Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, Solicitor of the Interior David Bernhardt and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Bob Johnson will join Colorado state officials, members of the Colorado Congressional Delegation and tribal leaders on Thursday, October 16, near Durango, Colorado to celebrate the near completion of the main features of the Animas-La Plata project. Secretary Kempthorne will participate in a ceremonial water release. The event will serve as a benchmark to recognize all of the construction efforts since the 2000 Colorado Ute Settlement was signed into law and to signify that overall completion of the Project is in sight. Features nearing completion include: Ridges Basin Dam, Durango Pumping Plant, inlet conduit and Basin Creek drop structures.
| Who: | Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne Robert W. Johnson, Commissioner; Bureau of Reclamation David Bernhardt, Solicitor of the Interior U.S. Senator Ken Salazar Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. |
| What: | Celebration of near completion of the main features of the Animas-La Plata project |
| When: | Thursday, October 16, 2008, 1:30 p.m. MDT (Media representatives are requested to arrive at the Durango Pumping Plant at 1:00 p.m. for transport to the dam and set-up of equipment) |
| Where: | Outlet Works at Ridges Basin Dam, Durango, Colorado (Media representatives are requested to arrive at the Durango Pumping Plant at 1:00 p.m. for transport to the dam and set-up of equipment) |
| Photo Ops: | Ridges Basin Dam, Outlet Works, Drop Structures & Durango Pumping
Plant Live Demonstration of Water Release from Ridges Basin Dam |