Rio Grande - Manassa Conejos River & N Branch Stabilization_Water Activity Summary

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both the main channel and the North Branch, and improve the Conejos' ability to fulfill its Compact obligation to downstream states. Threshold and Evaluation Criteria The application articulates how the project meets all four Threshold Criteria. Discussion: The Project has numerous benefits to the Rio Grande Basin and the Conejos River community. The project is structural, sustains agricultural diversions, provides operational flexibility, and optimizes water supply. Non-consumptive benefits include enhanced riparian areas, improved habitat for threatened and endangered species, reduced streambank erosion, and flood protection. The improved structure will help meet the requirements of the Rio Grande Compact, and it has the support of the Division 3 Engineer. The Project is primarily a ditch diversion reconstruction project. The new design will allow for more efficient use of water and an improved ability to maximize water rights. The present design creates a sediment sink at the point of withdrawal. The new design will move sediment through the diversion structure to downstream locations. The associated river restoration component of the project will improve channel stability and riparian conditions. This will result in improved wildlife habitat conditions, but only in a small area upstream and downstream of the Core structure. The impacts on downstream habitats and recreational opportunities are questionable. The river will transport more bedload sediment to downstream locations. The project has great support in the Rio Grande Basin. Staff believes that it will be well constructed and support several objectives. Some of the non-consumptive benefits may have been embellished in the application; however, staff is confident that the project will create localized improvements to riparian habitats. Issues/Additional Needs: The applicant needs to provide more narrative in the scope of work that describes the key personnel and schedule. The applicant does not indicate whether or not the new structure will allow for fish passage and/or recreational boat passage. Staff supports diversion reconstruction projects that contemplate these uses. The applicant should consider these uses and design accordingly. Staff Recommendation: The application is well prepared and the proposed project fiirthers the Rio Grande Basin Roundtable's needs assessment. It also helps addresses a critical water supply need in the basin. Staff recommends approval of up to $50,000 from the Rio Grande Basin Account and $333,700 from the Statewide Account to help fund the Conejos River & North Branch Diversion and Stabilization project contingent on resolution of the items in the issues/additional needs section. All products, data and information developed as a result of this grant must be provided to CWCB in hard copy and electronic format as part of the project documentation. This information will in turn be made widely available to Basin Roundtables and the general public and will help promote the development of a common technical platform. 2