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<br />IO-Rocky Mountain Newi T ues" April 2, 1985, Oenver, Colo.
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<br />
<br />Utes threaten suit over w~ter project
<br />
<br />authorized in 1968 and designed to serve both Indian
<br />reservations and surrounding communities,
<br />Witnesses noted that the Animas-La Plata project was
<br />authorized in 1968 and was supposed to be built in tandem
<br />with the Central Arizona Project. Over the years, they
<br />said, the nearly complete Arizona water project has re-
<br />ceived $1.25 billion.
<br />The project was not included in President Reagan's
<br />proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.
<br />Strang said other members of the Colorado delegation'
<br />sURPOrt the project. " .-
<br />He said that under longstanding treaties and court
<br />decisions, the Indians bave first claim on available water
<br />in the area and that unless new supplies are added through
<br />the project, the tribe could successfully sue to get a
<br />greater share of existing water. .
<br />"Who loses?" be said. "All of the current users may well
<br />lose the use of what they thougbt was their water, , , . The
<br />result would be a devastating loss to the communities, the
<br />people, their personal incomes, the entire tax base and
<br />
<br />land values in southwestern Colorado, and jobs." ,
<br />Chris Baker, chainnan of the Soutbern Utes, said the I
<br />tribe has been asking Congress to appropriate initial
<br />constuction funds for years and believed, it had a "com-
<br />mitment" to start the project.
<br />"Please don't let us think the federal government was
<br />speaking with a forked tongue," Baker testified, ' I
<br />The proposed project, witb an estimated total price tag I
<br />of $535 million, is composed of two dams and two reser-
<br />voirs. '.
<br />The project is desikned to supply cities and industries,
<br />fann irrigation and the needs of three Indian tribes - the
<br />Southern Ute, the Ute Mountain Ute, whicb is partly in
<br />New Mexico, and the Navajos, although the Navajos bave
<br />not made a decision wbether to buy water from the
<br />project.
<br />Towns it would serve include Durango, Colo" 3I!d Aztec,
<br />Bloomfield and FanniDgton, in New Mexico, It also would
<br />serve fanners and irrigators in northwesterD New Mexico
<br />and southwestern Colorado. <
<br />
<br />AP and UPI
<br />
<br />WASHINGTON - A House subcommittee was warned
<br />Monday that the Southern ute tribe may go to court
<br />unless the federal government begins construction of tbe
<br />long-<lelayed Animas-La Plata water project in southwest-
<br />ern Colorado.
<br />The warnings were issued by Rep. Michael L, Strang, R-
<br />Colo" tribal representatives and officials of towns in
<br />southwestern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico,
<br />"Tbere is no doubt about it - lacking construction of
<br />the water storage facilities of th~ Animas-La Plata Pro-
<br />ject, wben the Ute Mountain ute and Southern Ute excer-
<br />clse their (legitimate senior water) rigbts . . , the resultant
<br />disruptions will be so far-reaching it is incredible to
<br />contel!1plate," _Strang said.
<br />
<br />He urged the House Appropriations energy and water
<br />subcommittee to add $1.35 ruillion to the fiscal ,1986
<br />budget proposal to begin construction of the project, first
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