Rio Grande - Alamosa River Watershed Restoration_Application

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. Water Supply Reserve Account - Grant Application Form Fonn Revised May 2007 4. Please provide an overview of the water project or activity to be funded including - type of activity, statement of what the activity is intended to accomplish, the need for the activity, the problems and opportunities to be addressed, expectations of the participants, why the activity is important, the service area or geographic location, and any relevant issues etc. Please include any relevant Tabor issues that may affect the Contracting Entity. Please refer to Part 2 of Criteria and Guidance document for additional detail on information to include. In partnership with the Alamosa River Watershed Restoration Foundation, the San Luis Valley Resource Conservation & Development Council is seeking $104,000 in funds towards completing 15,000 linear feet of restored and stabilized channel in the Alamosa River, from County Road 8 to County Road 10. The scope of the current project includes channel reshaping, vegetation restoration, grazing management, and monitoring towards maintaining stabilization long-term. Within the current proposed $1.183 million budget for this phase of the restoration project, the SB179 funding request will pair with 319 funding to leverage $500,000 in NRD funding to continue the significant stream restoration and bank stabilization progress completed on 2.6 miles of adjacent river area by the Alamosa River Watershed Restoration Foundation in the previous project phase, . The Alamosa River Restoration project is identified as a priority project in the A/amasa River Watershed Restoration Master Plan (2005) and extends 5.5 miles from Gunbarrel Road to CR 10. Non-point Source/319 and Colorado Water Conservation Board funding, totaling around $700,000, realized the first phase of the Alamosa River restoration, which was completed in 2004-6 on the 2.6-mile reach between Gunbarrel Road and CR 8. This first structural phase encompassed extensive work in 2004 on 7,000 feet of channel below Gunbarrel Road, with an additional 7,000 feet of channel to CR 8 treated in 2005. The work included removal of excess sediment, reestablishment of natural meander patterns, installation of rock vanes, diversion headgate rehabilitation, and replanting and grazing management. These measures have had demonstrable success and need to be continued on the remainder of untreated channel from CR 8 to CR 10. The proposed 2.8 mile project continues the measures implemented on the adjacent 2.6 mile section of river (upstream) completed in 2006. The complete restoration of these 5.5 miles of river will remedy the severe erosion and related sediment problems that prevent the Alamosa River from being a healthy and effective water system. This effort will restore the river's natural form, reduce stream bank erosion and sediment, and improve water delivery and aquatic habitat. These efforts will also contribute to the recharge of the local aquifer providing greater sustainability of local water resources. Drawing upon the successes of the first phase of restoration, the proposed work includes re-shaping the channel and floodplain, returning an appropriate meander, and reestablishing an appropriate channel geometry that ensures the normal movement of sediment. To sum up, the proposed second phase of restoration will accomplish the following on the 2.8 mile reach: Stream Restoration 15,000 linear feet (incl. reattached meanders) Excavation of excess riverbed material 15,000 cubic yards Bank protection 30,000 linear feet Vegetated bank stabilization 30,000 linear feet Boulder cross vanes (instream structures) 17 Boulder vanes (instream structures) 160 Design river to accommodate 9 irrigation diversion structures Chinking, sills and over-pour protection 2000 cubic yards Vegetation restoration of riparian corridor ca. 40 acres Agricultural area serviced by improvements 15,000 acres (est.) Increase recharge of the local aquifer through saturation of the riverbanks, promoting greater sustainability The estimate of $1.183 million is based on bids from several engineers who have proposed design solutions for for the project. . 8