Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project

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Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project

Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration ProjectRio Grande Headwaters Restoration ProjectRio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project

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Conejos River Partnership Project

Project Overview

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:


  • Improve diversion efficiency and reduce maintenance by replacing aging irrigation infrastructure on the Conejos River.


  • Enhance aquatic habitat through fish barrier removal and habitat improvements.


  • Improve floodplain connectivity, water quality and sediment transport through channel shaping and streambank stabilization.


  • Improve riparian condition through revegetation and floodplain reconnection


  • Support efforts to maintain hydrologic connectivity on the South Branch Conejos River, when possible.

Phase Three

Phase 3 includes the sites shown on the project map and/or listed below.


Current Status:

Improvements to the Angostura Ditch diversion were completed in Spring 2024.


Planning and design for the Mill Ditch Diversion and restoration near CR 28 are underway. Construction will likely being in 2025.

Angostura Ditch

Conejos River near CR 28

Mill Ditch Diversion

Components:

  • Replace headgate
  • Channel shaping, streambank stabilization
  • Improve riparian habitat
  • Work done in tandem with fish habitat improvements

Mill Ditch Diversion

Conejos River near CR 28

Mill Ditch Diversion

Needs Identified:

  • loss of function, channel erosion, degraded riparian habitat

Components:

  • Replace diversion
  • Channel shaping, streambank stabilization
  • Improve riparian habitat

Conejos River near CR 28

Conejos River near CR 28

Conejos River near CR 28

Needs Identified:

  • Bank stability impacts accuracy of the Los Sauses stream gauge

Components:

  • Channel shaping, streambank stabilization
  • Improve riparian habitat

Phase Two

Phase 2 includes the sites shown on the project map and listed below. 


Current Status:

Construction of both the William Stewart and Mecitos Ditch was completed in the spring of 2024.

Mecitos Ditch

William Stewart Ditch

William Stewart Ditch

Components:

  • Replace headgate
  • Replace diversion with fish-passable structure
  • Channel shaping, streambank stabilization
  • Improve riparian habitat

William Stewart Ditch

William Stewart Ditch

William Stewart Ditch

Components:

  • Replace headgate
  • Replace diversion with fish-passable structure
  • Channel shaping, streambank stabilization
  • Improve riparian habitat

Phase 1

Current Status:

Phase 1 of the CRPP was completed in Spring 2023 and included the construction of four diversion dams, consolidation of two ditch diversions into a single point of diversion and replacement of five headgates, three of which are now automated. In addition to replacing aging infrastructure, the Project included the rectification of three fish barriers, 2,112 feet of streambank restoration, and 23.9 acres of enhanced and preserved habitat adjacent to the diversion sites. 


The CRPP is a multi-phase effort to update irrigation infrastructure for improved diversion efficiency, river function, aquatic habitat connectivity, and riparian area health.

New JB Romero and North Eastern Ditches

New JB Romero and North Eastern Ditches

New JB Romero and North Eastern Ditches

Components:

  • Consolidated the point of diversion for both ditches and constructed a new fish-passable diversion structure 
  • New headgates on river and carrier
  • Headgate automation
  • Channel shaping, streambank stabilization
  • Improved riparian habitat

Sabine School Section Ditch

New JB Romero and North Eastern Ditches

New JB Romero and North Eastern Ditches

Components:

  • Replaced headgate
  • Replaced diversion with fish-passable structure
  • Channel shaping, streambank stabilization
  • Improved riparian habitat

Fuerticitos Ditch

Fuerticitos Ditch

Fuerticitos Ditch

Components:

  • Replace diversion with fish-passable structure
  • Replace headgate
  • Channel shaping, streambank stabilization
  • Improve riparian habitat

Elledges Ditch

Fuerticitos Ditch

Fuerticitos Ditch

Components:

  • Replaced diversion with fish-passable structure
  • Replaced existing headgate
  • Channel shaping, streambank stabilization
  • Improved riparian habitat

Project Partners

Project Partners

Project Partners

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

Project Funders

Project Partners

Project Partners

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

Trinchera Blanca Foundation

Conejos Water Conservancy District


623 4th Street, Alamosa, CO 81101

719.589.2230

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