BOARD01997

• Board Meeting Date: 3/21/2002
• Description: Flood Section - Proposed Stream Restoration Program
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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more quickly toward design and implementation, In the case of the Roaring Fork River, the
initial reconnaissance study led directly to a feasibility study for the Basalt area reach of the
river (which was just completed and formally adoped). Nevertheless, of the 10 projects listed
above, only 2 involve design or implementation. However, at least 2 other projects are
moving toward design and implementation in the near future. Two major lessons learned so
far are:

· usually a significant effort will need to be expended on the initial phase and the middle
phase of the stream restoration process before serious progress can be made on the final
phase, and
· expending the significant effort at the begiJllling can payoff in paving the way for design
and implementation of stream restoration projects.

The studies that have been conducted so far have, addressed a variety of issues, usually with
stream restoration as the central issue, The term "multi-objective" means that all of the
identified watershed issues in a given watershed are addressed concurrently, to the extent
possible, while recognizing that some issues have a higher priority in that watershed than other
issues. The term ''watershed'' means that inste~d of focusing on specific reaches of specific
waterways, the study or project implementatioIl is carried out with full awareness of the entire
drainage area upstream ofthe specific locations of particular interest. Some of the issues that
have been addressed in studies completed so far have included:

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stream instability,
water supply for agricultural irrigation use and for domestic supply,
interstate compacts,
flooding,
water quality,
habitat, and
recreation.

The studies have identified a variety of potential mitigation features and strategies to address
the concerns on the different streams. Some of these features and strategies are listed below:

· physical improvements in or adjacent to the channel (including channel realignment),
· irrigation ditch consolidations and headgate reconfigurations,
. bridge removals or modifications,
. flood control projects,
· acquisition of vulnerable properties,
· ecosystem restoration,
· adoption of stream buffer regnlations, and
· implementation of long-term monitoring programs.

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Many of the features and strategies listed above will be part of the two projects that are at the
design/implementation stage (Alamosa River; North Fork of the Gunnison River).

Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Financing. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning