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<br />.~ <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br /> <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br /> <br />Department of Natura I Resources <br />1313 Sherman Street. Room 721 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phon., (303) 866-3441 <br />FAX: (303) 866-4474 <br /> <br />Q <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />Bill Owens <br />Governor <br /> <br />Greg E.Walcher <br />Executive Director <br /> <br />To: <br /> <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board Members <br /> <br />Peter H. Evans <br />CWCB Director <br /> <br />From: Larry Lang, Chief, Flood Protection Section <br /> <br />Dan McAuliffe <br />Deputy Director <br /> <br />Date: May 15,2000 <br /> <br />Re: Agenda Item H.e, May 22-23, 2000 Board Meeting <br />Alamosa River Watershed Project <br /> <br />Overview <br /> <br />At the January 2000 CWCB meeting, the Board recommended that $300,000 be granted to the <br />Alamosa-La Jara Water Conservancy District for river restoration work on the Alamosa River. <br />On May 3, 2000 the General Assembly passed HB 00-1419, the Construction Fund Bill. It is <br />currently awaiting signature by Governor Owens. HB 00-1419 includes the appropriation for the <br />Alamosa River restoration work. <br /> <br />As discussed in the Board memorandum for Agenda Item 12b. ofthat January 2000 agenda, the <br />Alamosa River was severely impacted by charmel straightening, charmel excavation, and levee <br />construction undertaken in the early 1970's by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in response to <br />local concerns about possible flood damage. Bank erosion and lowered water table levels caused <br />by the charmel work have resulted in adverse impacts to landowners in the valley. Some of the <br />landowners lack alternative pastures, and they engage in poor grazing practices in an attempt to <br />address that lack. Most landowners along the river face yearly land losses. <br /> <br />In response to these river and land impacts the community established the Alamosa River <br />Watershed Project (ARWP). It is a community-wide effort involving local landowners, water <br />users and concerned citizens to stabilize riverbanks and improve riparian habitat along the river. <br />Partners in this river effort include: <br /> <br />· USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, <br />. Conejos County, <br />· San Luis Valley Trout Unlimited, <br />. Colorado DNR, <br />