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Show THE SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday, March 29, 2000 - Page 5 Implementing water master plan is focus of group A diverse group of interested parties met on March 27 to discuss the water master plan for San Juan County. Utah. According to Scherik, the McPhee Project covers a watershed that is 100 times larger than ours and they have lots of extra water. The estimated price tag of bringing McPhee Project water to Monticello is $15.7 million, with an additional $19.2 million to extend the project to Blanding. San Juan County Commissioner Ty Lewis said that development of the project may be a necessity. We are just simply looking at meeting the culinary water needs for our residents in the coming years. The McPhee Project would be an almost unlimited source of water. The group created six committees to investigate different aspects of implementing the water master plan, including a coordination committee, and Under the direction of the San Juan County Commissioners, the group representing local governments, federal agencies, state governments and other groups met together to create a plan to implement the master plan. The group has a large number of wish list" water development projects for commun- ities throughout San Juan County, and the group has met to coordinate the implementation of the strategy. Approximately 50 separate projects are on the wish List, with estimated costs totaling more than $50 million. The projects range from simply drilling wells or tapping springs to multi-millio- dollar n committees to investigate water rights, funding sources. Native American needs, legal and technical issues. Scherick admits that there could be significant legal hurdles that would need to be cleared in order to bring the water across state lines. The 50 water projects on the wish list include projects in Monticello, Blanding, East-land, Bluff, Mexican Hat, Spanish Valley, La Sal, Aneth, Red Mesa, Teec Nos Pos, Mexi- can Water, Oljato, Navajo Mountain and White Mesa. The group includes county and state officials, in addition to the San Juan Water Conservancy District, local municipalities, Bureau of Reclamation, and other federal projects to bring McPhee Project water from southwestern Colorado. n Despite the dollar estimated price tags for multi-millio- the McPhee projects, San Juan County Planner Ed Scherick hopes that some- thing could be done. Scherick stated that the simple fact is that the Abajo Mountain watershed in San Juan County is extremely limited. Representatives from the federally-funde- d . McPhee Project are apparently interested in partnering with local governments to bring water to ' ' Mesa Verde to be discussed Drain Lake Powell, say dam protesters Pago - While the notion of draining Lake Powell seems ludi- crous to most southern Utah and northern Arizona residents, it appears to be a preoccupation to several Washington politiGlen Canyon cos and environmental clubs. The Institutes proposal to drain Lake Powell was endorsed by the powerful Sierra Club Board of Directors in 1996. Their proposal is that Glen Canyon be restored by draining Lake Powell and decommissioning the Glen Canyon dam. Separate protests took place at Page on March 14 when the Glen Canyon Action Network sponsored a drain the lake rally while Friends of Lake Powell sponsored a save the lake rally. Supporters of the lake point out that 3.5 million visitors a year enjoy the lake. Those in favor of draining the lake want Glen Canyon to be returned to its natural state. Southern Utah News 500-memb- er side-by-si- de Emergency OHV closure In San Retael desert think its about time to get serious, Dick Manus office told the Emery County Public Lands BLM of the Price Council while announcing temporary emergency closures for Off Highway Vehicle use in seven wilderness study areas in the San Rafael desert. Emergency closure will effect 15 routes located within current BLM wilderness study areas being managed by the Price Field Office. Four major routes are, for now, being left open. BLM officials are calling the closures tempo- Orangeville - I rary in the hope that after rehabilitation efforts have been com- pleted they may be able to open back up to OHV use. Allen d Peterson, local enthusiast, said this is a put up or shut up time for the OHV community. If we fail to reduce impact to the resources, then the next announcement will be closure of the remaining routes. The Southeastern Utah Off Highway Vehicle Club voted to assist the BLM with signing of the open roads and will also help with barricades and signing of the closed routes as well. Emery County Progress off-roa- Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum will host a free discussion by Scott Ortman of Crow Canyon at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 20, 2000. The title of the presentation is The Container Cosmos of Mesa Verde Puebloans. Ortman will give a slide presentation about his on-goi- ng research reconstructing the worldview ofancient Puebloans based upon metaphorical expressions in their material culture, including pottery, textiles, architecture and Scott will mural painting. Puebloans ancient that argue thought of the world as a spherical container, and that echoes ofthis belief can still be language and literature. tor Ben Knighthorse Campbell recently announced he had suspended action on his bill to create a National Conservation Area on 164,000 acres in Montezuma and Dolores counties. He is also asking that a Senate committee hearing on the bill be canceled. The Senator warns that President Clinton may react by declaring the area a National Monument instead. I want to warn all those involved that they are taking the risk that the president will declare the area a Monument, Campbell said in a press release. Campbells bill was criticized by environmental groups as not offering enough protection for the area and its many Anasazi ruins and relics. On the other hand, many local residents insist that they did not want either a Monument or a Conservation Area. Montezuma County Commissioner Kelly Wilson said, You might as well call it a National Monument now, cause Im sure that is what Babbitt is going to do. The proposed National Conservation Area would be called Canyons of the Ancients. It is west of Highway 666, between Cortez Journal Cortez and Dove Creek to the Utah border. San Juan Clinic 364 West 100 North - NCA In limbo Cortez - Citing a total absence of local proud to announce the opening of the at the San Juan Senator balka found in modern Pueblo SAN JUAN HEALTH DISTRICT is ROUND THE REGION Hospital Monticello 435-587-- 21 16 consensus, U.S. Sena- 25 year old suit with Uto Tribe resolved Blen A. Freestone PA-Family Practice C under the direction of Manfred R. Nelson, M.D. Monday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm Vemal - March 13 was a red letter day for Uintah and Duchesne counties, the state of Utah and the Ute Tribe. A 25 year old lawsuit, which has cost hundred of millions to act out in court, was resolved. The March 13 action mainly involved state sales and income taxes, the last issues of the case. The final settlement states that enrolled Tribal members who earn a living on the reservation do not have to pay state income taxes. State operated gasoline stations and TVibal members who purchase fuel within the reservation are exempt from Utah fuel tax. There will be no sales tax charged for goods and services received within the reservation boundaries for TVibal members. They will pay sales tax on purchases made off the reservation. Vemal Express Starting March 8 "i M I "i "I Womens Clinic 1 pm , ,, l & Wednesday 8 f AUAlaat Tanya Richey, FNP 3-- !M i V r; A9Q Color 8c Highlight Specials starting at Short Hew Perms $19.95 Hcrtr Cuts $9.95 Walk-In- s 1 17 E Central i i r Kids 10 & Under Hair Cuts $5.95 Welcome Monticello rrrr 435-587-33- p 76 i i ,, I |