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<br />As noted in the next section of this alternative, some additional water could be made <br /> <br /> <br />available through expansion, rehabilitation, or reoperation of existing projects in the area of the <br /> <br /> <br />Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Reservations. To the extent that water in existing projects <br /> <br />. . . can be located, the need for other open market acquisition of water would be lessened. There is a <br /> <br /> <br />substantial amount of water and land available on the market at this time, however, and over thirty <br />years sufficient water to satisfy the entire settlement amounts should be available through market <br />transactions if necessary. <br />Figure 1 is a map showing the land area and watersheds affected by the alternative. The <br />Southern Ute Reservation contains six major rivers: the La Plata, Pine, Piedra, Florida, Animas <br />and San Juan. The Ute Mountain Ute Reservation contains or is in the vicinity of the Mancos <br />River, the San Juan River, the Dolores River, and McElmo Creek. <br />Using the Durango Area Association ofReaItors MLS and through conversations with <br />local realtors, we conducted a simple market survey which found that, as of spring, 1997, there <br />was at least $9 million ( asking price) in real estate listed for sale in large parcels within the <br />Southern Ute reservation, and at least $6 million ( asking price) of real estate listed near the Ute <br />Mountain Ute reservation along McElmO Canyon or otherwise near the reservation. The property <br />within the Southem Ute reservation includes almost 3,000 acres within reservation boundaries <br />and includes significant reaches of the Piedra and Animas rivers, as well as substantial water rights <br />associated with those rivers. Available property near the Ute Mountain Ute reservation totals <br />more than 3,000 acres and includes significant acreage and water rights on the Mancos River <br />upstream of the reservation. This survey illustrates the fact that substantial willing-seller <br /> <br />5 <br />