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'. ,';:: ".:- 4 j - -.". ~ C),:,--CJ'i-C(O ANIMAS CHRONOLOGY 9A . - -- ~-, ~'~ ,. . '. .1904 - The first official study by the U.S. Reclamation Service on a plan to store water from the Animas River and use it for agriculture. .1915,1917 and 1924 - Periodic updates are done on the initial plans, one of , , which called for a rasarvoir 3 miles north of Durango and diverting water through a 38-mile canal to a reservoir on La Plata River near the New Mexico border. .1938 - U.S. Bureau of Reclamation opens an office in Durango to study the project. It remains today. .1956 - Congress, through the Colorado River Storage Act, authorizes a feasi- bility study of the Animas-La Plata project. ': . 1962 - The bureau finds the project to be "engineeringly sound and financially sound and feasible." The next year, it recommends to Congress that the project be authorized with a $102 million price tag. .1988 - Congress authorizes the project, consisting of Howardsville reservoir near Silverton, Hay Gulch reservoir 25 miles west of Durango, Animas Mountain reservoir to service Durango, Meadows reservoir, 48 miles of canals and tunnels. and a diversion of the Animas River at Taft, halfway between Silverton and Duran- ; go. This grandiose engineering scheme, a supporter said years later, "would have , f" f>een an environmental dIsaster." ; .1973 - Congress appropriates funds for advance studies. : ,.1974--77 - Advisory team of state, federal and local officials considers about 30 anemate plans for the project. ., -' . January 1979 - A group to be known as Taxpayers for the Animas-la Plata '1 Referendum, or TAR, organizes to fight formetion of a taxing district without an , election and to kill the project itself. , ' . September 1979 - The definitive plan report, detailing the project's new con- 'I figuration of Ridges Basin and Southern Ute reservoirs, IS released by the Interior Department. --~) . July 1980 - The final environmental impact statement addresses the project. ';' ';1- June 1981 - District judge orders the formation of the Animas-La Plata Water " !'.' Conservancy District, deciding along legal battle by project opponent TAR over ,;,'. whether to have the question of a district placed before the voters. The decision is - I appealad and the ludge is upheld. j . March 1982 - the water district approves a repayment contract for the project, 1 but the wheels are turning In Washington for cost~sharlng, which eventualty VOIds '. this contract. ~ . August 1985 - Formal talks begin on cost sharing, as federal, state, local and ( tribal officials negotiate who will put up the money to build the project. ~ . July 1888 - The Interior Department accepts a cost-sharing arrangement that. .j- calls for state and local entitles to provide some 38 percent of the upfront funding. ~ Just as importantly, rt splits the project in two, putting some major components on - hold. . December 1988 - The Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement agree.. ment is signed in Denver. Utes agree to drop claims on San Juan Basin streams in exchange for water in the Anlmas~La Plata project and about $60 million in scrcall- ed economic development funds. . Dec. 8, 1987 - Voters in Durango overwhelmingly approve the repayment con- " tract and locals prepare for the long~awalted project start. . February 1980 - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces it is studying : _the project to determine its Impact on endangered fish. Meanwhile, voters in San : Juan County, N.M., approve their repayment contract. , . Mey 6, 1990 - The Fish and Wildlife Service calls for a seven-year study of the ,~ project to measure its impact on the endangered squawfish, razorback sucker and ~ humpback chub. Rep. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, D-Cnlo" says the decision eflec- : tively kills the project. '1 ,-,,- " 30F3