Show In a resolution presented to Governor Matheson two weeks ago the Ute Indian Tribe said they were disappointed in the failure to adequately advance the tribal interests in the present designs plans a and d construction of the Central Utah Project water development program Even though the Tribe made madean an agreement in 1965 to delay the use of their water rights in inthe inthe inthe the Bonneville Unit of the CUP they have now apparently changed their minds and andare andare andare are requesting the developing as soon as possible its full potential on the tribes tribe's water resources for far the common good goodof of its tribal members The resolution sets forth eight terms upon which the tribe calls their official position with regards to support of the Central Utah Project The terms include giving the Tribe feet acre-feet of water annually and give sufficient land so the Tribe can maintain acres of irrigable lands The resolution also requires a delivery and storage system to be completed before 1985 to develop the entire settlement settlement set set- of the Ute Tribe water entitlement The Tribe also wants to actively actively ac ac- participate in the management and operation of all facilities in which tribal water is stored or diverted Added to this is the request to tobe tobe tobe be allowed to o hunt fish and trap on all public lands and fee lands with the permission of the owner within the exterior boundaries of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation subject only to the control and regulations of the tribe The resolution also requests that immediate steps be taken to protect the fishing resource by providing adequate minimum stream flows on all rivers affected by the Central Utah Project 1 The Tribe wishes to reach a satisfactory agreement with all the concerned agencies in incorporating incorporating incorporating in- in their objectives by negotiation A very similar resolution was issued by the Tribe earlier this year spelling out the leg legal 1 jurisdiction and exterior boundaries desired by the Tribe It would appear from both resolutions the Tribe does docs not leave much room for negotiation The resolutions are written in such a manner that it appears to be either or else instead of any willingness to settle the disputes by com com- promise If U the Ute Tribe really wants to negotiate we expect they will have to compromise many of their demands Just how much are members of the Ute Tribe entitled to We dont don't expect this to be settled out of court and when and if it is taken to the courts of the land we expect a long expensive out drawn-out process of determining deter mining miring just what does docs rightfully belong not only to the members of the Ute Tribe but to all American Indians In the meantime we hope relationships relationship with the Ute Tribe will Improve to the extent that proposed developments in the northeastern part of the state can go ahead unencumbered If the Ute Tribe is given the demands contained in their sc so- so called resolutions concerning boundaries legal jurisdiction and water rights there will be bevery bevery bevery very little left for anyone else We doubt that the Ute Tribe would fully develop the lands in question on their own It is also unreasonable to think that the white man will develop the land and then turn it over to the tribe The implications being surf surfaced ced by Indian claims are very serious ones We do not see any immediate answers The problems seem to be getting more difficult to settle We hope in some way we can settle the rights of the Indian people and know the right thing has been done |