Project
Description
The Alamosa River
Watershed Restoration Project is an ongoing riverbank stabilization project
which began in 2000. The existing project
design details the modification and improvement of approximately 5 miles of the
Alamosa River for the purpose of channel stabilization/restoration and riparian
habitat restoration. This Phase of the
project addresses the remaining 15,000 feet of stream from County Road 8, Conejos
County (Capulin Bridge), to County Road 10, 2.25 miles East of Capulin.
Project Goal
The Goal for the Alamosa River
Restoration Project, Phase III is to create a stream which looks and functions
as a natural stream while providing an environmental, cultural, and economic
benefit for the river community. The
project will use natural materials and work with natural stream dynamics to
stabilize the river channel damaged by past human activities. It is the intention of the project to shorten
the physical evolution of the stream by about 100 years. The effort will also create fish habitat,
swimming holes, riparian areas for livestock and wildlife, and wetlands for
water fowl.
This Project
is based on the goals and vision outlined in the Alamosa River Watershed Restoration Master Plan, including
restoring the natural function to the Alamosa River channel system, improving
the balance between competing human and environmental uses of water, achieving
water quality that supports beneficial uses in the watershed, restoring
riparian habitat in the watershed, and improving efficient use (delivery) of
agricultural water from the Alamosa River.
Current Status
The Alamosa River Restoration Project, Phase III, is being funded through an Non-Point Source grant from the US EPA and with Natural Resource Damage Settlement (NRDS) funds as two separate projects. NPS funding has been contracted and work on the river has begun, with surveying and design tasks completed, staging and rock stockpiles almost complete. Construction will resume as soon as streamflow allows it, which may be sooner than we hoped for, given the dry year and poor snowpack!
NRD funding is being addressed in a 3 step (tasks) approach, with Task 1 and 2 currently underway. Task 2 involves selection of a design/engineering firm and submittals by interested firms were completed on April 27th, 2012. SOQ's will be reviewed during the month of May, with site visits and/or interviews taking place in late May.
Current Status
The Alamosa River Restoration Project, Phase III, is being funded through an Non-Point Source grant from the US EPA and with Natural Resource Damage Settlement (NRDS) funds as two separate projects. NPS funding has been contracted and work on the river has begun, with surveying and design tasks completed, staging and rock stockpiles almost complete. Construction will resume as soon as streamflow allows it, which may be sooner than we hoped for, given the dry year and poor snowpack!
NRD funding is being addressed in a 3 step (tasks) approach, with Task 1 and 2 currently underway. Task 2 involves selection of a design/engineering firm and submittals by interested firms were completed on April 27th, 2012. SOQ's will be reviewed during the month of May, with site visits and/or interviews taking place in late May.
