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OCTOBER 13, 2000

The settlement of water rights of Colorado Ute tribes is being threatened by the imminent closure of Congres, says Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo).

A vote on the the Animas-La Plata water project is expected in the Senate. But Campbell says critics of the proposal are delaying a vote, which could prevent it from getting passed.

The A-LP project has a long and controversial history. It was first authorized in 1968, but was eventually incorporated into the Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 1988, which affects the rights of the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Indian Tribes.

The Department of Interior last month issued a decision in favor of finalizing the settlement act and the A-LP. But Campbell says a vote on the $334 million, scaled-down project needs to occur before the current session of Congress ends, or else he will have to introduce the bill again and regain administrative support.

Get the Story:
Campbell wants vote on dam (The Denver Post 10/13)
DOI issues decision on finalizing the Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement (DOI 9/26)

Relevant Links:
The Animas-La Plata Project - www.uc.usbr.gov/special/alp/index.html
Congressional Testimony, Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement - www.senate.gov/~scia/2000hrgs/alp_0607/alp_wit.htm