Rio Grande - Alamosa River Watershed Restoration_BRT Approval Letter

Home Browse Search

restore”, while reducing the potential water supply gap for non - consumptive needs on the river. The “Water Supply & Needs Report for the Rio Grande Basin ” , in Section 8.6 - Pot ential Options for Addressing Remaining Water Needs and Enhancements , states: “…the Alamosa River was severely impacted by channel straightening, channel excavation, and levee construction in the early 1970’s. In response to these river and land impacts , the community established the Alamosa River Watershed Project. It is a community - wide effort involving local landowners, water users, and concerned citizens to stabilize riverbanks and improve riparian habitat along the river.” The Project addresses th e 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 complet ion of the se cond 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 Water shed 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 th e 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 , incl uding $11,700 .00 cash from ARWRF), and in - kind contributions from Conejos County ($ 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 , excavat or and bulldozer. Based on current estimates for the rental of such equipment, the SB 179 funds will cover the se costs for 3 to 4 months . At the RGRT meeting on July 10 , 2007, p roject proponents were provided time to make a presentation and time was allo wed for questions from the RGRT Members and members of the public. After discussion, a voice vote was taken of all RGRT Members that were present. Page 2 of 3