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Show IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!il!ll!lillinillll!!llin Western Resources WRAP-UP Wednesday, August 77, 1986 Vemal ExpfeSS 3 BLM airs plans for wild horse roundup An imas-LaPlata water project by Helene C. Monberg, Vernal Express Washington D.C. Correspondent Washington Even though more than half of the proposed irrigation in the Animas-LaPlata project is being deferred, the Bureau of Reclamation is planning to provide irrigation over a 12-year period to 42,815 acres of Indian In-dian and non-Indian land in Colorado and New Mexico. Most of it will be in the LaPlata drainage of both states which is currently being dryland farmed. These are the current estimates made by the Bureau of Reclamation following a cost-sharing agreement that was worked out and signed by the Interior Department, the states of Colorado Col-orado and New Mexico, the Ute Mountain Moun-tain Ute and Southern Ute Indian tribes, and water entities in Southwestern Colorado and Northwestern Nor-thwestern New Mexico on June 30. Cost of the Indian irrigation will be deferred under the Leavitt Act, but most of the costs of the irrigation on the non-Indian land will be paid for by the power revenues from the Upper Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP). Both are common provisions in the reclamation law. The June 30 agreement, however, requires CRSP power users to pay back the cost of the features assigned to irrigation, beyond the ability of the irrigators to repay, under a new 30-year straight-line repayment schedule. This will require an increase in the CRSP power rate. New Mexico State Engineer S.E. Reynolds told Western Resources Wrap-up (WRW) last month it appeared the power rate needed to help pay for new irrigation in the Ani'mas-LaPlata project would be "about a mill." 1 Bureau of Reclamation current estimates are that the CRSP rate would go up about half a mill. (A mill is one-tenth of a cent.) The Bureau has asked the Western Area Power Administration Ad-ministration (WAPA) to make a firmer estimate, Bureau sources told WRW on Aug. 18. The new provision represents a speed-up in the power repayment period for irrigation. Ordinarily Or-dinarily power users pay for irrigation costs at the end of the 50-year project repayment period. CRSP power users are cool to this provision. ,: INITIAL CONSTRUCTION ' The first construction that will result from the June 30 agreement will make it possible, for the first time, for the town of Towaoc (pop. 1,630), headquarters head-quarters of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, to have piped-in water. The agreement provides that the state of Colorado will construct a pipeline from the Dolores project now under construction con-struction in Southwestern Colorado to Towaoc and to build a domestic water distribution system for the tribe. The cost of this construction is estimated in the agreement to come to about $6 million. Construction is to begin as soon as the Indian rights settlement set-tlement has been signed. The pipeline and the water distribution system are to be completed "within one year of the initiation of construction," according accor-ding to the June 30 agreement. The Bureau of Reclamation announced an-nounced Aug. 7 that pre-construction drilling work had begun on the Ridges Basin dam site near Durango, Colo., and would continue except for the hunting hun-ting season throughout the rest of the calendar year. The June 30 agreement allowed work to go ahead on the project, pro-ject, with $1 million in 1986 funds available. Actual project construction of the Animas-LaPlata is to begin early ear-ly in 198. according to the Bureau. The parties to the agreement to settle set-tle the Indian water rights dispute in Colorado-New Mexico is not involved involv-ed in that agreement-are running tx-hind their deadline of July 31. The water rights settlement was to be executed ex-ecuted by the United States, the state of Colorado and the tribes quantifying the tribes' rights to specific amounts of water in rivers In Southwestern Colorado Col-orado by July 31 ; it was to be submitted submit-ted for approval to the Colorado District Court for Water Division No. 7. They are still hoping to complete work on a consent decree momentarily, momentari-ly, the Bureau told WUW Aug. 18. Even though the Indian water rights controversy is still not settled, the Bureau is moving ahead on project ConstriK lion work that will provide additional ad-ditional municipal and industrial (Mill water to communities in the San Juan Basin, notably Durango, Cold.. Farminglnn and Aztec, N.M., and to three Indian trills in the area. Everyone entitled to MAI water wants it as soon as possible. The project pro-ject allocated BO.loo acre fret tfl'fl of Mil water to entities in the two stales. Colorado entities are slated to Ret 41.Tto a f of MAI water, and New Mrx-co Mrx-co entities art slated to receive 38, w a f. according to Bureau figures. In Colorado. acre feet of the MA t watrr is to go llw Ctcs. with 2f..0 at staled for the Swlhcrn t ie tribe and fUn a I for the Ute Mciinlain t ie tribe. In addition. 9.?1" a t i srl aside lor hfltvtndiafl Use at Durango. trt Nrw Mcticn, .W.BflO acte feet of the MAI watrr is to go lor rwMi Indian watFr use in Nfthwestetti New Mexico, Mex-ico, mainly at Karmington and Altec. In addition, 7,600 af of M&I water is slated to go to the Navajo Tribe to be used in a new coal-fired power unit that the Navajos plan to build in the area, WRW has been told. The June 30 agreement clearly spells out the facilities to be built during dur-ing the initial 12-year construction period. They include the Ridges Basin dam and reservoir, inlet conduit, pumping pum-ping plant and transmission facilities; the Durango pumping plant and M&I pipeline; the Long Hollow Tunnel; the Shenandoah pipeline; the Southern Ute diversion dam and inlet, the Red Mesa pumping plant , laterals and transmission facilities; and several other features related to irrigation the Dry Side canal and laterals, Alkali Gulch laterals, LaPlata, N.M., laterals, and drains to be built during the 12-year phase one construction period; also the New Mexico interim facilities which have to be built now that the project has been split into two phases. In addition, some recreation, fish and wildlife and cultural facilities are to be built into the project in both states during the initial phase. In the June 30 agreement, the Ute Mountain Ute Indians seek access as soon as possible to "not less than 100 acres of land with access to McPhee Reservoir of the Dolores Project." Other Animas-LaPlata project facilities will be built later by nonfederal non-federal entities "on such schedules as they deem practicable." It is questionable ques-tionable whether much, if any, of the additional acreage scheduled for irrigation ir-rigation will ever receive project water. Of the total 67,460 acres scheduled to receive irrigation water under the project, 24,645 acres are 1 deferred indefinitely. COSTS Total cost of the project is now estimated by the Bureau to be $512,300,000, up $3 million from $509,000,000. An additional $3 million had to be added to the cost of the project pro-ject under the June 30 agreement to serve New Mexico through interim facilities because provision is made for the construction of only one dam, Basin Ridges in Colorado, in the initial 12-year phase. Costs are materially cut back, however, with the indefinite deferral to Phase Two of 15 features, including the Southern Ute dam, at a cost of $133 million. That brings down the cost of Phase One portion of the project to $379,300,000 under the June 30 agreement. The non-federal entitites agree to pay the total cost of the project features deferred to Phase Two. So the maximum cost of the work to be done by the Bureau of Reclamation as construction con-struction contractor would not be more than $379,300,000 for Phase One under current cost estimates. This figure does not include the $60.5 million that must be made available for the creation of two tribal development develop-ment funds which the Indians successfully suc-cessfully got into the June 30 agreement agree-ment to enable them to develop their reservations $40.5 million for the Ute Mountain Ute tribe and $20 million for the Southern Ute tribe. Of that sum, the federal government will provide $49.5 million in three annual installments, in-stallments, $19.5 million in the first year, and $15 million in each of the next two years. The state of Colorado will provide $11 million, of which $6 million will be used to build the Towaoc pipcine and credited to the Ute Mountain Ute development fund, and $5 million will be provided by the state to the two tribal funds "no later than 30 days following the deposit of the first installment of federal monies to the tribal development funds." In the initial construction phase, cost of building the facilities for the MAI water is estimated to total $98,615,000. Cost of constructing the irrigation features is estimated to come to $240,276,000. Cost of the recreation, fish, wildlife and historic preservation features is estimated at $40,400,000. All of the estimates were made by the Bureau of Reclamation. The June 30 agreement cuts back on Phase One Animas-LaPlata project costs to the federal government by $08,225,000, of which Colorado and Its. subdivision will pay $:5.425.0O0. and New Mexico and a sulxlivision will pay $12 8 million. The breaddowns from the June 30 agreement and from Bureau of Reclamation figures Is as follows: The state of Colorado, the Animas-taPlala Animas-taPlala Water Conservancy District in Colorado and Montezuma County, Colo., will pay $37,625,000 toward the cost of non Indian irrigation In Colorado; Col-orado; the state of Colorado and the Animas-LaPlata Water Conservancy District w ill pay tll!0.( toward the cost of the Colorado non Indian MAI water. The state of Colorado will pay $4 9 million for the construction of recreation, fish, wildlife and historic preservation nonreimbursable project features to be built in the st.ite. New Mexico's San Juan Watrr Commission w ill provide $12 8 million to Interior to jw v the annual cost of developing noit-Indian noit-Indian MAI water in New Mexico. In addition. AS noted a'wve, Colorado picks up lit million of the cost of the trust funds for the Uo Indian trills, in separate payments. Over 43 people attended a meeting held by officials of ihe Vernal District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) when unexpected opposition surfaced regarding BLM's plan to roundup two of its three wild horse herds and place them in the adopt-ahorse program. The proposal was first made public in 1984 as a part of the comprehensive Book Cliffs Resource Area Management Manage-ment Plan Environmental Impact Statement (BCRMP). Objections to the plan first surfaced at a public meeting held Aug. 8 to discuss the roundup. The purpose of Thursday's meeting, according to newly appointed Book Cliff Resource Area Manager, Paul Andrews, was "one, to review the wild horse removal decision to the BCRMP; two, to discuss the rationale behind BLM's decision and three, to obtain public input and recommendations." Mr. Andrews was the primary spokesman for BLM and presented BLM's rationale. Although some figures given by Mr. Andrews were regarded as "suspect" by many attending atten-ding the meeting, there seemed to be a consensus that BLM cannot maintain main-tain the Bonanza-Red Wash herd with current budgets and manpower. Ranchers attending the meeting, , although not entirely favorably disposed dispos-ed to the maintenance of the herd in question, conceded that they were not opposed to the herd as long as it was maintained at approved management levels, but did not want to see the horse competing with their livestock and sheep for available forage during very depressed market times. Most folks in attendance, including BLM personnel were sympathetic to their plea. After much discussion "pro and con" concerning the issues, and realizing realiz-ing the budget and manpower constraints con-straints placed on BLM, some "common "com-mon ground" began to emerge. Several members of the group expressed ex-pressed their belief that they can muster the necessary manpower and other resources to help BLM administer ad-minister the herd, although no specifics were mentioned. According to Ray Tate, BLM Public Affairs specialist, "BLM officials were very favorably impressed concerning the meeting. We were impressed with candor of the group, their preparedness, but most of all, their expressions ex-pressions of commitment to help solve the problems. Things are very 'ify' right now if specifics can be ironed out and if wild horse advocates can produce pro-duce and maintain the commitment which they verbalized, I can assure you that BLM will be willing to work out equitable solutions. "Contrary to commonly held public feelings, BLM is concerned about the public's wishes and enjoys working with them in reaching solutions to land management problems. At this point, we feel that alternatives which were not available to us when the roundup plan was developed in 1984 have opened open-ed up. Our BLM decision makers must evaluate the new options. Specifics in the solution to the roundup and removal must be re-examined and reevaluated. re-evaluated. Officials of the BLM have only one regret and that is that these public concerns did not surface in the planning stage." Several of those attending the meeting felt that certain aspects of the laws governing wild horses need to be changed and that Congress should reexamine re-examine some statutes. "Nearly everyone in attendance conceded that the roundup is necessary in order to separate unauthorized horses from the wild horses. Wild horse advocates hope that the wild horses can be returned to the range to be managed and maintained. If the participative management, and we emphasize on 'participate management' manage-ment' issues can be satisfactorily resolved, herd maintenance is a possibility," said Wild Horse Specialist Dan Gardner. Officials of the BLM have promised to keep those in attendance current on BLM wild horse actions and proposals. Cowboy gives of wild horse impression roundup After 30 years of rounding up wild horses, Bud Tomlinson shared some insight on the kinds of problems he sees on the range. In his time he has gathered about 20,000 head of the wild horses and views them from a different point of view. "They just aren't as pretty when you get up close as they seem running runn-ing loose." Tomlinson, who will be working with contractor Ken Latham on the BLM roundup, has recently returned from a roundup of 110 wild horses in Nevada. "Now and then you will find a few people who don't understand why horses need to be gathered. Many of the horses running wild in the Uintah Basin belong to Indians or other individuals. in-dividuals. I think the BLM will really be surprised at the brands they find on these horses," he explained. "People need to ask themselves who is responsible to see that the horses are fed and cared for, Local government leaders want programs reduced especially in the v winter months. I just can't see how the public can be responsible. They can't-fence them off the highways and range lands. I know personally of people who like to go out and chase the horses, and this is not doing them any good. I think Utah ought to take a look at developing develop-ing a refuge for the horses like they have in parts of Colorado. The animals are rounded up each year and the sick or lame animals are destroyed. The healthy herd is kept protected where feed and water are available and the number of the animals is controlled by selling the excess. "People are emotional about wild horses and enjoy seeing them. They don't think of them like they do other wild animals. When was the last time you know of someone who shot one for food like they would a deer?" The young horses gentle down quite easily and make good ponies for kids or pleasure riding, but a person who knows what good horse flesh looks like, can see how ugly they really real-ly are," noted the cowboy. Tomlinson has four horses of his own but doesn't choose to adopt wild horses. He spent many days with his father, Art, capturing wild horses in the Book Cliffs years ago. He feels a few of the animals should be left loose in Winter Ridge where they are doing well and the land will support them. "The expenses of maintenance, processing for adoption and roundup are high," concluded Tomlinson. "But is letting the wild horses starve, die of thirst or eat up range land needed for sheep and cattle good management?" he asks. During meeting with Senator Orrin Hatch, Rep. Alarik Myrin said that the wild horse situation is getting "out of line." The government is feeding some 7,000 head that no one wants to adopt in the adoption program. Myrin suggested that a permit be issued to inviduals who want a wild horse and let them be responsible for capturing the animal. Sen. Hatch that he speaks with numerous individuals in Washington who want the environment left alone, not only in the case of wild horses, but also air quality and all endangered species. "I think we have let these people run us too long," Hatch said. No federal program is too sacred to be left untouched by Gramm-Rudman-Hollings or any other reduction plan, according to an overwhelming majority majori-ty of Senator Orrin Hatch's 393 member Utah Task Force. The Utah Senator said 63 percent of those responding to the survey said all federal programs should be cut, some more than others. "I wish the thinking of these locally elected officials was shared more in Congress where the responsibility lies to drastically trim programs and bring our budget back into balance" said Hatch. One respondent even suggested that the federal funding program to states and local governments allows wasteful spending. While a near unanimous number of task force members agreed that all federal programs must be closely scrutinized and trimmed, there was no clear majority opinion on exactly how much to cut. Most of the remaining task force members are satisfied with the approach the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings budget reduction plan is taking. Duchesne County Commissioner LeGrand Gilbert said, balancing the budget means examining the whole system. "You can't let special interest groups get in the way. I also believe we've got to keep a strong defense. That maintains our freedom more than anything else I can think of." Vernal Mayor Sam Snyder feels much the same way about controlling the federal system. "We've got to shrink this animal instead of letting it get bigger. I'm glad Senator Hatch has been involved in that kind of thinking think-ing back in Congress." Senator Hatch said his task force members expressed very strong opinions opi-nions on wilderness designations in the state. Nearly 80 percent said federal lands should have multiple use rather than tie up any more area for wilderness. "It Is my hope that we can plan for wilderness that will benefit not only ourselves, but perhaps more importantly impor-tantly our posterity." I latch continued. Smiley Denver wins golf meet Smiley Denver pocketed first place in the men'i club championship at the Honscvcll Golf Course, Saturday w ilh a gross score of "3. Smiley's Bon Chris Denver tied for second place with Rouclltenrie at 74 scores. Lane Thomas grabbed top honors In the net division at 61 Scott Bigler and Bob Abrrcrombie lied for second at 67. Brian Allred had the longest drive. Ted Labmm was the closest to the hole on number three and Dartell Mecham had the longest putt. Riglrt was closest to the hole on number six "I strongly feel that we need to look at the economic, recreational, social, and energy development impacts in order to 'get the 'big picture' and thereby facilitate drawing up a long term wildernesss plan for the state. "The ultimate objective of this approach ap-proach is to provide the people of Utah with incredible beauty and wildlife in the form of pristine wilderness, improved im-proved recreational facilities, and the needed energy and mineral resources essential to the increasing demand to Utah's population." Wilderness would be better utilized under the multiple use concept, said Mayor Snyder. "I think when you lock up certain areas that have potential of minerals or timber you curtail the free enterprise system. The thing that bothers me about wilderness and its use is that it is not open for everyone. The handicapped and the elderly are not able to use it like the rest of us. Roads and trails would give the elderly and handicapped the opportunity to see wilderness areas they would ordinarily ordinari-ly be prohibited from seeing." Commissioner Gilbert argues against additional wilderness designa tions because locking up federal land would make it inaccessible to many people. "Creating wilderness in the high Uintas, for example, would lock out 95 percent of the population of the United States from going there." The information Senator Hatch gathers from these public officials through twice a year meetings and surveys is vital to how he votes in Congress. "Their input is most helpful because they represent important views held by my constituency. I count on their support in this way," Hatch concluded. r Crack'd Pot Just 4 minutes from downtown 1089 East Hwy 40 - Vernal Breakfast rt0 099 French Toast & Bacon Mexican Omelet 3' Sandwich of the Week! Grilled Ham & Cheese 319 With French Fries Dinner T-Bone Steak (14 02.) 1 295 21 Shrimp 6" Above dinners served with soup or salad bar, choice of potato and homemade bread. Birthday Special! FREE Dinner on your birthday. Must be 18 years or older and have I.D. Open Labor Day 7.oo am 10 00 pm Daily Luncheon Specials 279 Wednesday Hamburger Pie Tossed salad, homemade roll and dessert. Thursday Chicken Tender Strips With dressing, mashed potatoes & gravy and homemade roll. Friday Tuna & Noodle Casserole Salad, homemade roll and dessert. Saturday Barbecue Beef On a homemade bun and Fries. Monday Stuffed Green Peppers American Fnes. sliced tomatoes and homemade roll. Tuesday Spaghetti & Meat Balls Tossed Wad and homemade roll. 0 acl( Pot if i Family Restaurant Friday Night Special Steak and all you can cat shrimp Served with soup, sa'ad bar, choice of potato and homemade roil. 7" 3 -.- Enjoy our low prices winter and summer Everything is homemade (Crack'd Pot 781-0133 vrNt |