Bureau of Reclamation’s water contract follows urging from Hickenlooper and Bennet for Reclamation to reach an agreement that will enable Tribes to benefit from their water rights
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet applauded the Bureau of Reclamation’s signing of a contract with the Ute Mountain Ute that will improve the Tribe’s ability to benefit from the water it has long held rights to in the Animas-La Plata project’s Lake Nighthorse. The Ute Mountain Ute are currently unable to access and use their water due to a lack of infrastructure to move it, and would face high operations and maintenance (O&M) charges if they were to enter agreements regarding use – or forbearance of use – of their water. The signing of today’s contract represents an important step toward enabling the Tribe to enter conservation agreements for their water rights without incurring costly O&M charges that would outweigh the benefits of the agreements.
Last month, Hickenlooper and Bennet called on the Bureau of Reclamation to reach agreement with Colorado Tribes on their Animas-La Plata (A-LP) repayment contracts to improve their opportunities to benefit from their legally settled water rights. The Ute Mountain Ute and Reclamation finalized the contract today after 14 years of negotiation.
“No one has been denied use of their own water more than Tribes have. Today’s agreement is an important step towards the Ute Mountain Ute finally benefitting from their water rights,” said Hickenlooper. “We’re grateful Reclamation heard us out and worked with the Ute Mountain Ute to reach an agreement.”
“For over a decade, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Bureau of Reclamation worked hard to come to an agreement for the Animas-La Plata Project that would protect the Tribe’s long term interests and ensure it could benefit from federal drought funding. I was grateful to have visited Towoac in October and to have successfully encouraged Commissioner Touton to travel there, as well, so she could hear from Chairman Heart directly. Today’s contract signing represents important progress for the effective management of the Colorado River that the Tribe and Coloradans across our state rely on,” said Bennet.
“Signing this agreement is an historic moment for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. This agreement is like no other and is the culmination of over a decade of hard work on the part of both the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Bureau of Reclamation. With the signing of this agreement, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe is one step closer to finally unlocking its A-LP water,” said Chairman Manual Heart, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.
Hickenlooper, Bennet and Governor Jared Polis have also called on the Bureau of Reclamation to explore new opportunities for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Southern Ute Indian Tribe to access federal funding for drought and water supply management, including for forbearance proposals in which water users are paid to forgo water use or development.
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