Colorado Water Project

* We are extremely disappointed that you published Colorado College Prof. Tom Wolf’s article on the Animas-La Plata project (“A Water Boondoggle Wrapped in the Cause of Indian Rights,” Opinion, April 26).

A century ago, the Ute tribes were paid money for their land, encompassing half the state of Colorado. Now, they don’t have the land and they don’t have the money. The leadership of the Utes and the people who elected them know that water is a perpetual asset to the tribes, but only if it is stored. Wolf insults the Utes and all Native Americans by trying to determine their policy by talking only to dissident tribal members who are being used as poster children for the environmental community opposing the tribes’ negotiated settlement.

Given the many serious water issues that face California and most particularly the metropolitan area you serve, we are surprised that you blindly accepted Wolf’s attempt to incite national opposition to this settlement. We’d have thought you’d be more sensitive to difficult water resource issues, but perhaps the thirst for Colorado River water is still unquenched in Southern California.

CLEMENT FROST

Chairman, Southern Ute Tribe

Ignacio, Colo.

JUDY KNIGHT FRANK

Chairman, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe

Towaoc, Colo.