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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />to State highway 285. The whole stretch of river downstream of Wightman Fork, which drains <br />from Summitville became devoid of life after the spills. Fish and other biological life was <br />destroyed in holding ponds, farm reservoirs (many of which were stocked for recreation) and <br />irrigation ditches. Heavy metals and acid mine drainage have damaged irrigation equipment, <br />such as sprinklers and head gates. The soil chemistry on the irrigated lands has been altered, <br />perhaps forever. Clean up at the site is in the final completion stage. However expensive the <br />clean up has been, residents downstream have seen a vast improvement in the water quality. <br />Aquatic life is now returning to the river. <br /> <br />It was during this time that an interest in the restoration effort was revived. The Alamosa River <br />was one of three watershed pilot projects selected by the Natural Resources Conservation <br />Service from the State of Colorado in 1995. Sponsored by the Conejos County Soil <br />Conservation District in La Jara, the Alamosa River Watershed Project (ARWP) is a community- <br />based, grass-roots effort, headed by farmers, ranchers and land owners with assistance from <br />several government agencies. Its' purpose has been to identify and address issues concerning the <br />watershed. The Watershed Project was officially initiated at a public meeting in March, 1995. <br /> <br />Since that time, the ARWP has addressed weed control, water quality and river bank <br />stabilization. It has been successful in installing two demonstration projects using two different <br />river restoration techniques. The watershed group has also been recognized with several awards. <br />The AR WP is presently restoring a quarter mile section of river on the Ignacio Rodriguez and <br />Andres Quintana properties, using Dave Rosgen of Wildland Hydrology as the consultant. The <br />committee hopes to continues its' effort in bank stabilization, riparian restoration, and overall <br />watershed management. <br /> <br /> <br />Landowners, Fanners and Ranchers view bank erosion, 1979. <br />