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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />- --.,1- - <br /> <br />another to acc()ll1DOjate lands that were practical to irrigate. <br />Fortunately, two federal reclamation projects that had been authorized by <br />Congress as part of the Upper Colorado River Basin storage Project Act had <br />made allowances for Indian water, These projects - the Dolores which is unjer <br />construction, and the Animas-La Plata which has not begun construction, would <br />be the cornerstones from which a settlement agreement would be framed. <br />Through the efforts and leadership of the Attorney General. Duane Woodard, <br />and the governor, RichaId Larnm, a meeting was held with the Tribal leaders to <br />discuss the possibility of a negotiated settlement, It was agreed that there <br />was potential for a settlement, <br />'Ihe federal government at this time was pressuring for a resolution of the <br />claims before construction of the Animas-La Plata Project and completion of <br />the Dolores Project, 'Ihe federal government also requested cost sharing for <br />the construction of the Animas-La Plata Project. <br />The negotiation process began in March of 1985 with parties from several <br />entities present, 'Ihey included the State of Colorado. the ute fobuntain ute <br />Tribe, the Southern ute Tri.be, U, S, Department of the Interior, State of New <br />Mexico, the communities of Durango, Mancos, and Cortez. water conservancy <br />districts. and private parties who had entered into the pending litigation. <br />The state of Colorado took the position that it could not negotiate away <br />the vested property rights of water users which had been awaIded by the State <br />Court; that any settlement had to protect existing users or those users had to <br />agree to relinquishment of their rights, The test was non-injury, if <br />possible. to existing rights. The State also recognized the inequities that <br />the Tribes had suffered, particularly the lack of a potable water supply for <br />Towaoc, and the State was willing to help shoulder the burden to resolve some <br />of these issues, <br />The Tri.bes wanted wet water and not paper water, 1. e,. water that could be <br />