Durango, Colo. – Reclamation joined with the Colorado Ute Tribes, the Navajo Nation, and non-Tribal Project Sponsors at a Nov. 9 celebration to mark the final placement of embankment material on Ridges Basin Dam.  The event signals the completion of the main feature of the Animas-La Plata Project (ALP) and is an example of a major collaborative success story.

Rick Ehat, Lead Construction Engineer and Manager of Reclamation’s Four Corners Construction Office, hosted the celebration which honored workers, including the Native American employees of the Weeminuche Construction Authority (WCA) – the principal contractors for the project. WCA employee Greg Cantsee drove the dump truck with the ceremonial ‘last load’ to the top of Ridges Basin Dam; Cantsee drove a similar truck with the first load of materials when construction began in 2001.

When it is completed in 2012, the project will boast some of the world’s most modern engineering, design and structural integrity features and will provide the Four Corners area with an additional 120,000 acre-feet of long-term water storage, and an inactive pool of approximately 30,000 acre-feet for recreational, fishery and water quality purposes.

Construction of the facility has been followed worldwide by leading engineering firms, public works contractors and water agencies.

Terry Knight, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, gives the opening prayer on top of Ridges Basin Dam.

Two WCA employees, Tyrell Vicenti (left) and Ira Murry (right), hold the last load banner as the truck closes in.