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<br />" <br /> <br />Ii <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />restored, or reconfigured, channels at several sites in western Colorado. The proposed study will be <br />conducted at two new monitoring sites. The candidate sites are 1) Alamosa River near Capulin, west <br />of La lara, Conejos County, CO, and 2) Rio Blanco near Pagosa Springs, Archuleta, County, CO; <br />however, other sites can be considered. Channel restoration, or reconfiguration, to mitigate a variety <br />of riverine problems has become a common practice in the western United States. Reasons cited <br />include restoration to more natural or historical conditions, improved water conveyance in flood- <br />prone areas, mitigation of unstable streambeds and stream banks, increased sediment transport, <br />enhancement of aquatic and riparian habitat, and recreation. Numerous private entities and resource- <br />management agencies have attempted to reconfigure stream channels by using designs based on <br />different geomorphic philosophies and classification schemes. However, little work has been done <br />in assessing the channel response to and the effectiveness of these modifications over a long period <br />of time. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is engaged in a program, the Reconfigured Channel <br />Monitoring and Assessment Program (RCMAP), designed to monitor and assess post-restoration <br />geomorphic stability of selected river reaches in western Colorado that have undergone <br />reconfiguration. The RCMAP also provides a physical framework to assess aquatic and riparian <br />habitats in reconfigured reaches. <br /> <br />This proposed study will expand the scope of the existing program to include rivers in southern <br />Colorado; will build upon ongoing monitoring and analyses of river reconfiguration projects in <br />western Colorado; and will evaluate the hydraulic characteristics of a reconfigured reach with a <br />USGS multidimensional surface-water model (MD_SWMS). The proposed I-year funding will be <br />used to establish monitoring sites on two new river reaches, to collect baseline data against which <br />future monitoring data will be evaluated, and to test reconfigured channel hydraulic conditions with <br />MD _SWMS. Results will be published in a peer-reviewed paper. The study will increase the <br />applicability of RCMAP monitoring methods and geomorphic analysis of river response to channel <br />reconfiguration techniques by including additional sites and analytical tools. <br /> <br />Water Planning Relationship: This project relates mainly to the River Restoration and Multi- <br />Objective Planning Program for the CWCB. Additionally, healthy functioning rivers and the <br />restoration of natural functioning floodplain land also assists with many of the CWCB program <br />objectives. <br /> <br />Recommendation: Staff gives a high recommendation for funding of this project because the <br />USGS working in conjunction with the CWCB staff will assess and evaluate the effectiveness of <br />recent efforts through river restoration projects providing a better product. <br /> <br />6. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Coordinator Matching Program <br /> <br />Beneficiary/Grantee/Contractor: CWCB, Local Water Planners <br />Amount of Request: $30,000 <br /> <br />Ranking: <br /> <br />High <br /> <br />Product Produced: The Community Assistance Program (CAP) is a product-oriented financial <br />assistance program directly related to the flood loss reduction objectives of the National Flood <br />Insurance Program (NFIP). States and communities that are participating in the NFIP are eligible for <br />this assistance. The CAP is intended to identify, prevent, and resolve floodplain management issues <br />in participating communities before they develop into problems requiring enforcement action. In <br />Colorado, the program is based on a 75:25 (federal to non-federal) cost-share basis and has been in <br />existence for over 20 years. This program has been very effective in helping communities to <br />understand and realize the benefits of the NFIP and to assist in making sure that they follow the <br />program guidelines for the highest benefits. <br /> <br />17 <br />