil'
<br />reserves;lIIdlr.dsatO.68.oooacre5.
<br />, . A~ II1dh.~~roJett . ....
<br />Tho ';'jm ibo I;;i . nci~ in<! ..i:
<br />IUtaI dimension lhiil makes' It VCl)' atIflk:.
<br />dye to lite U.S. CoiIpss lind 10 non-
<br />We,lerllon; .Thank' '10 the 1988 Ute
<br />Indian Waler R1shli SeldemclDl Act.
<br />"Anlmll'U; Filii UWei ~ dispute that
<br />could d'':1Ia~e ,ihd {iclally divide the
<br />
<br />DURANOO, Colo. - Tho lIi.te
<br />1980. were bluer years for tho
<br />WeSl'swaterctllbllshment,as
<br />AiRIlI.andOll(:e-lnvlnclblcwaterprojecll
<br />drOJ,pr.dlikcnJes.
<br />In the lISt ,five y8tlrs, Colorado's
<br />Two Forts Dam, North Dakoll's Oarrl.
<br />son Project, cllrr Dam in Arizona, and
<br />the Cetural UCah Projeel, 10 IIlIIIlC a tew,
<br />were all either kUled, chanlled beyond
<br />recognltlon, or lndeO,nltely delayed.
<br />Only the $640 million Anlmas-1A
<br />Plaia proJeelln southweslem Colorado
<br />sailed on. While OIIen c::rltlclzcd as an
<br />exlr8vagal1t aDd hopelesslY compliceted
<br />Rube Goldbel't schem~, Anlmas_La
<br />Plaia is !he one sluviYing bll-lIctet Item
<br />in the Burtau orRecJamadon's construe-
<br />lion budgeL Chances Utl+ It wUl be the
<br />last of Ihe' West'slllOlll federal,waler
<br />projects.
<br />Animllll-La Plata Is not a made-In-
<br />Washington, D.C., proJeet or:even 8
<br />widely supported Colorado project. Il$
<br />roolS are in Durango, whore backers
<br />s~em impervious to the waler reform..
<br />611n around them. Here, 400 mile; &om
<br />Denver and Two Porks, and lIolaled
<br />hehind Ihc San luan Mountains, Animas-
<br />La Plata is considered. OOn8deal. .
<br />Thb Scrappy mpuntaln town, lllii In
<br />lhe sleeply waited Animas River valley, .
<br />""....,...~kl!sl~_
<br />edon~ltcOOki:;erlhiiRa~
<br />oIlhe surroundlng country,ldo ii\c1 dovel-
<br />OJ! the Indla1 reservations and coat fIeI4s
<br />f:uther south.l..oyaJty 10 Anlm8s Is. .-e-
<br />requisi1c for pubUc nfe in Durimgo, and
<br />pursuit of the project his domlna.ed
<br />regionalpoUtk.tforlhreCldecades. '.' ,
<br />As Sam Maynes, Duranao's,Jei. .
<br />endary water IlIomey and lbe btaHis
<br />behind Ihc Anima.La Plata project; said'
<br />in a recent telephone intcfYJcw, "Chave
<br />never lnown an elected ofIlclallft col.
<br />orado that has been opposed to tbe~Aiil-
<br />mas-l.I Plaia project, ellller In~.focili
<br />st.."tIeuftdtralomce," ,,'
<br />
<br />'M"=I,::,;:,:~=. G.~.~~t\d.~ senl Ben Nl'g~t~.,
<br />",,,,,,",,,,It<eIYBI""''''-;oha..' .lifiF/lli\\iil'C'a"m' 'bAII"'a'y's""the"
<br />long and somellmcs black hlstor,- of "0'.5" p t=l ;:t
<br />slrong-armlna Projecl opponents: Loclil I I 'I." , ,
<br />
<br />~~~,:';~'':':';:::=:':';=dar1\\'~~~Ject is a ilgO.1I N~t.> .
<br />~I~~~n t:e'::::~n~~7v:ee t;:~= "'.:' evetytS:ftE)::'agrees. ' :' .'9t;!n.,P'i/: _!'--'/
<br />::.=I=::recf:..~'":, 'I "I.~,.,.;,,:.>,\:,..:~:.:,..,,_.. ..._"..... ~;-,~,..JL~;.;.'.
<br />jcclever buill in CoJoradoIs stIUexhod" . ,\. "'~~i:"i' ";, , !::; ,~",
<br />(donlhebaslsofreglonalpalrlotlsntand :':Pottt~Wbil~72jdtoSOuu.em' 'PIiistliOfthO~jedJ.hlt'eohiplCtebY
<br />..""."'" ... u......U.."'...IliIilU..b1beimed j,id.2li!xJ.ihilribeiCid..toho,....
<br />"Why SIlJIpOd the Animas-La Pial. : sblllri 81110 torirt idH;ii~ tightS that . to Wid Ihe setttemMllI6t.1ittI year 2000
<br />project'" read one pollllc:al advertIse. - dale beck II;) 1868; 1hO,ye.their rektvit., ", deidunoiot dtcRCilgBriandllusftidmbt-
<br />ment during a 1987 campaign to ra,lIfy lion. were crealedi"Tho f1ilns: would.' tIiiaUoosptttlheprojectort, bul lhe new
<br />the plOjCCl's repayment t_ontracl, have a1ven. iIte uUleli lIhdor Water rights ClinlOn administration caQ;L Il mWll
<br />"Bttause someone else Is paying mOlt on Yhtlla!ll every tiW:t tuid,~ south decld6 whether to '~lIlIci Allltnas#La
<br />of the tab. We let tho waler. We get the 0' the SttnluaiiMOunta!nS; Says SOIltb- Phila;andsoon, ;_,. ',,_,
<br />reservtlir.ThcYPll)'thoblIL" "einUIeWitd:~SOOttMcBlroy. ,
<br />The restlJtls one or the largest and A clesh ~ tholben Anslo AlP
<br />mOll! cohesive coalitions that has ever put coalhlon tnd tht trlbtj,~"ould havo
<br />il3 shoulder CO a Western waterwheel; The, doomed tM~~ lira ckiOO over
<br />coolilioo Includes half a dozen klcaI CoI-' . the exlstJdj aaafl\i ind wiy Of tlfe.
<br />oratlo and New MexIco water ~ FmlKroeget, I , . OIIh6SoulhwMt-
<br />(:Ydistrfcts;mec:ltlesofDurango.ColO.~ emWatet~bWrtCt,i8JSsuda
<br />and Fanninaton, Aztec and BIoomDeldj 1 IltI~ wdula COif IitJt1dmis ofrniUl0n9
<br />N,M.~ nllTllel'OUS counties; lhe IOYcmors 01 donJus Md tllIiY. ev~ne's waler
<br />,'ooili......._IOOInn_",j.",. . rlJh.InIilPII?l\1l1S~;20y/ms,
<br />,mbe congressl~~ doleg.d"", 01 COl. . I..;tad 0/ UUIIIIlnI, th. Iwo .ldoI
<br />.10~~ ~~~nlfr.l'~",,~;~~..\~
<br />
<br />nes~The~~ttp,lhc~ciahn ":'.':-:"~~ex~Plc.Jritm,theAntpahoe
<br />to.senlorrigbtsln,rCWfitfoi"l!mOOg other ,..,W_Shoshone itlbCi WotI over half the
<br />. ihInsJ,$60 mlIIlOiIlJ;,~IJli,ds,,,:, ....., Iii \\'Y........ WiooRi'" V~~y,
<br />.l dim,;,I. ",.i,I.~lp.Il.8Iro"'!h. ','."lIowe'oI,.ih02ti-;tlfiJowtJ.mUIIo.-doI-
<br />.bo",,",proM...IUlIe.iJ.injsh.wol. 'IiiOOtnlhiilleledlOliicl.inmllYholwoon
<br />~ Anlmu.UPla~,'~)ed.lheii Set fori! oori-.fttcilari tamersluMj Ihe indians,lVltJ so
<br />199000nstiuctioO.iWt., ~ Wyo,mtnk, thai the ltibel have.
<br />. , As'~ bonlU; die c:.olildon got two nevet bmi liMe to, ~ ihit pIlIit!r water
<br />~llial ,membilrs_.who ,have ~endous dghi into wet ~tet. They hiven'l even
<br />Infl""",;,jIh~.IM""""..t ,"""lhlOlOleo,ciliolr_tnlMri",
<br />.th....bll~Al......~oi:.... ..lii........_....,y,..,.
<br />'.]o:lwno,,,lugo;;dti,,,coiIiom/ni- ;,$sIIi~iixlS"'ohoniUtotrih-.
<br />.' iilcs and tlOn-lddllri tiilme;;,lbc ieute-. .".,,'fit ~Uo.tard 8i1ich _who have
<br />riii:lnll~oiilenl \tiriied Ai.~ ift.to'~rt" ""Vldttgd .16j~lh~r oil Anltrills~t.1 Plata
<br />"Jndf. aitllfO~~<t.'f'-%". ,-r.'.::, '. " .li\€Athe......' kt.t96<k.:...... MY tbeyha..-e
<br />That iriakc.:MP..tar_ldcJder 10 SWvenlda~thal.k1ridotriceWar.
<br />o~P<i;. ih.. . ho!illihliKllfplojiOl, .. .." OW. d,.'l hu; .b.neh of "d.
<br />. thli! ha. al~.j>i bal. l~llfil! 1...1' 'n!ebd bl..1t d.;,;" hi,. '8.1." Ih.
<br />opJinsld",_~ lliil \Wi MI the liidl.......yj Moiy,,>;, who .1.. """
<br />morti dttermined ~1ll6 ot the lacllCi ti ienenl Coa~l tor the Soutbent Ule
<br />..... ......, It. B..tSlnoi ~.of tho tll~. "'Ill ha",wi>rked1oj01h;,_
<br />.'act, U:I~ few ~on-tocil, envt;oill~enW tho tndliuii arid,have (I iirojcc:1) we.1l
<br />'~.. tn 1....L,.hindledALPwlth l>irlt;;;....iJ.n"
<br />, Ps VOywna ,,' , _ r'" O. i;
<br />d.lo.... ...'.. .. . 'll.O.........".......IO._.
<br />the iet also c:t68UdII deaiulne. If dv6 ~ between titbal and loellI
<br />. . . iO~m6nli In southwCsteni COlorado,
<br />IlridOllriltJl;bJm.""'..ohoi<lclal......
<br />tJ;,tPil&uiiilMw__
<br />l!omiI, i./ryn,; 10"""'"........
<br />.. ilillIli!tllli\\ill;.o'benintstnen'."."""
<br />. MiJiij.U I>jilil ;I!ool1i;; aItab~,...,..
<br />booIdedilili;;ey........,.l""'pwh.
<br />liijAli'.lUIttil<>iljIhiWly_tho
<br />~lIiJjiJroit<dmesieniCoI""""
<br />~..'.... .'. ."r.......!/af.!..~.w..,
<br />, ihWlll!iliWIlllCohsot.
<br />. .. . '1IiI AnJm,;.u """ W""
<br />.~bioIdci",jii~""''''h-
<br />. ~,liiidillso" j;""Sou_
<br />. tJto \iIl!i.U i>IlIili~ ad," Um..,
<br />, klil~",iI!d. Mid.., .t:o;l C,,, whl,h .
<br />bl,iIllt......."""usJ;iilnAi..r'......
<br />~I:;.."~ Atj~ own; th~ nunlngo office
<br />h. fdint ihit hoo... hillaw rum. ili.
<br />lMllC Ilel.l;,ln... imlllil S..II........
<br />'lilil.AilIii1ij.Ul>lili~RIOi..........,.
<br />cIliiiidt'PrOJed opJioiaenit often crlll-
<br />ciZO MayhCi tor ConflIct ot InlerCSt and
<br />t9f ICicilrt,.the'lrlbes istdy, but those
<br />"chtifitS_M"heverslrltki ,:
<br />., '.<.lillllld, MAyhii' liidoiihlp..d
<br />..lritiIl!liU Iii.. kepi IIiI ALP ",lIlIon
<br />.l<iiith"!lllirot;.. lilbllW thOt iv.,1O
<br />bite lilled OIher, 8rJbBbI, bdttr, pro-
<br />jectj;-.Poi u.amplc, i i\ilJor crisis
<br /><#billd wheri ili. RtalM """tn.....
<br />, tIoR~itALP..""Plyilll".jtrioo
<br />. Iii aftdliid!iid "Djm h<ieko.i to help
<br />i'<i M ihi j,roJed, 'th. ...Ihlon "".
<br />.roonlll ~ On th. pin<li, jlui 1>1' iom.
<br />, ntoil!f.imdk<t>IALPsIIie.
<br />. ~: t:lb~ Ciictt Member; ~~cepl for the
<br />irjl:;~.i cli'me lip wltti *ome money,
<br />liriaIIJiIiiOOhlS70mllllou,To"""lho
<br />iMt bf thelr obllll:lltloits; the coalition
<br />!!pUt tho jwoJeci In two. The; $463 minion
<br />Ph.,f,Ot dtebulk of the project, wouTd
<br />be rcdei-illly, funded. with die htlp of the
<br />. Joelli conirlbatlOns' Tho $154 IDIJllon
<br />. riIi.ilii.1htrnoslmUglnaI......lho
<br />I>ioJ;oI Md the onsIesllo it" 'p, would
<br />be r.mded """Y by 1<>oaIImomo " It
<br />bwbuIIJ.
<br />"lJbiitl'oobId.ohoi:oollllod.hined
<br />IliljiliUI,Bii:aiisoohoU~MoimIilnI1tol
<br />indS6lJllillnU.."",_...IhoJt",,,,
<br />detiYffl' MfUCWies lri PIU U.the 19m:-
<br />bibit iMS ihcllrlbe.1: OWiiershJp of waler
<br />. lIOied tii P!..c 1, "'" II thot mal<ei I...
<br />_ll>iIJahli10 "",.Indinil_
<br />
<br />
<br />.t if.
<br />ri.e_m.er,lrln<!Sihrouah doe.........u.r
<br />'. " -,-..' . ., .
<br />
<br />......:',-,.
<br />
<br />NOblgoilJ .
<br />
<br />Por the West. ALp'. imiori of
<br />. ,Nallve Anioilcatl, tel,bell aiid ~id.Ume
<br />, w.'" d.\ielOp!;i~. ~ biillkely ilU.....
<br />.UiiJiJlly,MBI". with ihihiJlp."B_
<br />and the _AnDy ~ ol.Bn8~. havc
<br />, stolen IniU8n, water.,When the Indians
<br />..;;tlogdlibact;iholoi!edwll1...pIy
<br />iegMbaitld:. . ,,.I-,t, ":'
<br />
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