WSP02305

• File Number: 8220.106
• Description: Animas-La Plata
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 12/1/1994
• Author: Bookman-Edmonston
• Title: Economic Impact Study - Animas-La Plata and Colorado Ute Water Rights Settlement Act
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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BACKGROUND

In 1992, a San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program was initiated with goals

directed at the recovery of the endangered fish in the San Juan River while providing for

the continuation of legislatively mandated water development in the Basin. This program

supports implementation of the RP A and will allow Reclamation to initiate construction of

ALP features while the endangered fish recovery program is being conducted.

As noted earlier, failure to construct ALP as designed could impact final decrees entered in

the Indian water rights cases in Colorado District Court for Water Division No.7 on

December 19, 1991. Relying upon the provisions of the Cost Sharing Agreement and the

Settlement Agreement, which called for construction of ALP, the Southern Ute and the Ute

Mountain Ute Indian Tribes agreed to settle their water rights claims on other streams that

cross their Reservations. Based on federal government promises, both Indian Tribes agreed

to adjust their senior water right claims on many streams that cross their Reservations, in

exchange for the federal government constructing ALP and the Dolores Project. Failure of

the United States to fulfill its commitments under the Agreements creates a potential liability

to the United States and to third parties of millions of dollars of litigation expenses and the

loss of economic wealth depended upon the waters from the Animas and La Plata Rivers.

PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT

ALP would utilize the flows of the Animas and La Plata Rivers for irrigation and municipal
and industrial uses. The principal features of the Project are shown in on the map. In
accordance with the Cost Sharing Agreement and the Settlement Agreements, the Project
would be constructed in two phases. The entire Project will provide for either full or
supplemental service to a total irrigated acreage in Colorado of 58,900 acres and in New
Mexico of 8,560 acres (Table 2.1). The Project will also provide a new municipal and
industrial (M&I) water supply of 7,600 acre-feet per year for the Navajo Tribe; 6,000 acre-feet
per year for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe; and 26,500 acre-feet per year for the Southern Ute
Tribe. M&I water of 9,200 acre-feet per year would also be provided for Colorado non-
Indian users in the city of Durango and adjacent rural areas. Another 30,800 acre-feet per
year of M&I water are provided for New Mexico communities and rural areas. A summary
of the entire Project water supply is shown in Table 2.2.

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