The sponsors of the Animas-La Plata Project are taking on the operation and maintenance functions of the water-delivery system instead of hiring an independent contractor. An association created by the sponsors signed a contract Dec. 30, 2009, with the Bureau of Reclamation, which owns the project facilities. The project, which will provide water for three Native American tribes and other entities, consists of a man-made reservoir in Ridges Basin southwest of Bodo Park, a pumping station on the Animas River and a water-distribution system in New Mexico. Project sponsors are the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority, the La Plata Water Conservancy District, the Navajo Nation and the San Juan Water Commission, all of New Mexico, and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe. The state of Colorado has dibs on a small share of the 120,000 acre-feet of water in the reservoir - known as Lake Nighthorse - but hasn't yet decided whether to exercise its prerogative. The state's share reverts to the Ute tribes in equal portions if the state doesn't act. Pat Page at the Bureau of Reclamation said Russ Howard, maintenance manager for the Central Arizona Project, has been hired as general manager to oversee A-LP operations and maintenance.