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0002il-1 Rio Blanco Restoration Project On It's Way Again by Mary Fenwick, Southwestern Water Conservation District The Rio Blanco River Restoration Project currently underway is designed to give fish living in the river a better habitat. The project has been on hold for sometime but after concerns from the local homeowners were satisfied, the project was again restarted on October 4th. Approximately one to one and a half miles of the river will be completed this Fall. The need for the project occurred when approximately one- half of the river's average flow was diverted as part of the San Juan-Chama Diversion Project. Water temperatures increased as the river channel became shallower and wider. This caused the river to become unsuitable for trout and other native species. The design for the project was developed by local hydrologist Dave Rosgen, who is not charging for his work. The on-site construction is being done by Elk River Construction Company. Val Valentine, water commissioner for the Colorado Division of Water Resources' Pagosa Springs office, is excited to see the project finally underway as he was in the initial discussions which occurred over ten years ago. The goal of the project is to create a narrower, deeper river channel. The width to depth ratio has been greatly improved with pools averaging three feet deep and ripples of 14 to 16 inches. This should result in cooler water temperatures and healthier trout. Participating in the $150,000 project are: Lower Blanco Property Owners Association, the San Water Conservancy District, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Colorado Water Conservation Board, Southwestern Water Conservation District and the Environmental Protection Agency. ~ Current Trends On Water Issues Continued From Page 1 . . . Colorado sparked anger from Rep. Scott Mcinnis and many other local residents. Her recent trips to southwest Colorado to look first hand at the possible wilderness areas renewed outrage at the Clinton administration's heavy-handed dealings in the Grand Staircase-Escalante area of Utah. WETPACK Proposed by Dolores Water Conservation District The WETPACK Plan (Water for Everyone Tomorrow Package), supported by area rafters, Fish and Wildlife, Trout Unlimited and many other local government agencies, is now in the last half of a two-year feasibility study. The Dolores Water Conservancy District is also finalizing the details of purchasing 6,000 acre-feet of water from the Montezuma Valley Irrigation Co. As part of the plan, should DWCD purchase Totten Lake, it will again be used as an irrigation reservoir. Animas-La Plata Project, Ridges Basin Reservoir, Durango, CO Editorials supporting a full-scale project, continued opposition from various environmental groups, and proposed legislation for the scaled-down project keep the Animas-La Plata Project in the news. The US Department of the Interior has ruled that the Southern Ute Indian Tribe does have water rights to the Animas and La Plata rivers dating back to l868 and legislators look to the Clinton Administration for some sign of a compromise. Silver Minnow Habitat and the Rio Grande River, New Mexico With the prospect of a drought last spring, resulting in the drying up of portions of the Rio Grande River, the designated habitat of the silvery minnow precipitated a water fight that saw various entities entering the legal fray. Water management practices of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District continued to be examined, and Sen. Pete Domenici, R-NM, co-sponsored a bill that could affect the habitat of the minnow. Because the critical habitat designation affects Albuquerque's ground water supply, that city went to court to delay or reverse the protection. Lawyers for farmers and state water officials have "filed separate, formal threats to sue the US Fish and Wildlife Service". A series of meetings aimed at a collaborative effort to find ways to conserve the river, save the fish, and not harm water users have been held. . 3