WSP06831

• File Number: 8220.106
• Description: Animas-La Plata
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 7/3/1975
• Author: Anderson - Lynch
• Title: Economic Benefits Study - Animas-La Plata Project - January 1978
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BENEFITS

The categories of benefits recognized by the Bureau of Reclama-
tion as appropriate for the Animas-La Plata Project include the direct,

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indirect, and pUblic benefits from water for irrigation, and direct

benefits from water for municipal and industrial, recreation, and fish

and wildlife purposes. One significant omission in this listing of

benefits is that there is no recognition given to the fact that, as

the project is being constructed, large sums of money will be spent

in the local economy. This is important because the San Juan Region

of Colorado, and the Four Corners area in general, is an economically

depressed area, in great need of economic development.

There has been considerable governmental recognition of the fact

that the area in which the proposed Animas-La Plata Projact is to be

built is a depressed area in need of economic development. This

recognition has occurred at both the Stata and Federal level. The

material in Appendix B demonstrates governmental concern regarding

the depressed conditions which prevail in the San Juan Region of

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Colorado. Some of this recognition is evidenced by the creation of

Economic Development Districts.

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The Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 authorizes

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the creation of Economic Development Districts. Authorized districts

must develop an Overall Economic Development Program (oEDP) to assist

in "alleviating the economic distress, unemployment, and underemploy-
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ment that have restricted their economic growth."

The oEDP is the document that meets the statutory requirement

that projects funded by the Economic Development Administration (EDA)

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