Grand Valley Restoration Meeting Notes

June 14th 2012

Meeting Attendees:

Meeting Purpose/Background:

  • Discuss options for moving forward with restoration projects in the Grand Valley, with emphasis on revegetation work along the Colorado River and its tributaries
  • Identify what has been done and what opportunities there are for the future
  • Tamarisk Coalition (TC) founded in 2002 as an outgrowth of the Riverfront Commission
  • TC has hosted volunteer projects in the Grand Valley, worked on Watson Island, and has worked with Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) to conduct planning for restoration
  • TC recognized the USACE project as an opportunity to get resources on the ground for planning; potential existed to acquire funding for on-the-ground project implementation
  • USACE funding currently limited; at this time, there is no funding from them for project implementation
  • TC currently has capacity to develop a collaborative process to implement restoration on the ground in the Grand Valley

US Army Corps of Engineers Project Updates:

  • Season Martin provided background on the USACE 206 Project
  • Minimal planning work still being completed by Tetra Tech
  • Currently, funds are not available through the USACE for project implementation
  • TC will continue to work with USACE; however, other opportunities for project implementation exist. TC would like to work with partners to utilize those funding opportunities.

Formation of a Grand Valley Collaborative:

Facilitation:

  • The group thinks that TC is the perfect organization to coordinate riparian restoration efforts in the Grand Valley
  • TC can also provide technical assistance
  • TC will be looking to each agency/landowner for support and project implementation

Scope:

  • Additional discussions need to be held to define the scope of this initiative; add to agenda for next meeting
  • Some suggested a smaller project footprint
  • Many have limited staff/funding to complete additional projects
  • Others suggested a larger focus, however, project prioritization was advocated
  • Sites located in the public eye could help garner support from residents
  • Water quality enhancement through invasives removal could attract 319 program funds; work on the development of wetlands and riparian buffers
  • May want to focus on selenium and salinity
  • Salinity Control Program funding may be an option
  • Bank stabilization also of concern
  • Expansion of the project footprint to Colorado River tributaries could assist private landowners
  • NRCS funds are more applicable to lands located off of the river corridor
  • Cooperative Watershed Management Program (lead by US Bureau of Reclamation) is pushing the development of watershed partnership groups; funding opportunities should be available in the future (grant period open now).
  • Other groups/people to include?
  • Homeless Coalition; Katie Steele will think about an appropriate contact
  • United Gravel
  • Zane McCallister at Grand River Mosquito Control District
  • Very ecosystem conscious; would be great to include to coordinate efforts to benefit the tamarisk leaf beetle
  • Private landowners along the river could work through NRCS, Mesa Land Trust
  • Work on the Dolores River could serve as a model for private landowner engagement
  • Landowners are responsible for their own land but through an MOU, landowners share a common vision and similar goals
  • Riverfront Commission planning/implementation could also serve as a model for how work can be prioritized and completed

Identification of Grand Valley Projects for Colorado Basin Roundtable (CBRT) Funding:

Background:

  • Other funding opportunities are available, however, focus in currently on the CBRT grant as it is due June 18th, 2012
  • CBRT can fund TC capacity and implementation on the ground.
  • Projects must also meet requirements laid out in Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) Tamarisk and Russian Olive (TRO) grant program
  • TC can’t apply fom TRO grant program, but we can work with landowners to determine eligibility
  • 15% match needed; can be counted back to Dec 2011. There are no restrictions on match source.
  • Project monitoring and maintenance are required grant components.

Project Selection for Funding:

  • Many partners suggested that it would be helpful to have a list of priority projects to select from; want to avoid piecemeal approach
  • ACOE Report could be a starting point
  • One meeting attendee suggested dividing the river into sections and then creating a table with potential projects, treatments, funding sources, and partners
  • Partners stressed the need for monitoring and maintenance funding
  • Partners want to avoid problems encountered in the past (e.g. tamarisk re-growth after removal due to limited maintenance funding)
  • Willing landowner(s) is/are key consideration

Specific Project Ideas/Needs:

After discussion, the group selected top priorities to be considered for funding through the current CBRT granting process. These projects are bolded.

  • Cottonwood fencing from beaver predation at Audubon’s Ela Property
  • Riverbend Park in Palisade – revegetation and bank stabilization work
  • Jarvis Island and associated pond (5th Street Bridge Complex) – invasives control and revegetation
  • Connected Lakes State Park - invasives control and revegetation
  • Redlands Parkway sites (City of Grand Junction and Mesa County sites)
  • Watson Island revegetation
  • Walter Walker backwater habitat creation
  • Private landowners in Palisade have expressed a desire to conduct work on their land
  • Secondary weed control is a need at several locations
  • Plant materials development
  • Project coordination support

Concerns:

  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife is concerned about implementing the projects they are working on under the Basin States Parallel Program; have limited staff to take on additional work
  • Currently not in Walter Walker backwater creation project; can revisit as later date
  • Baseline data collection should be a consideration prior to project implementation

Follow-up & Next Meeting Considerations:

  • TC will complete CBRT grant. Projects that were bolded above will be described in the grant
  • TC will work with partners to complete application, including match contribution information
  • Completed application will be send to partners for review
  • Next meeting tentatively set for July 18, 2012 from 9-12
  • Topics to include:
  • Project scope and partner responsibilities
  • MOU development
  • Short –and long-term project prioritization for additional grant funding
  • If available, bring management plans that may help to guide discussion
  • Plant materials development
  • Permitting needs

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