BOARD02264

• Board Meeting Date: 1/27/1999
• Description: Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project Application
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Dr. Jerry Freeman
Education & Natural Resources
Jan. 26, 1999

CITIZENS
FOR
SAN LUIS VALLEY
WATER

Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
721 Centennial Building
1313 Sherman Street
Denver, CO 80203

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Dear Colorado Water Conservation Board:

Citizens for San Luis Valley Water (CSL VW) strongly supports the application of
the San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District (SL VWCD) for the Rio Grande
Headwaters Restoration Project. CSL VW is a broad-based community organization
working to protect the water resources of the San Luis Valley. We serve on several water
groups including the Steering Committee for RGDSS, Colorado Water Congress, and Rio
Grande/ Bravo Coalition.
This project was initiated due to concerns of citizens regarding the state of the Rio
Grande. Citizens formed the Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project. Their
principal concerns have been to enhance water rights deliveries, to enhance delivery
of Compact obligations, and to restore the services of the riparian ecosystem.
~Ire.ady about 33% more water than needed is being used to get our Compact obligations
to the stateline. Irrigation ditches and structures are being impacted. Water and water
rights administration is increasingly difficult with curtailing of water rights occurring.
Bank instability is causing as much as 10 feet loss of bank per year resulting in
sedimentation of the channel, excess debri, and loss of riparian habitat.. Secondarily
citizens were cognizant that a properly functioning river would have less potential for
flooding.
The vision of this project has been multi-focused. We recognize an opportunity to
have a quality feasibility and demonstration project to complement many other efforts
to milnage water resources in the Valley. Another group is working with funds from
the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NA WCA) to restore the river south of
the Headwaters Restoration Project. NA WCA is a potential future funding source.
RGDSS, though more regional in scope, will benefit this effort. GIS studies at the smaller
scale for this project will complement RGDSS and increase its utility to the Valley.
Many organizations in the Valley are supportive of this application and recognize
its value. They are more than willing to provide in-kind support.
:rhank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

(Lj

0e'& Freeman

P.O. Box 351 . Alamosa, CO 81101 . [phone]