FLOOD10357

• Document ID: 123
• County: Rio Grande
• Stream Name: Alamosa River
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Sub-Basin: Alamosa - Trinchera
• Water Division: 3
• Title: Alamosa River Watershed Project Literature and Watershed Assesment, Final EPA Report
• Date: 9/30/2003
• Prepared For: Valle del Sol Community Center
• Prepared By: US Environmental Protection Agency
• Watershed Pro - Doc Type: Project Report

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· Compliance to laws
. Public health and safety
· Relationship to injured resources and services
· Technical feasibility
. Cost effectiveness
· Consistency with Trustees' restoration goals
· Opportunities for collaboration

The Trustees have developed a Phase II Ranking Criteria to evaluate and rank potential
restoration projects. The following criteria represent the Trustees' requirements and
priorities for restoration:

· Public Acceptance
· Likelihood of adverse impacts
· Likelihood of success
· Multiple resource benefits
· Time to provide benefits
· Duration of benefits
· Importance of NRDA funding to success of the project
· Protection and maintenance of the implemented project
· Project cost
· Project consistency with Regional Planning

Attachment 2 also contains a Fact Sheet about the for Natural Resource Restoration
process.

2.4 Assessment and Discussion

The Memorandum of Understanding between the NRD Trustees does not formally
recognize local groups, such as the Alamosa River Foundation Board, in the decision
making process. The Foundation needs to maintain a close working relationship with
the Trustees to ensure their voice is heard on watershed projects that affect their river.
The Foundation needs to negotiate with the NRD Trustees in order to have an active
presence and decision making input in the NRD process. It is especially important for
the Foundation to have the ability to provide the Trustees input to consultant selection,
proposal review, and evaluation, project management activities and project
effectiveness.

In order to have the NRD process benefit the Alamosa River Watershed, it is important
that all of the public's concerns and interests be voiced by one organization such as the
Foundation. The Foundation needs to establish and maintain a common watershed
vision that is consistent with the needs and values of the local community. Projects for
watershed restoration should be developed according to a stream restoration plan that is
endorsed by the Foundation. Proposed projects that are submitted by entities outside
the Foundation may not be consistent with the objectives of the watershed restoration
plan and may not be effective in achieving the long term desired results.

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