WSP01548

• File Number: 8220.106
• Description: Animas-La Plata
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 7/1/1987
• Author: EPI
• Title: An Analysis of the Animas-La Plata Project - Durango-Colorado - July 1987
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

Phase 2 areas through pressurized pipe laterals. The Red
Mesa, Alkaki Gulch, and ute Mountain Pumping Plants (Phase
II), located beside the canal would pressurize three o~
the laterals. The other four laterals would have ~u~ficient
pressure because o~ the elevation difference between canal
and farm turnouts. Municipal and industrial water would be
delivered to the ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation at the.
end of the Dry Side Canal.

4,600 acres of supplemental service lands above the Dry
Side Canal would receive additional water through existing
diversions and distribution facilities by exchange of La
Plata River water supplies from lower lands that would be
served from the Dry Side Canal.

The Southern Ute Diversion Dam, located on the La Plata
River 2.8 miles north of the Colorado - New Mexico state
line, would divert flows from the La Plata River to Southern
Ute Reservoir through the Southern Ute Inlet Canal. These
flows would consist of natural runoff from the La Plata
drainage, return flows from irrigated areas upstream, and
Animas River water supplied through Dry Side Canal. The
Southern Ute pumping plant, located on the inlet canal near
the diversion dam, would provide pressure ~or a pipe lateral
system serving lands in Colorado along the La Plata River.

Southern Ute Dam and Reservoir, located at an of~stream
site east of the river, would provide regulation of water
supplies for irrigation in New Mexico and industrial water
for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. The industrial water
would be delivered at the outlet works of Southern Ute Dam,
and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe would provide facilities
for distribution beyond that point. The New Mexico
Irrigation Canal, heading at the dam, would provide water
to three turnouts serving pressurized pipe laterals for
La Plata, New Mexico, lands. Two of these laterals would
develop sufficient pressure for sprinkler irrigation from
the difference in elevation between the canal and farm
turnouts. The third Terrace Pumping Plant would provide.
pressure for the third lateral.

operation and maintenance of the project reclamation and
joint use facilities would involve three separate entities.
The La Plata Water Conservancy District in Colorado would
administer those project facilities within its boundaries.
The La Plata Conservancy District in New Mexico would
administer the project facilities that directly supply
project water to lands within its boundarie.. The Ute
Mountain ute Indian Tribe would administer the facilities
on the reservation. Several entities, including the Bureau
of Reclamation, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Colorado
Division of Parks and Recreation, the New Mexico D.p~rtment
of Game and Fish, and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, would

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