WSP01899

• File Number: 8220.106
• Description: Animas-La Plata
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 1/1/1990
• Title: Animas-La Plata Project
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Project Overview

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ANIMAS-LA PLATA PROJECT

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COLORADO: La Plata and Montezuma Counties
NEW MEXICO: San Juan County

PROJECT SETTING

The Animas-La Plata Project, located in southwest Colorado and
northwest New Mexico, would annually develop water from the Animas
and La Plata Rivers to provide 118,110 acre-feet for about 68,000
acres of land and 80,100 acre-feet for municipal and industrial
(M&I) uses. A total of 154,800 acre-feet would be depleted
annually from these rivers. Water would be provided to non-Indians
and to the Southern ute, ute Mountain ute, and Navajo Indian Tribes
in both States. Fisheries would be created and recreation
facilities provided at both Ridges Basin and Southern ute
Reservoirs. A map of the project facilities is shown as Figure 1.

The main storage feature, Ridges Basin Reservoir, would be located
southwest of the city of Durango on Basin Creek, an intermittent
tributary of the Animas River. The Durango Pumping Plant, south
of Durango, would pump Animas River water to Ridges Basin
Reservoir. The stored water would be released throught the inlet
conduit back to the Animas River during periods of low flow for
Aztec, Farmington, and other M&I users in New Mexico. Ridges Basin
Reservoir would store industrial and irrigation water for the ute
Mountain ute Indian Tribe and water for Colorado irrigators, as
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well as M&I water for Durango and the surroundlng communltles. The
Ridges Basin Pumping Plant, located on the western edge of the
reservoir, would pump water from the reservoir into Dry Side Canal.
Southern ute Reservoir would store La Plata River flows diverted
into the reservoir through the Southern ute Diversion Dam and
Canal. Water stored in Southern ute Reservoir would be released
for full and supplemental service lands in New Mexico and for M&I
water needs of the Southern ute Indian Tribe.

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PROJECT PLAN

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The Animas-La Plata Project would utilize flows of the Animas and
La Plata Rivers for irrigation and M&I uses. It would also provide
fish and wildlife measures, recreation facilities, and a cultural
resources program.

Irriqation

The irrigation water supply would include 96,200 acre-feet for
48,620 acres of full service land, including 43,710 acres in
Colorado a~d 4,910 acres in New Mexico, and 21,900 acre-feet for

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