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<br />00063ry <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The long-time residents of the San Juan Basin include <br />those of Indian and Spanish descent as well as those descended <br />from the pioneers. These three ethnic groups have demonstrated <br />a spirit of cooperation and willingness to sacrifice for the <br />general good of all in matters pertaining to the development <br />of our water resources. For example, the Southern Ute people <br />have, for over 40 years, jointly used with their non-Indian <br />neighbors the waters of the Pine River which are stored at <br />Vallecito Reservoir. We do not seek to do any different with <br />the waters of the Dolores, Mancos, La Plata and Animas Rivers. <br /> <br />Although the Ute Indian Tribes of Colorado have requested <br />that the Justice Department file legal actions to protect <br />the Tribes' water rights, I can assure you that the filing <br />of this legal action was never intended to hinder or delay <br />in any way the construction of the Animas-La Plata or Dolores <br />water projects. On the contrary, the only reason why the <br />tribes requested this action was to protect the Indian water <br />claims. At the time we requested the Justice Department to <br />initiate action, the Animas-La Plata and Dolores water pro- <br />jects were proceeding through the efforts of the Bureau of <br />Reclamation toward a Definite Plan Report. <br /> <br />The situation is still the same. Both projects will al- <br />locate large quantities of water for the Indian Tribes to <br />irrigate Indian lands which are presently dry farmed and will <br />provide water for development of our coal and recreational <br />resources. The development contemplated by these projects <br />on our semi-arid lands will provide a new economic basis upon <br />which the Indian Tribes can grow, provide employment for our <br />people and give us a greater degree of self-sufficiency for <br />which we strive. <br /> <br />The federal court action which is proceeding towards the <br />adjudication of water rights owned by the Indians is of <br />little comfort to the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Indian <br />Tribes. We have an opportunity through the construction of <br />the Animas-La Plata and Dolores projects to put to beneficial <br />use water which is desperately needed. The water situation <br />in Southwestern Colorado presents to the Congress and the " <br />executive branch of government a unique opportunity to fulfill <br />their obligations to the Indian people and, at the same time, <br />resolve a conflict between Indian claims and non-Indian <br />water claims by completion of construction of the two projects <br />which, over the years, have received the strong and continuous <br />support of not only the Indian people in our area, but the <br />non-Indian people as well. <br /> <br />3 <br />