On Jan. 17, the Southwestern Water Conservation District (SWCD) announced the receipt of $25.6 million from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Upper Colorado River Basin Environmental Drought Mitigation Program (B2E).
This funding, made available through the Inflation Reduction Act, will support 17 critical projects across the Dolores and San Juan river basins, including the Upper San Juan Watershed Enhancement Partnership’s (WEP) efforts in Pagosa Springs.
The grant application, developed in collaboration with the Southwestern Water Conservation and Infrastructure Partnership, has a total value of $29.3 million, including $3.7 million in nonfederal support provided through cash and in-kind contributions from project proponents. These funds will advance key initiatives to mitigate the impacts of drought on aquatic habitats in the Colorado River Basin.
Funding will support projects addressing bank stabilization, invasive plant species removal, riparian and process-based restoration, fish passage and habitat connectivity, erosion control, and wetland restoration.
Selected projects prioritize feasibility, readiness and stakeholder engagement. The proposal received support from 37 federal, state, tribal and local entities, including the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Webber Ditch Company, Tres Rios Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, San Juan National Forest Service, RiversEdge West, Mountain Studies Institute, Mancos Conservation District, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Animas Watershed Partnership.
In the Pagosa Springs area, the Upper San Juan WEP’s $2.2 million Park Ditch Diversion Restoration and Stream Restoration project includes the reconstruction of existing agricultural diversion infrastructure to remove the need for annual maintenance and improve year-round aquatic connectivity. Additional project goals include stabilizing landslide-impacted riverbanks to prevent erosion, securing water delivery for agricultural and municipal use, and reducing sediment buildup.
The project will restore approximately 1 mile of the San Juan River, improve one agricultural water diversion structure, and reshape portions of the river channel using medium and large rocks.
“First of all, we want to thank the Southwest Water Conservation District for their foresight in organizing this effort, and all the effort that went into completing the application to the Bureau of Reclamation for this SW Basin cumulative effort,” said Al Pfister, vice chair of the Upper San Juan WEP. “We believe this is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when partners from the public and private sectors collaborate to further their individual missions and goals. Efforts such as this are needed to help all in the Colorado River Basin adapt to a warming and drying future climate, while maintaining our quality of life.”
For more information about the Upper San Juan WEP and its work, visit uppersanjuanwep.com
