Let ranches equal water    Dear HCN,  I want to offer what I
hope people will perceive to be a constructive alternative to
the controversial Animas-La Plata dam project. The solution is
simple: Purchase ranches in southwest Colorado and give them to
the two Ute tribes and their members (HCN, 11/11/96).  Most
ranches come with significant, high-priority water rights. The
goal should be to acquire ranches with water rights equal in
volume to the rights conferred to the tribes under existing law.
Most of the rights would be somewhat junior to the Utes' 1854
rights, but would be senior to almost all other users of the
rivers. Legal action could change those rights to 1854.  Because
the rights would be purchased in the open market system, the
prior appropriation system would remain intact. This could
reduce some of the resentment which existing water users feel
about federal reserved water rights. Colorado is noted for its
relatively free, open market for water rights, and this program
would take advantage of that