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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Page 6 <br /> <br />The stream quantification connnittee reviewed each basin and defined the <br />potential claims, the available water supplies, the existing water rights. and <br />developed methods to provide water to the tribes while having a minimal impact <br />upon existing uses. <br />The state of Colorado. the Tribes, and local water users reached agreement <br />on all of these issues in March of 1986, There was a signing ceremony at <br />Durango, Colorado, <br />However, the issues with the federal government, particularly cost sharing <br />and tribal development furrls, still remained unresolved, and COngress had <br />imposed a June 30, 1986 deadline to resolve the cost charing issues. or <br />funding for the Animas-La Plata Project V/Ould not go foIWard. <br />Intense negotiations were held with the federal government at the highest <br />levels, The participants included the states of Colorado and New Mexico, <br />Tribal officials, representatives of the Office of Management and Budget, and <br />the Department of Interior, A cost sharing agreement was hanunered out and <br />signed on June 30, 1986. 'Ibis cleared the way for a revised settlement <br />agreement to be drafted and signed by the federal government as well as the <br />state of Colorado. IIXlian tribes. and the water users in Southwestern <br />Colorado. The final agreement was signed on December 10, 1986 at the state <br />Cap! tol Building in Denver, Colorado. <br />Although the Settlement Agreement was reached. there still remained a <br />considerable all'Ount of V/Ork to be done, It was necessary to pass legislation <br />through the united states COngress concerning waiving of the Non-Intercourse <br />Act, obtain appropriations for the Tribal Development Fund, and obtain <br />congressional approval of off-reservation leasing or sale of water, <br />Additionally, the state of COlorado had to obtain appropriations from the <br />legislature for the Tribal Development funds and the cost sharing agreement, <br />