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<br />UTE LEGACY LAND AND WATER FUND <br /> <br />(An alternative to the Animas La Plata Project) <br /> <br />This alternative is intended to satisfy the Ute Tribes' land and water rights interest <br />at reasonable cost to the taxpayers and the environment. This alternative was <br />developed by the Southern Ute Grassroots Organization (SUGO) in consultation <br />with others. No ALP alternative should be considered acceptable until it has been <br />voted on and approved by the general membership of the Southern Ute Tribe. (The <br />Ute Mountain Ute Tribe's role in the decision process should be determined by <br />them. ) <br /> <br />PROPOSAL <br /> <br />.' . <br />Redirect moneys from the ALP to establish a Ute Lel!acv Land and <br />Water Fund that would enable the two Colorado Ute Tribes to buy <br />back senior water rights and land. <br /> <br />For the Southern Ute Indian Tribe this would mean land and water in <br />places of their choosing, on any river connected to their reservation or, <br />on neighboring rivers outside the reservation. All the land and rivers in <br />this region are part of the Ute Legacy. <br /> <br />While SUGO does not presume to speak on behalf of our brothers, the <br />Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe, a similar dedicated fund could establish <br />resources to economically and culturally empower any designated <br />activity they might choose. <br /> <br />All land and water would be acquired on a willing seller basis over an <br />extended period (perhaps 30 years). The idea is that all water <br />oblil!ations that remain outstandinl! under the 1986 Colorado Ute <br />Indian Settlement Al!reement would be alternativelv satisfied bv <br />lliuisitions made throul!h the fund. <br />