Planned biological monitoring and habitat restoration oversight in the Upper Colorado River

Planned biological monitoring and habitat restoration oversight in the Upper Colorado River

The upper Colorado River is an iconic drainage in Colorado that has been severely impacted by impoundments and reduced flows. Trans-basin and local water use divert approximately 67% of the flow of the upper Colorado River and future projects will deplete flows further. There are ongoing discussions on how to implement mitigation measures to reduce the impact of increased trans-basin water diversions. One component is to reduce effects of the diversions by taking Windy Gap Reservoir off channel and constructing a bypass around the reservoir. This would reconnect the river and ameliorate various impacts of a large, on channel impoundment but would not reduce the impacts of water withdrawals from the system. The planned bypass channel offers a unique opportunity to evaluate the effects reconnecting the river through the reservoir as well as investigate mitigation measures to offset the impacts of large water diversions on the ecology of the river. The objectives of these projects are to evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures in restoring and improving the ecological function of the upper Colorado River.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Habitat restoration

Biological monitoring

Upper Colorado River

Windy Gap Reservoir

4 pages

2020

Text

application/pdf

English