Colorado Landowner`s Guide to Stream Restoration

“We’re only here as stewards
of the land for a little while.
The land is here always.
We’re just caretakers during
our lifetime — then pass it on
to another generation.
So we need to leave the land
in some sort of useful manner …”
— Rancher Bruce Malcolm
Con t ent s
The Importance of Stream Stewardship
3
Characteristics of Degraded Streams
4
Characteristics of Healthy Streams 6
Stream Restoration:The Big Picture
8
Healthy Streams = Healthy Land
9
Problem: Fish Barriers
10
Problem: Fish Entrainment
12
Problem: Degraded Riparian Zone
14
Problem: Loss of Instream Habitat
16
Problem: Low Flows
20
Water Partners:
Working with Trout Unlimited
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C o l o r a d o L a n d ow n e r ’ s G u i d e to S t r e a m R e s to r at i o n
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The role of the landowner
in protecting fish and wildlife
has never been more important.
The Importance of
Stream Stewardship
In the arid West, farmers and ranchers understand that water is the
lifeblood of the land. They also understand and value stewardship. Most
landowners want to conserve their water and land resources and leave
them in better shape for the next generation.
Today, that’s a big challenge. Rivers and streams in Colorado face an array
of pressures, from drought and land development to water diversions. As
a result, many streams and fisheries are damaged and depleted. Because
so much habitat is found on private land, the role of the landowner in
protecting fish and wildlife resources and promoting conservation has
never been more important.
Conservation is not just the right thing to do — it’s also good business. By
investing in stream improvements and wildlife habitat, landowners
can enhance their property values and bottom lines. Such projects
can deliver multiple benefits, including more abundant wildlife, better
irrigation systems, and enhanced land values. Often, federal and state
resource agencies and groups like Trout Unlimited will work to bring
funding to these projects, while landowners contribute in-kind support,
such as labor, materials, or machinery.
Trout Unlimited is a sportsmen’s organization committed to the conservation of America’s coldwater fisheries. In recent decades, TU has
partnered with farmers and ranchers on scores of successful stream
restoration projects. In this guide, TU highlights common problems
facing Colorado streams and fisheries and outlines some of the best
restoration solutions available to landowners.
A stream restoration project can be exciting and rewarding — and sometimes complex and daunting, too. Stream restoration efforts are not
as simple as adding a few rocks or digging a few pools. However, if
well-planned and coordinated, a stream restoration project can be one
of the most satisfying improvement projects you’ll ever undertake on
your land.
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Photo: Shutterstock
In the West, world-class trout streams are part of our outdoor heritage. Restoring a trout stream is a fascinating and meaningful
experience — and a lasting legacy to family and future generations. This
guide highlights the possibilities. TU can help you make it happen.
Characteristics of
Degraded Streams
Fish Entr ainment
Fish can be drawn into open
irrigation ditches, where they
can be trapped. See page 12.
F i s h B a rri e r s
An irrigation diversion dam
can block fish from migrating
upstream. See page 10.
Lo s s o f I n s t r e a m
H a bi tat
An absence of riffles, pools and
structures such as logs and
boulders can decrease
the quality of fish habitat.
See page 16.
A wide range of activities have the
potential to disrupt the natural balance
of stream systems. Every stream is
different, but the presence of any of the
following characteristics can indicate
that a stream is degraded and failing to
function at its optimal level.
D e gr a d e d
R ipa ri a n Zo n e
Heavy livestock grazing can
lead to bare stream banks
and a degraded riparian
corridor. See page 14.
Low F low s
Low stream flows can
minimize fish habitat and
increase water temperatures.
See page 20.
Illustration: John Roman
Characteristics of
Healthy Streams
Fish Entr ainment
Prevented
Headgates and fish screens
can prevent fish entrainment
and improve control over
water use. See page 12.
F i s h B a rri e r s
R e m ov e d
Diversion structures can be
modified to allow fish passage.
See page 10.
I n s t r e a m H a bi tat
R e s to r e d
Riffles, pools and instream
structure provide habitat and
cover for fish. See page 16.
A healthy stream is a complex biological
system that provides habitat for fish
and wildlife and a host of other benefits
for the landowner. While a healthy
stream will look and function differently
depending on location and landscape,
most healthy streams share these basic
characteristics:
R ipa ri a n Zo n e
P r ot e c t e d
Fences can exclude livestock
from the stream and help
maintain a healthy riparian
corridor. See page 14.
S t r e a m F low s
I mpr ov e d
Ample stream flows can
provide quality fish habitat
and cool water temperatures.
See page 20.
Illustration: John Roman
Stream Restoration:
The Big Picture
Many rivers and streams across the West—and the wildlife and communities that depend on them—are in trouble. Over the decades, pressures
ranging from municipal growth to irrigation practices have degraded,
fragmented or seasonally dried some waterways. Stream restoration is
the art and science of returning those damaged streams to health.
Today, a growing number of landowners and communities are getting
involved in projects to improve stream function. Stream restoration
provides landowners an opportunity not only to enhance wildlife habitat,
but also to improve range health, upgrade irrigation systems, or modify
land management practices.
R e s to r e d F low s
a n d R e c o n s t ruc t e d
Stream Channel
On this project, TU worked with
the landowner to convert a flood
irrigation operation to sprinklers.
The result: less water diverted from
the stream while ranch productivity
increased. Within one week of
project completion, trout were
spawning in the restored stream.
Before
After
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Healthy Streams =
Healthy Land
Healthy streams are perhaps the most valuable assets on a ranch or farm.
Not only do streams supply water for crops and livestock, but they also
recharge groundwater, dissipate flood flows, filter sediment and pollutants, and help prevent property loss from erosion. Fixing streams today
will provide immediate on-farm and on-ranch benefits while helping to
preserve the West’s natural heritage for generations to come.
The following pages discuss some of the most common stream problems
and solutions that can be used to address them.
H a n d s - Off :
A passive restoration
technique—for example,
fencing to exclude cattle—
is designed to facilitate
natural recovery of habitat.
`
H a n d s - o n o r h a n d s - o ff ?
Photo: USDA/NRCS
Stream restoration approaches vary depending on how impaired
the stream and how ambitious the goal. Generally speaking,
stream restoration techniques can be categorized as active or
passive—hands-on or hands-off. Both have their place, depending
on circumstances and conditions on the ground. Some projects use
a combination of passive and active restoration techniques.
In passive restoration, Mother Nature does most of the healing
over time. This approach involves stopping activities that cause
degradation and allowing natural processes to return to a stream.
For example, a landowner might change land use in the watershed
to prevent soil erosion and increase water infiltration or manage
cattle to protect stream banks and vegetation.
In contrast, active restoration techniques physically manipulate
components of the stream ecosystem to reestablish the natural
balance. For instance, active restoration might involve placement
of boulders and logs in the stream, planting native vegetation in
the riparian area, or stabilizing eroded banks. With both hands-on
and hands-off techniques, the ultimate objective is to jump-start
restoration and then allow the stream to do the rest.
Hands -On :
With some projects, it is
necessary to more actively
restore the stream.
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Problem:
Fish Barriers
Often, culverts, dams and water diversion structures act as barriers that
fragment habitat and prevent fish from accessing upstream areas. Many
of these structures are obsolete and could be removed; others could be
retrofitted or redesigned to accommodate fish passage. The removal or
modification of a single diversion structure can open miles of habitat
for fish populations.
Even a low diversion dam
such as this one can block
fish passage.
Solutio n:
Culvert Removal or Modification
Culverts are one of the most common and easily overlooked fish passage
problems—and one of the most easily fixed. Sometimes old culverts can
simply be removed because they are no longer required. In other cases,
an old culvert can be replaced with a modern design that allows fish
passage. TU has worked on countless projects where old pipe culverts
were replaced with “bottomless” new arch-culverts or new bridges that
eliminated the culverts altogether.
Before
After
On this old bridge structure with culverts, a
large drop-off had formed over the years, and
fish could not access upstream habitat and
spawning areas.
In this case, the best solution was to
completely remove the old structure and
replace it with a new bridge that allowed
for restoration of the natural streambed.
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P ro blem: Fi sh B a rrier s
A fish ladder allows fish to get
past the diversion structure.
S o lut i o n :
Fish Ladders
Fish ladders allow fish to swim through or around
obstacles like culverts, dams and diversions. Ladders
are designed to create a gradient passageway to allow
fish access to upstream habitat.
S o lut i o n :
Dam or Diversion Removal
In many cases, an outmoded diversion can be replaced
with a modern design that facilitates fish passage. Instead of an impassable dam, for instance, it may be
possible to install a series of rock weirs, structures
that elevate water levels and create head to move
water into a ditch while allowing fish passage.
Rock weirs raise water level and move water
into the ditch without blocking fish passage.
Benefits to landowners:
vv Properly sized culverts help minimize erosion
downstream, and they last longer and require less
maintenance than undersized culverts. They also
minimize catastrophic flooding, which is much
more likely to result from undersized culverts.
vv Modern headgates and diversions are more efficient and often require less maintenance and
labor than antiquated structures. Unlike traditional push-up dams, newer diversions eliminate
the need for annual dam construction, which can
cause channel disturbance and degrade water
quality.
vv Reconnecting stream stretches lets fish find the
best habitat to spawn and rear and also escape
stretches impaired by low flows and high temperatures. This enhances the fishery and angling
opportunities.
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P roblem:
Fish Entrainment
Photo: Mark Conlin
The unintentional loss of fish down an irrigation ditch during water
diversion — otherwise known as fish entrainment — is a real threat to
fish populations in the western United States. When water is diverted
from streams, trout often follow the diverted flows and become trapped
in ditches. The problem is especially prevalent when a high percentage
of stream flow is diverted into the ditch.
Trout trapped in
an irrigation canal.
Solu t ion:
Fish Screens
No one knows for sure how many
wild and native fish are trapped
each year in the West’s thousands
of miles of irrigation ditches, but
the figure is likely in the millions.
Fish screens are an effective way to prevent fish from
entering irrigation ditches. Fish screens allow water
to pass into the ditch but keep fish out. A fish screen is
often installed at or near an irrigation system’s headgate, where the irrigation flows are controlled. Some
designs, while effective, can require maintenance to
keep the screens free of sediment and debris.
Fish screens keep fish from becoming
trapped in irrigation ditches.
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Trout Unlimited
Photo: USDA/NRCS
TU volunteer holds a beautiful
brown trout rescued from an
irrigation canal.
P roblem: Fish E ntr a i nm ent
S o lut i o n :
Slow the Shutoff
day
1
day
2
Photo: istock
For fish that have already moved into the ditch, it is possible to induce
them to reenter the natural stream or river by gradually reducing ditch
diversions. With this technique, landowners can save significant numbers
of trout that would otherwise perish if flows in the ditch had been shut
off suddenly. It is best to reduce diversions gradually over several days
before completely closing the diversion.
day
3
Illustration: Jeremy Carlson
Benefits to landowners:
vv Fish screens can help keep debris out of irrigation ditches and can
reduce maintenance time and costs.
vv Prevention of entrainment keeps fish in the natural river or stream
thereby improving the fishery and angling opportunities.
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Degraded
Riparian Zone
P roblem:
Photo: Ecological Resource Consultants
The riparian zone is the strip of land adjacent to the stream. Typically
wet and lush with vegetation, these green zones are an important element of fish and wildlife habitat. Among other things, a healthy riparian
zone provides shade and cover for the stream, keeps water cooler, guards
against erosion, filters out sediment and other pollutants before they
reach the stream, and provides habitat for insects that fall into the water
providing a critical food source for fish.
Pasture has been extended
right up to the stream bank,
eliminating the riparian area.
Human activity can negatively impact the riparian zone. In some areas, it
is common to remove riparian vegetation, often to the stream’s edge, to
create more agriculturally productive land. The loss of vegetation weakens
stream bank structure, lowers the water table and can lead to erosion
during high flows. Giving livestock unrestricted access to a stream often
results in silted water, eroded banks, nutrient loading from livestock
waste, and loss of riparian vegetation and stream habitat.
Solu t ion:
Exclusionary Fencing
Photo: Warren Colyer
Exclusionary fencing can restrict livestock access
to the stream and prevent riparian damage. Offstream stock water tanks provide an alternative water
source.
W h at a diff e r e n c e
a fence makes.
In the foreground of this photo, cattle have free
access to the stream, resulting in a wide channel
and warm, muddy water. There is no cattle
access to the upstream area.
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Trout Unlimited
Bank Stabilization
These plantings are performing
two tasks: they are stabilizing
the stream bank and jumpstarting revegetation.
There are a number of techniques for stabilizing
eroded banks. Vertical banks can be re-sloped, and
woody material can be placed on banks to reduce
erosion and improve habitat. Note that the old technique of using rock riprap to “armor” a streambank
can lead to even greater problems and is generally
discouraged these days.
S o lut i o n :
Photo: Ecological Resource Consultants
Riparian Vegetation
Native vegetation is an important piece of a healthy
riparian zone. Often, native plant species in riparian
areas can restore themselves if invasive non-native
plants are controlled and if sources of disturbance,
such as livestock grazing, are managed. Sometimes it
is necessary to jumpstart the native plant revegetation process with plantings.
Benefits to landowners:
vv Riparian areas improve scenic and land values.
G r e e n zo n e s : h ow wid e ?
Optimal width for a riparian buffer
depends to a large extent on your land use.
A cropped area might require a different
buffer width than a well-maintained
pasture area. Different buffer widths can
deliver different stream benefits. For
example, wide buffers (>160 feet) tend to
be more effective at removing nutrients
and sediment than narrow buffers (<160
feet). A minimal buffer of 30 feet will
provide some benefit to stream bank
stability and riparian health.
vv Stabilizing banks will reduce land loss from erosion.
vv Healthy vegetation promotes groundwater recharge and reduces floodwater damage.
vv Improved habitat can contribute to better temperatures and sediment control for miles downstream of a project area, thereby enhancing the
fishery and angling opportunities.
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P roble m: D egra ded Ripa ria n Z o ne
S o lut i o n :
P roblem:
Loss of
Instream Habitat
Fish need healthy instream habitat to thrive. The best trout habitat is
characterized by clear, cold water, a silt-free rocky bottom, and a combination of shallow riffles and deeper pools. It also features abundant
instream cover such as logs, debris piles, boulders, and overhanging
banks, trees and bushes. These stream characteristics provide the necessary protection, forage, and spawning and rearing habitat for trout of
all life-stages.
Photos: Ecological Resource Consultants
A number of activities, such as road construction, stream straightening,
logging, dewatering, urbanization, mining, grazing, and dumping can
degrade streams and lead to a loss of the habitat needed for healthy
fisheries.
Before
After
This stream has become too wide and
featureless, leaving the channel shallow
and absent of cover for fish.
The stream channel was narrowed by
building a point bar, and boulders were
placed in the stream for habitat structure.
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Trout Unlimited
Proble m: L o ss o f instr ea m h a bitat
S o lut i o n :
Rebuilding the Channel
A
Restoration of instream habitat can occur through a
variety of methods and techniques. Generally, the primary goal of instream habitat restoration is to restore
natural, healthy stream functions and increase habitat
complexity with pools and structure. Sometimes a
stream has been so degraded that it’s necessary to bring
in heavy machinery to reshape the stream channel.
A
Photo: Ecological Resource Consultants
Some common stream features that can be restored
include:
B
R iffl e s a n d p o o l s
Most healthy trout streams have alternating deep
and shallow areas called pools and riffles. A quality
pool is deep and large enough to slow water velocity
and provide a resting area for adult trout. Riffles are
characterized by faster, shallow water tumbling over
rough cobble. They help provide oxygen and insect
habitat to the stream.
B
C
B o uld e r clu s t e r s
Groups of boulders can be placed in the
channel to provide cover and create areas of reduced
water velocity.
C
Wo o dy H a bi tat S t ruc t ur e
D
Photo: Ecological Resource Consultants
Felled trees placed along the stream bank and in the
stream can provide a variety of benefits, including
overhead cover, aquatic organism habitat, and stream
current deflection. Trees are typically positioned on
or partially buried within the stream bank.
D
Stream meanders
Healthy streams normally include meanders or bends
in the river. It is possible to transform a straightened
stream back into a meandering one to diversify the
stream and improve channel stability, water quality,
and other stream functions.
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P ro blem : L o ss o f instre a m ha bitat
Before
This small stream had been
channelized over the years,
leaving it as little more
than a ditch with no
vegetation. TU worked with
the landowner to rebuild
the stream channel and
plant riparian vegetation.
The results are dramatic
and continue to improve
annually.
After
Benefits to landowners:
vv Stream channel improvements will reduce bank erosion
and improve water quality and aquifer recharge.
vv Improved habitat helps restore a variety of important stream functions enhancing the fishery and angling opportunities.
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P roblem:
Low Flows
Trout depend on a constant supply of clean, cold water. In Colorado,
natural stream flow patterns consist of higher peak flows during the
spring and lower base flows during the remainder of the year. Both are
critical to stream health. Peak flows flush sediment, scour the stream
bed, and rejuvenate aquatic habitat. Base flows sustain fish and aquatic
organisms throughout the year.
Whether the result of drought, irrigation withdrawals, or other causes,
low stream flows can be a serious problem for fisheries and stream health.
Low flows reduce oxygen in the water, raise stream temperatures, and
eliminate fish habitat. Water diversions that pull water from streams
during low-flow periods can be especially damaging.
C o lo r a d o Wat e r R igh t s
In Colorado, water rights govern the use of water. Water
rights are transferable property interests. This means that
the water right owner can change the type or place of use
of the water right and can sell, lease or donate the water
right to someone else.
A water right owner can change or transfer a water right
only by the amount of water historically consumed. For
irrigation water rights, consumptive use consists of water
consumed by the plant and evaporated to the atmosphere,
known collectively as evapo-transpiration. Water that is
diverted but that returns to the stream or aquifer by way of
ditch seepage or irrigation return flow is not transferable. In
water transfers, return flow must be maintained in order to
prevent injury to other water users.
Colorado law will terminate a water right only if the water
right owner stops using it and clearly has no intent to use it
again. Temporarily stopping the use of a water right will not
result in abandonment.
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Trout Unlimited
P ro blem : L ow Fl ow s
Before
S o lut i o n :
CWCB Instream
Flow Program
Instream flow water rights allow the Colorado Water
Conservation Board to protect a specified amount
of water, measured in cfs, flowing instream for the
benefit of fish and wildlife habitat. The CWCB has
exclusive authority in the State of Colorado to hold
instream flow water rights.
The CWCB can acquire existing, senior water rights
from willing water rights owners for conversion to
instream flow. On a voluntary basis, the CWCB will
purchase, lease or accept the donation of an existing
water right currently used for irrigation and use it
to protect instream flow.
Instream flow water rights transactions can be permanent or temporary. Temporary transactions can
be for a specified number of years or for specified
months out of the year. For example, an irrigator
could make a split-year lease to the CWCB, allowing the irrigator to use water for the first half of
the irrigation season and the CWCB to protect it
as instream flow during the late irrigation season.
Leases can also be set up so that they go into place
only during dry years, when fish are most likely to
be exposed to low flows.
After
A little water can go a long way for fish
habitat. This stretch of stream was
completely dewatered by irrigation
diversions, but with some efficiency
upgrades, the stream now has enough flow
year-round to keep fish populations alive.
A water right owner must reduce consumption to
make water available for an instream flow transaction. One way to achieve a reduction in consumptive
use is to fallow a parcel of irrigated land, permanently
or temporarily – even for only half an irrigation season. It is also possible
to reduce consumptive use by switching to a less consumptive crop or
applying deficit irrigation techniques, which involve reducing the amount
of water the crops receive.
It’s important to note that under instream flow leases, the original
water right owner retains ownership of the water right. The period
of time that the CWCB uses the water as instream flow does not count
towards calculation of historical consumptive use and will not be considered intent to abandon the water right. Though the CWCB uses the
water as instream flow for some specified period of time, the water
right reverts to the original owner at the end of the lease or when
the lease is not active.
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P ro blem : L ow Fl ow s
Solu t ion:
Efficiency Improvements
Many agricultural producers in Colorado are undertaking irrigation efficiency improvement projects.
With efficiency improvements, the irrigator may be
able to divert less water from the stream while still
delivering the amount of water the crop demands.
Efficiency improvements do not change the amount
of water the plants receive. They just reduce diversion requirements.
While efficiency improvements can be a tool for improving flows, it is important to consider each project
on a case-by-case basis. In some instances, efficiency
improvements can reduce beneficial return flows.
Efficiency improvements should not be undertaken
where they will reduce return flows that other water
users depend on or that bolster stream flows for fish
in the late irrigation season.
The following types of efficiency projects can be considered:
Photo: Shutterstock
Th e D i v e r s i o n
Many older diversion structures in Colorado are inefficient and have limited functionality. Push-up dams,
for example, may do a fine job of directing water into
the ditch, but they often have little or no adjustability. These structures may force the entire flow
of a stream into a ditch, even when much less water
is needed. In these circumstances, the unneeded
water is not consumed and will eventually return
to the stream. But the stream section between the
diversion and the point of return will be depleted.
Modern headgates are much easier to adjust and can
be set to divert only the amount of water that the
crops needs. New technology also allows diversions
to be set and operated remotely.
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Trout Unlimited
P ro blem : L ow Fl ow s
Th e D i tch
Many irrigation ditches are open and lose large quantities of water as it seeps into the ground or is lost
to evaporation. This water eventually returns to the
stream system, but the stream will be depleted between the point of diversion and point of return.
Lining an open ditch with an impervious surface
or converting it to a pipe can reduce seepage. The
water that would otherwise have seeped into the
ground can be left instream instead. Lateral ditch
headgates and head control structures also can reduce the amount of carriage water that needs to be
diverted into the ditch.
Th e F i e ld
Photo: Ecoprint / Shutterstock
At the field, technologies such as sprinklers, gated
pipe and drip irrigation systems are popular ways
to improve water efficiency. Switching from flood
irrigation to a sprinkler or drip delivery system, for
instance, can reduce the amount of water that seeps
into the ground or evaporates to the air. Leveling
a field can also reduce run-off. In these cases, the
excess water that otherwise would have run off or
seeped into the ground can be left in the stream.
Improvements to irrigation systems can also benefit
soil health, which can result in improved yields.
Benefits to Landowners
vv The landowner can receive cash payment for selling or leasing water to the CWCB.
vv In some cases, temporarily fallowing a field can
increase its productivity in subsequent years.
vv The water right converted to instream flow is
protected against loss of consumptive use credit
and against abandonment.
vv Modern irrigation infrastructure is easier to operate and maintain than older systems and can
produce a more manageable crop.
vv Reducing waste water run-off can minimize erosion and limit unwanted invasive species.
vv Increasing stream flows can improve aquatic habitat, thereby enhancing the fishery and angling
opportunities.
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TU members brave the cold to help build
fence along a stream on ranch property.
Water Partners:
Working with
Trout Unlimited
So, how to get started? The first step is to call Trout Unlimited. TU staff
specialize in working with landowners on stream improvements projects. Over the decades, TU has amassed a long track record of success on
scores of projects across the West. TU staff will work with you through
every step of a project, from evaluating opportunities, to implementing the project, to performing any necessary post-project monitoring
or maintenance.
Typically, TU brings together local and state agencies, water districts,
and other project partners as needed to leverage resources and expertise.
Depending on the project, we will hire outside experts to lend a hand
with design and engineering issues. TU attorneys can address permitting
and water rights concerns to protect your most valuable resource.
TU volunteers help plant
willows along a stream bank.
The price tag attached to stream restoration projects can vary widely. A
simple project may cost only a few thousand dollars, while bigger, more
complex projects can run upwards of seven figures. Trout Unlimited
often will have small sums of money available to seed a project, but as a
non-profit organization we do not have the capacity
to fund these projects completely on our own. We are
At all times, the landowner
adept, however, at finding other pools of money to
pay for stream restoration projects.
remains in the driver’s seat
There are a number of different sources of funds availand makes
able to pay for stream restoration projects. Many
governmental agencies at the federal, state, and local
level sponsor grant programs that make funding available for stream
restoration. It is also sometimes possible to find private foundation dollars for projects. Which sources of funds may be available will depend on
the particular details of the project. Trout Unlimited can help you work
through the options and will file applications and deal with paperwork
for project grants.
final decisions.
While TU will bring stream restoration expertise to the table, we understand that, as a landowner, you know your land and operation better
than anyone. At all times, the landowner remains in the driver’s seat
and makes final decisions. This principle lies at the core of every stream
restoration project we undertake.
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If you’re interested in a stream restoration
project on your land, Trout Unlimited is here
to help.
For many landowners, this is a fulfilling way
to improve operations, boost land values, and
practice stewardship. We have the expertise,
passion, and resources to get the job done right.
Please give us a call for more information.
Contact Us
F i e ld s ta ff
Trout Unlimited
Colorado Water Project
Drew Peternell
Director, Colorado Water Project
(303) 440-2937 ext. 102
[email protected]
Matthew Clark
Dolores/Mancos Basin Project Coordinator
(970) 799-0274
[email protected]
Cary Denison
Gunnison Basin Project Coordinator
(970) 596-3291
[email protected]
Rob Firth
Upper Colorado Basin Project Coordinator
(970) 531-3939
[email protected]
Brian Hodge
Yampa/White Basin Project Coordinator
(970) 846-0414
[email protected]
Richard Van Gytenbeek
(970) 314-2050
Colorado River Basin Outreach Coordinator [email protected]
All photos by Trout Unlimited unless otherwise noted.
Design: Jeremy Carlson
Printed on New Leaf Reincarnation Matte: 100% recycled, 50% post-consumer, processed chlorine free.