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 has been completed on three diversion structures along the South Branch Conejos River downstream of Highway 285. The Sabine, Fuerticitos, and Elledges ditches received new grouted rock diversion dams. New headgates have also been installed at the Sabine and Elledges and automation will be added to the Sabine and Fuerticitos. These improvements improve efficiency and increase aquatic habitat connectivity. Construction at the North Eastern and New JB Romero ditches began in December 2022 and will be completed in April 2023.
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:
Construction on both the William Stewart and Mecitos is set to begin this fall. In the mean time, site designs and permiting are being finalized.
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
Trinchera Blanca Foundation
Conejos Water Conservancy District
623 4th Street, Alamosa, CO 81101
719.589.2230
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