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 1
Current Status:
Current Status:
Current Status:
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 is scheduled to begin December 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.
Current Status:
Current Status:
New JB Romero and North Eastern Ditches
New JB Romero and North Eastern Ditches
New JB Romero and North Eastern Ditches
Needs Identified: diversions and headgates in poor condition, trash/debris build-up, high maintenance, and inefficient infrastructure.
Components:
- Consolidate the point of diversion for both ditches and construct a new fish-passable diversion structure
- New headgates on river and carrier
- Headgate automation
- Channel shaping, streambank stabilization
- Improve riparian habitat
Sabine School Section Ditch
New JB Romero and North Eastern Ditches
New JB Romero and North Eastern Ditches
Needs Identified: Diversion dam and headgate in poor condition, diversion creates fish barrier, streambank instability upstream.
Components:
- Replace headgate
- Replace diversion with fish-passable structure
- Channel shaping, streambank stabilization
- Improve riparian habitat
Fuerticitos Ditch
Fuerticitos Ditch
Fuerticitos Ditch
Needs Identified: Diversion dam and headgate in poor condition, diversion creates fish barrier, trash/debris build-up, streambank instability.
Components:
- Replace diversion with fish-passable structure
- Replace headgate
- Channel shaping, streambank stabilization
- Improve riparian habitat
Elledges Ditch
Fuerticitos Ditch
Fuerticitos Ditch
Needs identified: Diversion dam and headgate in poor condition, diversion creates fish barrier, streambank instability upstream.
Components:
- Replace diversion with fish-passable structure
- Replace existing headgate
- Channel shaping, streambank stabilization
- Improve riparian habitat
Phase Two
Phase 2 includes the sites shown on the project map and listed below.
Current Status:
Funding for Phase 2 has been secured through a Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART grant, Colorado Water Conservation Board Colorado Water Plan grant, and the Colorado Healthy Rivers Fund.
Project designs are complete and permitting is underway. Construction is anticipated to begin in Spring 2023.
Mecitos Ditch
William Stewart Co Irrigation Ditch
William Stewart Co Irrigation Ditch
Needs Identified: diversions and headgates in poor condition, trash/debris build-up, high maintenance, and inefficient infrastructure.
Components:
- Replace headgate
- Replace diversion with fish-passable structure
- Channel shaping, streambank stabilization
- Improve riparian habitat
William Stewart Co Irrigation Ditch
William Stewart Co Irrigation Ditch
William Stewart Co Irrigation Ditch
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:
- Replace headgate
- Replace diversion with fish-passable structure
- Channel shaping, streambank stabilization
- Improve riparian habitat