The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, as a sovereign nation and a Federally recognized Indian Tribe is establishing water quality standards for protection of its surface water resources. Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council Resolution No. 99-123, approved August 12, 1999, documents the decision of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council to use their authority, when approved by the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency as described in Section 518 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (hereafter referred to as the “Clean Water Act”), to administer a water quality standards program.
The purpose of these standards are threefold: assessment, regulatory controls, and protection of all uses including habitat for aquatic and wildlife species.
