WSP02427 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ing projects and/or delivery systems. The two ,elements would be used in combination, through the free market system, to provide the necessary water to satisfy the Ute Indian Tribes' water rights claims. Alternative #7: 1996 Final Supplement to the Final Environmental Statement Recommended Action - This alternative, as documented in the 1996 Final Supplement to the Final Environmental Statement, recom- mends diverting flows of the AnImas, La Plata, and San Juan Rivers for irrigation, municipal, and industrial needs. It would also provide for fish and wildlife preservation, recreation facili- ties, and a cultural resources program. The rec- ommended action called for constructing the ALP'in two phases, providing for a total deple- tion of 149,220 af per year. Major facilities would include the Durango and Ridges Basin pumping plants, Ridges Basin inlet conduit, Ridges Basin and Southern Ute re~ervoirs, La Plata and Southern Ute diversion dams, and various canals and laterals. A1te~native #8: Administration Proposal with an Alternative Water Supply Jar Non-Ute Entities - This alternative would supply M&I water to non-Ute entities (i.e., Animas - La Plata Water Conservancy Dis- trict, San Juan Water Commission, and Navajo Nation) from sources other than the proposed Ridges Basin Reservoir. Potential alternative water sources include savings from water conser- vation, use of existing Federal facilities, and con- struction of a separate reservoir. Alternative #9: Citizens Progressive Alliance Proposal - This alternative would allow the Colorado Ute Tribes to lease water instream based on the water amounts specificed in the 1986 Settlement Agreement. The economic value of such instream leasing would be calculated based on leaving Animas River water instream and subse- quent effects on hydropower production and lower levels of salinity. This instream leasing w~uld provide a revenue stream to the two Col- orado Ute Tribes to use to acquire water from existing projects and uses to meet their future water needs. Alternative #10: No Action Alternative - Under this alternative, there would be no additional activities under- taken at this time to implement the Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, and as a consequence, there would be no settlement of the Tribes' senior water right claims. The Tribes, as outlined in the 1986 Settlement Act, must elect to either retain the project reserved water right or they must commence litigation or negotiation of their pending reserved water rights claims. NEPA Process Underway continued from page 1 existing facilities, direct flow rights, or substitute financial benefits to satisfy their water rights claims. Public scoping meetings were held in February 1999. Following review of the input received at those meetings and discussions with agency repre- sentatives, two additional alternatives (both varia- tIOns of the AdministratIOn Proposal) were added to the list of alternatives to be evaluated. A SUill- mary description of each of the ten alternatives is provided in this newsletter. Three of these alterna- tives were a direct result of a process initiated by former Colorado Gov~rnor Roy Romer and Lt. Governor Gail Schoettler in 1996 to seek resolu- tion of issues associated with the proposal described in the 1996 FSFES. New On-Line: Animas-La Plata Website The Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region, has recently added a new element to its webpage which provides infor- mation on the Animas la-Plata Project. The new site is an excellent source of information about the project and the environmental review process currently underway. For those persons who have access to the Internet, we encourage you to visit our web- page and view the information it contains. You will find several articles that provide background information, descriptions of the alternatives being analyzed, a project schedule/timeline, and a site map. The first issue of the ALP newsletter (published in June 1999) is also available on the website. You can reach the ALP web page through the following ud: http://www.uc.usbr.gov. 3 -