WSP08124

• File Number: 8220.106
• Description: Animas-La Plata
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 10/1/1996
• Title: Animas-La Plata Project Summary Information
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Project Overview

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. Minimum bypass flows
. The capacity of Durango Pumping Plant
· Design-based reservoir filling criteria

Phase I, Stage A - Interim (Partial) Operation

There would be 26,500 acre-feet and 6,000 acre-feet available to the Southern Ute Indian and
the Ute Mountain Ute Tribes, respectively, as described in the Settlement Agreement.

New Mexico's San Juan Water Commission water supply from the Animas and San Juan
Rivers would be diverted and conveyed using existing diversions on the Animas and San Juan
Rivers, Similarly, the Navajo Nation water supply could be delivered from the San Juan River
at existing diversions near the town of Shiprock, New Mexico, Most of this supply for New
Mexico would come from direct flows from the riveL An average of 1,400 acre-feet yearly (0
to 9,400 annual acre-foot range) would be supplied from the reservoir, down Basin Creek to
diversion points in New Mexico via the Animas and San Juan Rivers, Approximately
50 percent of the supply of 38,400 acre-feet would return to the San Juan River as return
flows, resulting in a net depletion to the San Juan River of about 19,200 acre-feet.

The Animas-La Plata Water Conservancy District (District) is the contracting entity that
would contract with Reclamation for Project M&I water in Colorado, The District would
then subcontract with separate areas that have requested M&I water. Present plans are to
hold 2,700 acre-feet of water for future development. This water could be delivered either as
direct flow diversions or from Ridges Basin Reservoir. It is assumed, for projected Project
impacts, that this water would be used in the Animas River Basin in Colorado, and the return
flow would return to the Animas RiveL

The city of Durango would begin receiving its 2,500 acre-feet ofM&I supply at its existing
storage reservoir via Durango M&I Pipeline. The water would be delivered to the pipeline
from Durango Pumping Plant, either as direct flow diversions from the river or from Ridges
Basin Reservoir through the inlet conduit when river flows were not sufficient and the
pumping plant was not delivering water to the reservoir, Approximately 50 percent of this
water supply would return to the Animas River as return flows for a net depletion of
1,250 acre-feet per year,

The small Ridges Basin Pumping Plant (maximum capacity 10 cfs) would pump water to
Shenandoah and La Plata Rural M&I Pipelines, depending on water demands. Eventually,
4,000 acre-feet per year would be pumped for the rural domestic water needs, with
1,000 acre-feet returning to the Animas River and 1,000 acre-feet returning to the La Plata
River drainage as return flows, for a net depletion of2,000 acre-feet annually.

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Phase I, Stage A - Full Operation

When the reservoir reached approximately 168,000 acre-feet capacity (assuming the reservoir
would be built to full size), the system would be declared operational. M&I water could be
available to the Navajo Nation, San Juan Water Commission, and the city of Durango. Water
would be available to the District and Shenandoah M&I and La Plata Rural M&I Pipelines
following additional appropriate NEPA compliance. Water for the two Ute Tribes would be
made available in Ridges Basin Reservoir or at the point of diversion on the Animas River as
identified in the Settlement Agreement. Use of water by the Ute Tribes would follow

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