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<br /> <br />Where el igible, landowners can receive assistance <br />through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) administered <br />by the Agricultural Stabi I ization and Conservation Service <br />(ASCS) to develop a 66 to 99 foot wide riparian zone along <br />streams or water bodies. To be eligible, the land would <br />have had to be used to produce agricultural commodities 2 of <br />the 5 years between 1981 and 1985. Rental payments for 10 <br />years are offered as an incentive to convert the cropland to <br />grass or trees. <br /> <br />Riparian zones wi I I provide protection from the lower <br />frequency flows. However, large flows can produce bank <br />erosion which wi I I destroy them. When this happens, the up <br />rooted trees can block the channel and cause additional bank <br />cutting. <br /> <br />2. This study recommends the formation of a state <br />coordinator position. The need for a person to coordinate <br />activities relating to stream channel improvements was <br />identified. Many examples of work being done without <br />consideration of the effects, both upstream and downstream, <br />were noted during the study. This showed the lack of <br />knowledge about river mechanics and flow patterns by the <br />people doing the work. <br /> <br />The coordinator should be someone that landowners could <br />ask for advice about the effects of work in streams before <br />construction is started. The coordinator could provide the <br />assistance or direct the landowner to an agency that could <br />help. This would not replace the U.S. Army, Corps of <br />Engineers, Section 404 permitting process, but the <br />coordinator could provide assistance to streaml ine the <br />process. <br /> <br /> <br />Rock Riprap on Dolores River <br />Photography by Jim Thornton, SCS, Denver, Colorado <br /> <br />6 <br />