WSP01183

• File Number: 8220.106
• Description: Animas-La Plata
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 6/1/1973
• Author: USDOI-BOR
• Title: Animas-La Plata Project - June 1973
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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projects. Time and time again farmers, ranchers and businessmen of our
communities have appeared before the committees of Congress and emphasized
the vast amount of economic, recreational and environmental benefits which
will accrue from the construction of these projects. We are not talking
of just dollars and cents for the next few years, but about the future
generations who will benefit.

Inevitably water reclamation projects seem to be criticized fOr contributing
to crop surplusses and land retirement programs. I submit to you that the
overwhelln1ng preponderance of the project lands incompassed by the Animas-I.....
Plata, Dolores and San Miguel Water Reclamation Projects are to be devoted
to the production of livestock and livestock feeds.

Lands to be irrigated by these projects are already presently being farmed.
They are not virgin lands being brought into the agricultural economy for
the first time. However, a dryland farming operation means erratic produc-
tion of crops such as wheat and beans. Construction of these projects will
stabilize feed grain production which will be utilized to produce red meat
which is critically short in supply.

Another area of apparent criticism revolves around the salinity prolllems of
the Colorado River. The Executive Branch of Government has taken carry-over
f'unds from the past fiscal year which had been authorized by the Congress
for Advance Planning on our water reclamation projects and ear~ked future
spending of these f'unds not for advance planning, but for study of the
salinity problem on the Colorado River. We are concerned about water quality
of the Colorado River, However, it seems ironic that this problem should be
used as a guise with which to delay and hinder our progress. The salinity
problems are not confined to the new projects to be constructed in the State
of Colorado. Salinity of the Colorado River is a problem of the Colorado
River Basin. These three projects do not create new serious salinity threats
to the Colorado River.

In addition, there are other and more compelling reasons why the Animas-La
Plata, Dolores Water Reclamation Projects particularly should be f'unded and
constructed. I refer to the unique situation involving these projects and
the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribes of Southwestern Colorado.
The unique relationship between the Tribes and the Water Conservancy District
in Southwestern Colorado which is reflected by the long history of coopera-
tion by these groups is endangered only by the reluctance of the Executive
Branch of Government to recognize the rare opportunity which is presented in
this instance to do justice to the Indians and at the same time fulfill the
promise made to the non-Indian comrrrunity for the development of their water
resources.

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In November of 1972 the Indian Trlbes were compelled, in order to protect
their water rights, to request that the Justice Department file a legal
action in the United states District Court for the District of Colorado. The
fact that the Indian Tribes wish to protect their water interests is not only
understandable but desirable and advisable.

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