Rio Grande - Alamosa River Watershed Restoration_Water Activity Summary

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Water Supply Reserve Account – Grant and Loan Program Water Activity Summary Sheet Applicant: Amount Requested: San Luis Valley Resource Conservation and $104,000.00 Development Council Source of Funds: Statewide Account Water Activity Name: Matching Funds: Alamosa River Restoration Yes Multiple Sources >$1 million see below for additional detail Water Activity Purpose: Structural Water Project – Non-consumptive County: Conejos Drainage Basin: Rio Grande – Alamosa River Water Source: Alamosa River below Terrace Reservoir Water Activity Summary: The Project addresses the restoration of riparian corridors, the improvement of water quality by reductions in sediment loadings, improved irrigation water delivery, contributing to additional recharge of the basin’s aquifers, and the potential to raise groundwater water levels. As an additional significant benefit, the Project will reduce the potential for the flooding of the community of Capulin, Colorado, by improved utilization of the historic floodplain. The requested funds will be used to assist in the completion of the second phase of a riparian / streambank restoration project on the Alamosa River that began in 2004. The location of the Project is in Conejos County, Colorado, and covers the reach of the Alamosa River between County Road 8 and County Road 10. This second phase of work will complete 2.8 miles of river restoration related projects, which has a total estimated cost of $1,183,800.00. The Applicant, the San Luis Valley Resource Conservation & Development Council, who is partnering with the Alamosa River Watershed Restoration Foundation (ARWRF), and has access to the Natural Resource Damage Claim (NRDC) monies associated with the Summitville Mine release of cyanide contaminated materials to the Alamosa River. The SB 179 monies will be used as a portion of the necessary match to the $500,000.00 from the NRDC. The balance of the necessary match will come from EPA 319 Non-Point Source Pollution funds ($396,000.00), cash and in-kind support provided by the land owners on the reach of the river ($138,800.00, including $11,700.00 cash from ARWRF), and in-kind contributions from Conejos County ($45,000.00). The number of participants include local County government, ten (10) individual landowners, and eleven (11) different ditch companies, demonstrating the project’s broad support throughout the local communities. The requested $104,000.00 SB 179 monies are earmarked for the rental of heavy equipment required for a project of this size. The equipment will consist of an articulated truck, front-end loader, excavator and 1