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<br />page two <br /> <br />The Jicarilla Apaches are also involved in litigation for <br />water rights on the Navajo River and are seeking to stop any more <br />diversion in the San Juan-Chama project. They have petitioned <br />the U.S, Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari. The NARF attor- <br />ney who is involved in this suit is Robert S, Pelcyger (NARF's <br />address is 1506 Broadway, Boulder; Tel: 447-8760). <br /> <br />The plain inference is that the Animas-La Plata project will <br />not solve the Indian water rights claims in the San Juan Basin <br />simply by throwing a bone to the two Ute Tribes_ The Navajo claim, <br />when they make it formally, will most likely supercede all water <br />rights in the Basin, including those in New Mexico, Colorado and <br />other Indian tribes. Thus, to say the Animas-La Plata project <br />"offers the only practicable solution to the settlement of the <br />Indian water rights problem in the area" is simplistic and naive. <br /> <br />Furthemore, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe project water is really <br />"paper" water because they will have to build their own reservoir <br />to store their M&I water since the main diversion canal will be <br />shot off from October to April, <br /> <br />There are now four Indian tribes and the federal government <br />either involved in litigation or planning to litigate water rights <br />in the San Juan Basin, Those of us who are opposed to the Animas- <br />La Plata water project believe that these claims should be settled <br />prior to any commitment made locally to the project. We do not <br />want to be committed to pay back a $336-million project in the mis- <br />taken belief that it will solve these water rights problems, <br /> <br /> <br />Sincerely yours, <br /> <br /> <br />Wil1~g~b::a~ <br /> <br />cc: Gov. Richard Lamm <br />Harris Sherman <br />Fred Kroeger <br />Leonard C, Burch SUT <br />Judy Pinnecoose, UMUT <br />