The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, the Southern Ute Tribe and the Navajo Nation took part in a ceremony on Thursday to mark the near completion of a dam for the Animas-La Plata Project.

Congress approved the plan to settle the Colorado water rights of the three tribes. The dam near Durango, Colorado, is part of the massive effort.

"We are happy and elated, my people will finally get water," said Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr., the Farmington Daily Times.

The dam will create Lake Nighthorse, named after former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colorado), who lobbied heavily for the project.

Get the Story:
Animas-La Plata project almost finished (The Farmington Daily Times 10/17)