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SUMMARY ACCOMPLISHMENTS: <br />Mission Statement: <br />The mission and major goal of the Alamosa River Watershed Restoration Project is to create a <br />stream which looks and functions as a natural stream while providing an environmental, cultural, <br />and economic benefit for the river community. The project will use natural materials and work <br />with natural stream dynamics to stabilize the river channel damaged by past human activities. In <br />essence, the restoration effort will mimic what happens in nature. It is the intention of the <br />project to shorten the physical evolution of the stream by about 100 years. The effort will also <br />create fish habitat, swimming holes, riparian areas for livestock and wildlife, and wetlands for <br />water fowl. <br />The success of this project will be measured, in great part, by the enthusiasm and participation of <br />the river community. Therefore, a fundamental goal, which parallels this project, is teaching and <br />learning how to embrace stewardship. This project will be dedicated as a living legacy, to the <br />future generations of this river and offered as a model for other watershed groups to follow. <br />Outline of goals and objectives <br />1) Project Administration <br />2) Public Education <br />3) River Restoration <br />4) Riparian Restoration <br />5) Monitoring <br />6) Stakeholder involvement (stewardship) <br />All the goals and objectives set forth by the ARWRF and the CDPHE 319 NPS contract were <br />accomplished. <br />Because of the rise in cost of material, labor and fuel, the project, unfortunately, was forced to shorten <br />the length of the overall stream bank stabilization project (goa13) from the proposed 5.5 miles (Scope <br />of Work) to 2.5 miles. Goals 2, 4, 5, and 6 were completed within the parameters of the contract, but <br />are still ongoing as per Best Management Practices (BMP's). Goals 2, 4, and 6 are being continued <br />without funding, as in-kind contributions. These goals are being accomplished by the landowners and <br />the ARWRF board of directors who serve voluntarily and, being landowners themselves, have a vested <br />interest in the long-term success of this project. There is funding still available from other sources to <br />continue goa15 for another year. Goal 6 was not included with the original scope of work, but instead <br />was included as an objective. The ARWRF feels it is appropriate to mention it now as a goal in the <br />executive summary and final report. During the restoration process, the ARWRF came to appreciate the <br />importance of stakeholder involvement. It ties all the goals together and has been the greatest driving <br />force of this restoration effort. <br />The ARWRF felt that one of the greatest accomplishments was the outreach program undertaken to <br />involve the stakeholders. The origina15.5 mile project area consisted of 19 ditch companies and 23 <br />individual landowners. The ditch companies vary in size of ownership, with the average being around 7 <br />individual water users. That is a total of 156 individuals who are directly affected by the river <br />2 <br />