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<br />--. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />.-- <br /> <br />doscribed undcr Indian Trust Assets below. <br /> <br />NON-PROJECT WATER USERS <br /> <br />ALL ALTERNATIVES - Non-Project water users would not be affected by the implementation of any <br />of the aJiernatives. since their water supply is independent of the Project. <br /> <br />DOLORES RIVER <br /> <br />ALTERNATIVES I, 2 AND 3 - The water acquired for downstream release under these alternatives <br />would be added to the current flows' of the Dolores River. The duration and amount of flow at any given time <br />would fol/ow the recommendations of the interagency biology committee. This water would be available to fish <br />and wildlife, as well as to recreational users of the river. <br /> <br />ALTERNATIVE 4 - No change in the flows of the Dolores River would occur as a result of the <br />implementation of this alternative. <br /> <br />H. INDIAN TRUST ASSETS <br /> <br />I. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT - The United States has a trust responsibility to protect and <br />maintain rights reserved by or granted to American Indian !ribes by treaties, statutes and executive orders. <br />Indian Trust Assets (ITA) are legal interests in property held in trust by the United States for Indian tribes or <br />individuals, or property that the United States is otherwise charged by law to protect. Examples of resources that <br />could be lTAs are lands, minerals, hunting and fishing rights, water rights, and instream flows. Reclamation's <br />ITA Policy was signed by the Commissioner on July 2, 1993. The Policy states that Reclamation will carry out <br />its activities in a manner which protects ITAs and avoids adverse impacts when possible. Reclamation has <br />identified two Indian tribes as potentially affected by the proposed action and alternatives, the Ute Mountain Ute <br />Tribe and the Navajo Nation. <br /> <br />No Native American religious concerns have been identified in connection with this proposal. <br /> <br />UTE MOUNTAIN UTE TRIBE <br /> <br />The Ute Mountain Ute ITA that could be affected is the tribe's water supply. The Ute Mountain Ute <br />Tribe has a total Project reserved water right of25,100 AF resulting from the 1986 Colorado Ute Water Rights <br />Settlement Agreement. The water is far use as follows on an annual basis: (1) 23,300 AF far agricultural <br />irrigation on approximately 7,500 acres of tribal land south of Sleeping Ute Mountain; (2) 1,000 AF for <br />municipal and indus!rial use in the Towaoc area and; (3) 800 AF for fish and wildlife development. The main <br />water delivery system (Towaoc-Highline Canal) to the 7,500 acres has been completed. Water delivery was <br />made en April 19, 1994. The delivery system for the M&I water has also been completed. Tne tribe also has <br />non-Project reserved water rights in the main stem of the San Juan River (10 cfs) and McElmo Creek. p cfs). <br /> <br />NAVAJO NATION <br /> <br />The Navajo Nation is located south of the Ute Mountain Ute reservation and the Project area. <br />However, McElmo Creek enters the Navajo Nation at the Utah state line and stays within lite nation to its <br />confluence with the San Juan River. The San Juan River then flows through the reservation about ten miles until <br />its confluence with Montezuma Creek. The San Juan River then fonns the nonhem boundary of the nation from <br />this point to its confluence with the Colorado River. The San Juan River, McElmo Creek, and Montezuma <br />Creek receive irrigation return flows the Projec!. <br /> <br />2. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES <br /> <br />3S <br />