Farm and Ranch Enterprise

Farm and Ranch Enterprise

     The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe's Farm and Ranch Enterprise is an irrigated agricultural project designed for 7,634 acres of Ute Mountain Reservation land in Southwest Colorado.
     The purpose of the project is to operate a market-oriented agricultural enterprise, one that maximizes successful commercial ventures in addition to providing skilled, year-round employment. When completed, the state-of-the-art farm will feature 109 center-pivot sprinkler plots, ranging in size from 40 to 140 acres each.
     In the 1950's, the Bureau of Reclamation completed a project that diverted water away from the Reservation to non-Indian ranches. A dispute followed and settlement of those water rights issues in 1988 led to the Federal mandate and creation of the Ute Mountain Farm and Ranch Enterprise.

The Dolores Irrigation Project

     The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Dolores Irrigation Project is a water storage and delivery system for irrigation in Southwest Colorado. It culminates years of litigation and struggle to return water rights to the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe.
     Water is stored in the McPhee Reservoir, located 10 miles north of Cortez, Colorado. The Towaoc Canal links the reservoir to the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation some 41 miles away.
     The canal will deliver an average of 22,900 acre feet of water annually to the reservation for agricultural uses. The project is an outstanding opportunity for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, bringing technologically advanced agricultural capabilities to the reservation and allowing the tribe to compete as a viable producer in today's marketplace.

The Demonstration Farm

     The Enterprise continues to experiment. Our current arable 6500 acres provides valuable research, as well as the opportunity to prepare and train staff and tribal members. The Farm and Ranch Enterprise is divided into farming and ranching operations.
     The Enterprise will utilize the latest technological advancements, including computerized links with the fields, radio-controlled irrigation systems, and weather station equipment. All these peripherals are integrated into an information centralized network at the Farm and Ranch headquarters.
     In order to anticipate the special needs of this future farm, the staff is testing many varieties of crops to determine which are the best for the climate and soil types or the area. Test plots include alfalfa, corn, wheat, and a wide variety of other crops are under consideration.
     The Farm and Ranch Enterprise has created special training and summer youth programs involving tribal members. Ute Mountain Ute apprentices work with professional and technical staff gaining hands-on experience as well as learning the duties and responsibilities of all positions. The Tribal cattle herd is a part of this successful tribal enterprise.

Water: A Precious Resource

     There is an old legend that a Ute Chief once stood in the San Juan Mountains and said, "From where I stand, all the land this water touches belongs to the Ute people."
     Ute history in Southwest Colorado has seen a great struggle to preserve water rights. Concerned about the tribe's survival, Chief Jack House, the last traditional chief, had a vision to recognize the importance of regaining those rights. He dedicated his efforts and power as chief to bringing water back to the Ute people.
     For decades the Utes struggled in Denver and Washington D.C., eventually negotiating the Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 1988.
     The Dolores Irrigation Project and the delivery of water to the reservation is the culmination of Chief Jack House and the tribe's efforts. Life-giving water now flows onto Ute land, setting the stage for the development of the Farm and Ranch Enterprise.

Call 1-970-565-6412
Fax 1-970-565-9473

Ute Mountain Ute
Farm & Ranch Enterprise
P.O. Box 53
Towaoc, CO 81334