Alamosa River Watershed Plan

• Document ID: 0001
• County: Rio Grande
• County: Conejos
• County: Costilla
• County: Saguache
• Stream Name: Alamosa River
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Sub-Basin: Alamosa-Trinchera 13010002
• Water Division: 3
• Title: Alamosa River Watershed Restoration Master Plan and Environmental Assessment
• Date: 7/1/2005
• Prepared For: CWCB
• Prepared By: MWH
• Watershed Pro - Doc Type: Planning Report

2.5 Ground Water ........................................................................................................................................2-94
2.5.1 Ground Water Sources ............................................................................................................................................... 2-94
2.5.2 Ground Water Use .................................................................................................................................................... .. 2-98
2.5.3 Decline in Ground Water Levels ............................................................................................................................ .. 2-99
2.5.4 Ground Water Quality ............................................................................................................................................. 2-103
2.5.5 Ground Water Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 2-104
2.5.6 Key Ground Water Issues ....................................................................................................................................... 2-104
2.6 Terrace Reservoir ................................................................................................................................2-104
2.6.1 Terrace Reservoir Facilities ......................................................................................................................................2-105
2.6.2 Spillway ~-~ssessment ................................................................................................................................................. 2-113
2.6.3 Terrace Reservoir Operation ................................................................................................................................... 2-113
2.6.4 Terrace Reservoir Water Quality ............................................................................................................................ 2-113
2.6.5 Summary of Terrace Reservoir Issues .................................................................................................................... 2-121
2.7 Sediment ...............................................................................................................................................2-121
2.7.1 Upper Watershed above Terrace Reservoir .......................................................................................................... 2-123
2.7.1 Terrace Reservoir ......................................................................................................................................................2-125
2.7.2 Terrace Reservoir to Gunbarrel Road .................................................................................................................... 2-126
2.7.3 Gunbarrel Road to Highway 285 ............................................................................................................................ 2-127
2.7.4 Sediment Quality .......................................................................................................................................................2-128
2.7.5 Summary .....................................................................................................................................................................2-132
2.8 Riparian Habitat ...................................................................................................................................2-132
2.8.1 Riparian ~regetation .................................................................................................................................................. 2-132
2.8.2 Aquatic Ecosystem ................................................................................................................................................... 2-137
2.8.3 Riparian Wildlife ........................................................................................................................................................ 2-141
2.8.4 Riparian Habitat Issues ............................................................................................................................................ 2-143
2.9 Biological Resources ...........................................................................................................................2-143
2.9.1 Current Habitat Condition ...................................................................................................................................... 2-143
2.9.2 Threatened and Endangered Species ..................................................................................................................... 2-144
2.9.3 Birds ............................................................................................................................................................................
2-145
2.9.4 Reptiles and ~-~mphibians ......................................................................................................................................... 2-147
2.9.5 Mammals, Including Big Game ............................................................................................................................... 2-147
2.10 Fishes ....................................................................................................................................................2-149
2.10.1 Key Biological Resources Issues ............................................................................................................................. 2-153
2.11 Agricultural Uses .................................................................................................................................2-153
2.11.1 ~-agricultural Resources .............................................................................................................................................. 2-154
2.11.2 Water ~-availability and Irrigation Diversions ......................................................................................................... 2-154
2.11.3Agricultural Impacts Due to Water Quality .......................................................................................................... 2-160
2.11.4Key ~-agricultural Issues ............................................................................................................................................ 2-165
2.12 Recreational Uses ................................................................................................................................2-165
2.12.1 diddle Watershed, Wightman Fork to Terrace Reservoir .................................................................................. 2-168
2.12.2Lower Watershed, Terrace Reservoir Downstream to the San Luis galley ...................................................... 2-170
2.12.3Key Recreation Issues ..............................................................................................................................................2-170
. .
2.13 Segment Subwatershed Characterization ........................................................................................2-170
Alamosa River Watershed Restoration Master Plan and Environmental Assessment Page ii