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II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Alamosa River Watershed Project Literature and Watershed Assessment Project Introduction 1.0 Introduction This report is being developed under an EPA Environmental Justice grant issued to the Valle del Sol Community Center (Grant # EQ-98865001-0). This research-based report provides a literature summary of environmental projects performed in the Alamosa River Watershed within the past 5 years. The report provides an assessment and discussion of the important issues facing the watershed based upon the acquired and reviewed literature. 1.1 Project Description The deterioration of the Alamosa River and the overall watershed has had a significant impact to the local community. As a result of the Summitville Mine, six of the twelve segments in the Alamosa River fail to attain their designated uses and water quality standards for metals and it is likely that some segments could fail the narrative standard for sediments. The agricultural community has been impacted by the corrosive nature of the water affecting irrigation equipment and sediment damaging irrigation head~ate structures. The Terrace Reservoir owners have been impacted by the upstream mine by losing storage capacity in the reservoir due to heavy sediment loading, corrosion and damage to structural release gates. Irrigation water has historically exceeded numeric standards for agricultural use and aquatic life. The aquatic life in the Alamosa River and Terrace Reservoir has been impacted by high metal loading and resulting toxic concentrations from the Summitville Mine. Some stream segments classified as Class I Coldwater Aquatic life have been downgraded by the State of Colorado using Use Attainability Analysis (UAA) studies or by the waiving of water quality standard ARARs. Some people in the local community have been concerned about the integrity of their drinking water from their wells. On February 11,1994 President Clinton signed an Executive Order on Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations (Attachment 1). Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations. Fair treatment means that there should be no disproportionate negative impacts to a minority or low-income populations (1). This project was financed by the EPA under an Environmental Justice Grant to assist community groups in attempting to solve local environmental problems. The impact to the Alamosa River water quality has degraded the community's livelihoods, environment and overall quality of life. It is the vision of the local citizens tC' return the water quality of the Alamosa River back to its condition in the days where the river and Terrace Reservoir were viable recreational resources for fishing and swimming, and provided a positive individual connection to one's quality of life in the community. 1-1