WSP02694

• File Number: 8240.200.10.C.4
• Description: UCRBRIP Flooded Bottom Lands
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/1995
• Author: UCRBRIP
• Title: Floodplain Habitat Restoration - 1995 Work Plan
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

A - If

For some of the properties which contain depressions, sites could be
constructed and managed in a manner similar to Wood's Bottom or that
proposed for Leota L-7. For other depressions and for terraces, no
construction or management may be necessary, except when removal of
structures is warranted.

b. Restoration Options

To achieve near-historical extent, frequency, and duration of
flooding, there are a limited number of options available:

Remove any dikes, levees, rip-rap; allow the river to reclaim
the floodplain and/or establish a new, smaller floodplain.
Restore near-historical flood flows via water acquisition,
reservoir operations, and water management.
Lower the floodplain elevation (via excavation) to a level
which allows flooding at lower flows.
Construct diversion dam structures across the river channel to
raise the water surface elevation, to allow flooding at lower
fl ows.
Pump water from the main channel of the river onto the
floodplain, to allow flooding at lower flows.
For floodplain depressions, excavate a canal which connects the
depression to the main channel of the river, to allow for
flooding at lower flows.

My preferred alternative is to restore and manage flood flows to the
extent possible, allowing the river to reclaim a portion of the
historical floodplain. Over the long term, a new equilibrium will
eventually become established, with a somewhat smaller-than-
historical floodplain and riverine ecosystem (theoretically). To
facilitate this process, we should take advantage of every
opportunity to remove dikes, levees, rip-rap, and other structures,
so that the river can do the work it was intended to do. At the
same time, we can take advantage of floodplain-depression-type
habitats by connecting them to the river so that they will flood at
lower fl ows .

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2)

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Property acquisition, construction, and floodplain restoration will
no doubt be very expensive. As we spend large sums of money, we
need to realize that natural fluvial processes will likely remove
portions of newly acquired properties; will fill depressions with
sediment; and will damage or destroy water and fish control
structures. If possible, we should allow the river to do as much of
the work as possible. If we construct or restore habitats believing
that they will remain as permanent structures, we will likely be
disappointed after one or two high-flow years.

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