Rio Grande - 2008 Riparian Stabilization Project - Application

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k. The water activity promotes water conservation and efficiency. • By stabilizing channel boundaries and enhancing channel capacity this Project promotes water conservation and efficiency. I. The applicant has an existing water conservation plan. • The Foundation does not itself have a conservation plan, but works to accomplish efficiencies in consumptive and non-consumptive uses of water, as described in this proposal. m. The water activity will make new water available for use. • N/A n. The water activity involves reoperation, enlargement, or rehabilitation of existing facilities. • This is a rehabilitation project whose primary objective is to improve the riparian habitat, restore the natural stability of stream banks and hence reduce sediment loading. Rehabilitation work associated with the stream channel will increase capacity of the Rio Grande to transport sediment, and will thus improve the function of the floodplain. The Water Activity Addresses Issues of Statewide Value o. The water activity helps sustain agriculture and open space or meets environmental or recreational needs. • The sediment loading is primarily caused by lateral movement of the channel, resulting in loss of stream bank stability and degradation of the riparian habitat and the resultant deposition of the bed-load materials downstream. This sediment loading negatively affects the condition of the fishery. In localized areas, the depth to width ratio is inadequate to support most macro aquatic life (John Alves, CDOW). Channel movement has resulted in deterioration of the riparian habitat and contributes woody debris to the system through the loss of large herbaceous plant materials. This Project helps sustain agriculture by improving water quality and reducing bed-load materials downstream, which in turn reduces problems at water diversions used for agriculture. The Project enhances environmental needs by improving riparian habitat, improving the natural stability of the stream bank, and enhancing the fishery. Rehabilitation work associated with the stream channel will increase capacity of the Rio Grande to transport sediment, and improve the function of the floodplain. p. The water activity assists in the administration of compact-entitled waters or addresses problems related to compact entitled waters and compact compliance and the degree to which the activity promotes maximum utilization of state waters. • The Rio Grande channel gradient averages 0.0005 ft/ft, as the river crosses the valley floor. The shallow gradient and progressive downstream decrease in bed material size results in a reduction of channel width as was observed by the 2001 Study at various locations within the targeted reach. Reduced channel capacity would result inout-of- bankflows during minor flood events. Such action would significantly increase meander