Born out of the Conejos River Stream Management Plan (SMP), the Conejos River Partnership Project has brought together the Conejos Water Conservancy District, Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado Division of Water Resources, ditch companies, and private landowners to address challenges facing the Conejos River between Mogote and its confluence with the Rio Grande. This multi-phased project will meet agricultural, environmental, and water administration needs on Conejos through the rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure, enhancement of aquatic habitat, and restoration of riparian and wetland habitats. When complete, the project will help ensure the Conejos River continues to support diverse human, agricultural, and ecological communities.
Objectives:
Construction is underway on three diversion structures on the South Branch Conejos River downstream of Highway 285. This winter the Sabine and Fuerticitos ditches will receive grouted rock diversion dams and the Elledges Ditch a stacked rock diversion. New headgates will be installed at the Sabine and Elledges and automation will be added to the Sabine and Fuerticitos in Summer 2022. These improvements will both improve efficiency and increase aquatic habitat connectivity. Construction at the North Eastern and New JB Romero ditches is scheduled for Fall 2022.
The CRPP is a multi-phase effort to update irrigation infrastructure for improved diversion efficiency, river function, aquatic habitat connectivity, and riparian area health. Phase I includes the sites shown on the project map and listed below.
Needs Identified: diversions and headgates in poor condition, trash/debris build-up, high maintenance, and inefficient infrastructure.
Components:
Needs Identified: Diversion dam and headgate in poor condition, diversion creates fish barrier, streambank instability upstream.
Components:
Needs Identified: Diversion dam and headgate in poor condition, diversion creates fish barrier, trash/debris build-up, streambank instability.
Components:
Needs identified: Diversion dam and headgate in poor condition, diversion creates fish barrier, streambank instability upstream.
Components:
Phase 2 includes the sites shown on the project map and listed below.
Current Status:
Funding for Phase 2 of the CRPP is currently being secured. Sources include a Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART grant, Colorado Water Conservation Board Colorado Water Plan grant, and the Colorado Healthy Rivers Fund.
Construction is anticipated to begin in 2022
Needs Identified: diversions and headgates in poor condition, trash/debris build-up, high maintenance, and inefficient infrastructure.
Components:
Needs Identified: Diversion dam and headgate in poor condition, diversion creates fish barrier, streambank instability and lack of riparian vegetation throughout the project area.
Components:
Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project
Conejos Water Conservancy District
Trout Unlimited
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Colorado Division of Water Resources
Southwest River Engineering
Robins Construction
Bureau of Land Management
Ditch Shareholders
RESTORE Colorado Program
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Colorado Department of Agriculture
Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area
National Wetland Conservation Act Grant Program
Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART Program
Colorado Healthy Rivers Fund
Colorado Housing and Finance Authority
623 4th Street, Alamosa, CO 81101
719.589.2230
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