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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provides only custodial management for existing resource values. 40 acres are
allocated for sheep grazing in the fall (11). The BLM Management Plan for the San Luis
Resource Area (12) addresses several land use management issues:

· Riparian areas are protected from oil and gas development and disposal of mineral
materials,
· Riparian enhancement is encouraged by allowing modified allotment management
plans,
· Continued ecological site inventories to understand ecological existing conditions,
. Manipulation of vegetation will be done, if necessary, to support grazing,
· Manage wetlands to achieve good to excellent conditions,
· Manage streams to maintain fisheries potential,
· Land utilization will be considered to aid in bird nesting habitat with wetlands,
· New land acquisitions will prioritize wetlands, special plant, and animal habitat with
special status, and establish recreational sites near waterways,
· Maintain approximately 1,400 acres of riparian zones in good to excellent condition
and improve on 455 acres, and
· Protection measures will include, but are not limited to, 1) mitigation of impacts from
right-of-way and utility corridors adjacent to or that cross riparian areas; 2) provision
for no disposal of mineral materials in riparian zones; 3) limited off-highway vehicle
designations in riparian zones.

To implement these BLM strategies an Environmental Impact Statement was developed
in September 1991. The EIS contains discussions of existing conditions of the BLM
land, the potential environmental impacts and public comments to the proposed
management action (11).

3.4.2. United States forest Service

Much of the Alamosa River Watershed resides within the Rio Grande National Forest,
which consists of 1,852,000 acres in south central Colorado. The Rio Grande National
Forest contains almost 300 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
An extensive Environmental Impact Statement (13) followed by a final Management
Plan (14) has been developed for the entire Rio Grande National Forest. These plans
address several natural resource conditions such as:

. Bio-diversity
. Air resources
. Water quality
. Riparian areas
. Timber resources
. Wildlife
. fire and fuels management
. Mineral extraction
. Road and road less areas
. Special interest areas
. Heritage areas
. Scenic areas

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