La Plata West Water Authority Intake Structure and Water Treatment Plant at Lake Nighthorse Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

The Bureau of Reclamation Western Colorado Area Office approval of an Out Grant License Agreement for the proposed La Plata West Water Authority intake structure, water treatment plant and utility corridor at Lake Nighthorse, La Plata County, Colorado. The project will be located in Section 2, Township 34 North, Range 10 West, on the northwest shoreline of future Lake Nighthorse. The lake is a project feature of the Animas-La Plata Project, constructed and operated by Reclamation. The project is located entirely on Reclamation lands, within the area surveyed for the ALP Project. ALP Project lands have been studied within the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Animas-La Plata Project (July 2000). See Figures 1 and 2 for the location of the proposed action.

The ALP Project was developed to meet Tribal water rights settlement requirements and to supply future municipal and industrial needs in Colorado and New Mexico. One of the end-uses of the ALP Project water is a domestic water supply, such as the one proposed by the LPWWA. The proposed LPWWA system will potentially serve southwest La Plata County, Colorado, northern San Juan County, New Mexico, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe. Residential development in this area is limited by the lack of a reliable water supply, the poor quality of groundwater, and the lack of a water delivery system. Such a water delivery system would bring a reliable supply of quality domestic water to southwestern La Plata County.

Last Updated: 10/24/19