This year’s recipients of the Yampa River Fund have been announced. Five projects are receiving grant money totaling $204,125.
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. Twenty-one members are on the founding board. They represent local governments, community and statewide nonprofits, businesses, water providers, and irrigation districts.
From Friends of the Yampa:
As with each of the four previous years, the Yampa River Fund is providing funding to help ensure additional flows are available in late summer from Stagecoach Reservoir as needed. We saw last year how a significant snowpack does not necessarily prevent low river flows in late summer, and so we will be eager to see how the spring and early summer weather contributes to runoff conditions in the river. The River Fund is also contributing to a floodplain planning project downstream of Steamboat Springs and a bank stabilization and riparian restoration project in that area. Two other projects will improve irrigation diversion infrastructure while incorporating techniques to encourage environmental and recreational improvements.
“Word has gotten out and we are seeing a broad range of important projects applying for Yampa River Fund grants. We believe this critical funding source can help facilitate the types of projects that improve the health of the river for the benefit of us all.” said Mike Robertson, Yampa River Fund manager for Friends of the Yampa.
More information is at YampaRiverFund.org
Here’s the list of the five projects and those receiving the grants.
Feasibility Study, Modeling, and Planning for Yampa River Habitat Connectivity in Morgan Bottom – Friends of the Yampa
This project will conduct planning to reconnect the Yampa River to its floodplain and improve terrestrial and aquatic habitat, beginning on the Yampavian Ranch and continuing westward. Specific activities include engaging landowners, conducting hydraulic modeling, and developing a conceptual design for habitat connectivity in support of holistic riparian and aquatic health.
Flanders Ranch Habitat Improvement Project – Trout Unlimited
Funding will go toward bank stabilization and riparian restoration work on a 600-foot eroding bank of the Yampa River between Hayden and Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Riparian vegetation will be planted on over an acre of land to help encourage revegetation of the disturbed site. This project will help the landowner retain valuable land from further erosion and improve water quality by reducing excess sediments in the river.
Nickell Diversion and Riparian Restoration – Community Agriculture Alliance
This project plans to install a permanent stop log diversion at the Nickell Ditch. This will also include riparian restoration just above the installed diversion, combining bank grading with tree planting and other techniques.
Duquette Diversion Planning Phase – Community Agriculture Alliance
This Yampa River Fund grant award will be used to start the planning process and development of alternatives for the Duquette Ditch Diversion just downstream of Steamboat Springs. The project will also include riparian restoration on the centennial Stanko Ranch.