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<br />to <br />C <br />.- <br /> <br />The linch pin of the settlement is the provision of water <br /> <br /> <br />~ to the two Tribes from the Dolores Project, which is to be <br /> <br />completed in 1993, and the Animas-La Plata Project, which did <br /> <br />not receive its first construction appropriation until FY 1986 <br /> <br />even though it was authorized by Congress in 1968 and was to <br /> <br />have been built concurrently with the first delivery of water <br /> <br />to the Central Arizona Project. The additional water provided <br /> <br />by these projects will permit the continuance of non-Indian <br /> <br />economies dependent upon existing water supplies, while <br /> <br />simultaneously providing the Tribes with the water they need, <br /> <br />In light of the importance of the Animas-La Plata Project <br /> <br />to the settlement, the State of Colorado, the San Juan Water <br /> <br />Commission (New Mexico), and local Colorado water users have <br />agreed to non-federally finance 38 percent of the cost of the <br /> <br />project, Indeed, Colorado has already appropriated nearly all <br /> <br />of the money which it is obligated to provide, <br /> <br />As part of the cost-sharing arrangement, the Department of <br />the Interior committed to a 12-year construction schedule for <br /> <br />the project, Failure to meet that schedule could unravel the <br /> <br />settlement agreement as it pertains to two of the rivers <br /> <br />involved, To achieve this schedule. we believe that an <br /> <br />appropriation of at least $5,9 million will be needed in FY <br /> <br />1990, The President's budget request seeks only $3,72 <br /> <br />million, We ask Congress to honor the United States' <br /> <br />commitment to this project, the Tribes. and the state by <br /> <br />-4- <br />