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<br />~~ <br /> <br />general counsel for the ute Mountain ute Indian tribe with headquarters <br /> <br />at Towaoc, Colorado. Over a hundred years ago, those Indian tribes <br /> <br />were herd~d at gunpoint into what was then considered to be the most <br /> <br />desolate and barren area of this state. While the lands of the ute <br /> <br />Mountain tribe are not entirely barren, they are almost totally devoid <br /> <br />of water supplies. For many years past, the members of that tribe <br /> <br />have attempted to sustain themselves through the maintenance of sheep <br /> <br /> <br />and cattle herds. The one problem that they have not been able to <br /> <br /> <br />overcome is the production of feed for their livestock. In addition <br /> <br /> <br />to the feed problem, water is hauled on a daily basis to cattle which <br /> <br />graze on the eastern mesas of the reservation. Drinking water for <br /> <br />the Towaoc community is hauled from the city of Cortez. This intol- <br /> <br />erable situation has existed now for over a hundred years. It is <br /> <br />time that it be corrected. The Dolores project is designed to remedy <br /> <br />most of these deficiencies. Members of the two Indian tribes are here <br /> <br />today and can speak more eloquently to the problems that I have only <br /> <br />briefly mentioned. <br />The Dolores project is one of the finest reclamation projects <br /> <br />anywhere in the West. unlike the Washington subway, its costs will be <br /> <br />repaid to the United states. We therefore respectfully urge that this <br /> <br />Committee make a favorable recommendation for its immediate construction. <br /> <br />-7- <br />