The Yampa River Fund has announced this year’s grant recipients. Four grants totaled $166,141. They were awarded for projects that benefit the Yampa River and its tributaries. They are the 2023 Yampa River Environmental Release Project from Colorado Water Trust, the Landowner Outreach for Coordinated Projects to Improve River Health and the Norvell Infrastructure Improvements Project with Community Agriculture Alliance, and the Shelton Ditch Headgate Project.
Friends of the Yampa Press Release; June 26, 2023.
Yampa River Fund Announces 2023 grants
The Yampa River Fund Steering Committee has announced its grant recipients for 2023. Now in its fourth year of operation, the River Fund is building on the success of the previous grant cycles to create a healthier future for the Yampa River as a vital component of northwest Colorado’s lifestyle and economy.
Four grants totaling $166,141 were awarded to entities for projects that benefit the river and its tributaries. This year, unlike the last several years, substantial runoff has provided excellent conditions in the river, but if conditions change, funds will be available to bolster river levels and reduce temperatures late in the summer and fall. In addition, the River Fund is partnering with the Community Agriculture Alliance to create a new community outreach position focused on landowner engagement to help identify additional opportunities to improve river health with interested private property owner partners. The River Fund is also providing support to two infrastructure improvement projects that will replace failing agricultural diversion headgates that will help improve efficiencies and reduce water waste.
“The Yampa River Fund continues to provide critical funding for a wide range of projects that benefit the river and its diverse group of stakeholders. We all benefit from a healthy flowing river and I look forward to seeing these new projects get underway,” said Mike Robertson, Yampa River Fund manager for Friends of the Yampa.
The four projects and grantees chosen are:
2023 Yampa River Environmental Release Program – Colorado Water Trust
The Colorado Water Trust has a contract with the Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District to store and strategically release up to 5,100 acre-feet of water from Stagecoach Reservoir in 2023. During weekly coordination calls with a working group of stakeholders, CWT staff will determine appropriate release rates and timing to ensure maximum benefit and administration of releases. The Yampa River Fund will contribute funding to support any releases that may be required in 2023.
Landowner Outreach for Coordinated Projects to Improve River Health – Community Agriculture Alliance
Funds from the Yampa River Fund will contribute to creating a new Outreach Coordinator position to engage landowners and build capacity to develop and implement coordinated river projects that focus on a balanced river system and riparian function that improve river health. This work will build on prior stakeholder engagement efforts and help expedite local project development opportunities.
Norvell Infrastructure Improvements Project – Community Agriculture Alliance
Funding will go toward replacing an aging headgate that sends water from Elkhead Creek down a four-mile ditch where multiple owners irrigate over 600 acres of crops. In addition to ensuring the continued supply of water to local agricultural producers, this project will improve safety related to maintenance of the structure. Replacement will also provide improved efficiency of water use with a greater ability to fully seal during low flow periods and ensure flow releases for environmental benefit from Elkhead Reservoir can pass the diversion to support endangered fishes as intended.
Shelton Ditch Headgate Project – Shelton Ditch Company
Funding provided for this project will go toward replacing an aging headgate that is in danger of failing. A new headgate will provide a consistent flow of water with which to irrigate crops and water livestock along the approximately six miles in length. There is also municipal water use from this ditch for enhancing parks and open space. After implementing the critical replacement of the headgate this year, the ditch company intends to further improve this diversion from the Yampa River with a permanent structure that that will eliminate the need for creating a temporary push up dam each year that disturbs the ecosystem of the river and impacts recreational use opportunities for fishermen and boaters.
“The Fund continues to receive excellent projects in response to the RFPs and this year was no different ,” said Jackie Brown, chair of the Yampa River Fund Board. “The Yampa River Fund is doing what it was designed to do – improve the river’s health and support the communities that depend on it. The Fund continued to prioritize flows in the event that late summer brings dry conditions, and funded an agricultural diversion, and capacity for supporting our ag community as they design and replace aging infrastructure. This year, the Fund will host a strategic planning session so we can fine tune our processes and continue meeting the broad needs of our river valley.”
The Yampa River Fund was launched in September 2019 to provide a sustainable, voluntary funding source for the Yampa River to enhance water security and support a healthy, flowing river by enhancing critical low flows, and maintaining or improving river function through a holistic approach to restoration of habitat.
The Fund is governed by a 21-member founding Board representing local governments, community and statewide NGOs, businesses, water providers and irrigation districts.
More information on the Yampa River Fund can be found at yampariverfund.org.