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Water Supply Reserve Account - Grant and Loan Program <br />Water Activity Summary Sheet <br />Applicant: Colorado Rio Grande Restoration Foundation <br />Water Activity Name: 2008 Rio Grande Stabilization Project <br />Amount Requested: $285,000 <br />Source of Funds: $35,000 (Rio Grande Basin Account) and $250,000 (Statewide Account) <br />Matching Funds: $356,000 <br />Water Activity Purpose: Structural and/or nonstructural water project or activity <br />County: Alamosa <br />Drainage Basin: Rio Grande <br />Water Source: Rio Grande <br />Staff Recommendation <br />Staff recommends approval of up to $35,000 from the Rio Grande Basin Account and $250,000 from the <br />Statewide Account to help complete the 2008 Rio Grande Stabilization Project contingent on resolution of <br />the item in the issues/additional needs section. <br />Water Activity Summary: <br />This grant application requests funding of $285,000 to implement a Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration <br />Project (RGHRP 2008 Rio Grande Riparian Stabilization Project), herein called the Project. The 2001 Study, <br />completed with funding from the CWCB, assessed 91 miles of the Rio Grande in Colorado, from the town of <br />South Fork to the Alamosa / Conejos County line. This Study analyzed the condition of specific reaches of <br />the Rio Grande, and determined that a major cause of the deterioration in water quality and fishery <br />conditions was due to increased sediment loading in the river. Continuing the implementation of the <br />recommendations contained in 2001 Study, the Project will restore twelve miles of river frontage in Alamosa <br />County, Colorado, involving a minimum of five land owners. The actual work will consist of stabilizing and <br />restoring the riparian areas along the river. This will reduce stream bank instability and sediment loading and <br />will thus improve water quality. These actions will enhance wildlife habit and will improve the condition of <br />the fishery. <br />Threshold and Evaluation Criteria <br />The application articulates how the project meets all four Threshold Criteria. <br />Discussion: <br />Staff is familiar with the 2001 RGHRP and supports its findings. Staff has also discussed this project with <br />the applicant. There are many reaches of the Rio Grande in need of stabilization and riparian zone <br />revegetation. Staff understands that the reaches identified for restoration in this project are some of the most <br />degraded reaches on the rivers. The project supports varied needs, and its stakeholders include the <br />appropriate state and federal agencies. The application is well written and thorough. It moves the RGHRP <br />from the planning stage to the project stage, a logical progression often unattainable because of funding <br />shortages.