Tribal water taps Bush

By: John R. Crane

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe hopes to use a $1 million federal grant for water improvements on the reservation.

The grant is part of a proposed federal package of more than $120 million for water-related projects across Colorado. The Water Resources Development Act of 2007, which includes the grant monies, passed the U.S. Senate Monday.

"To the West and rural America, water is our most important resource," Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., said in a statement. "I am pleased that Congress has recognized the importance of authorizing these water projects for Colorado."

Tom Rice, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe's environment director, said the tribe has numerous water and wastewater issues, including water lines - in need of repair - running from Cortez's water-treatment plant to the reservation.

"We have a variety of infrastructure water and wastewater needs that we need to address," Rice said. "We have a long list of water and wastewater needs we'll look at."

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