100,000 acres of Wetlands and only Seven Inches of Rain?

The Rio Grande

A Critical Life Source for Wildlife and Agriculture

Surrounded by the stunning 14,000-foot snow-capped peaks of the San Juan mountains, the San Luis Valley is a place of captivating natural beauty. At an elevation of 7,500 feet above sea level, it is the largest alpine valley in the world and the source of the Rio Grande River. 

Staff monitoring project success | Photo provided by Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project

As the mountains’ snow-melt flows to the valley floor, clear, icy waters feed rivers and streams, many of which have been designated as Gold Medal habitat for brown and rainbow trout. 

Wetlands Act as a Sponge, Slowing and Spreading Fresh Water

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages three separate wildlife refuges in the San Luis Valley, encompassing over 100,000 acres of wetlands which serve as prime habitat for a huge variety of fish, mammals and birds. Elk, deer, porcupines and beavers thrive where these wetlands naturally filter and distribute water. Migratory birds like the Sandhill crane depend on these lands to provide the food and shelter needed to sustain their voyages north in the spring and south in the fall. 

The San Luis Valley is also home to many people, some of whom have farmed or ranched the valley for generations, growing renowned and high-quality hay, potatoes, quinoa and spinach. 

This High Alpine Desert Gets Less than Seven Inches of Annual Rainfall a Year

Restoring streams and wetlands and rehabilitating water infrastructure across the Rio Grande watershed grows more urgent every year as multi-year drought shrinks annual snowpack and farmers and ranchers face hotter and dryer conditions. 

In this arid landscape, crops are reliant on melting snow to feed the Rio Grande and all its connected aquifers, wetlands and streams. Farmers and ranchers rely on functional ditch infrastructure to deliver water to cropland. Aging and inefficient ditch equipment makes it challenging for ag producers to meet local water conservation goals. 

It’s Time to Act

That’s why Forever Our Rivers joined partnership with the Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project to aid the Conejos River, the largest tributary to the Rio Grande in Colorado.  They work locally with ditch water users the Conejos Water Conservancy District, CO Parks and Wildlife, CO Division of Water resources and multiple landowners.  “Many of the river’s stressors are interrelated and share the same cause,” said Daniel Boyd, executive director of the Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project.

Understanding our Interconnectedness Helps us find Solutions

“Many of the river’s stressors are interrelated and share the same cause,” said Daniel Boyd, executive director of the Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project.

Whole communities — including people like you — can work together to improve wildlife habitat and increase the reliability of irrigation water. “This project was a godsend”, said Jim Romero, Angustura Ditch water user and long-time local ag producer. “We were working with very old structures—maybe 70 years old. The new infrastructure really helped get water to our property. Now we just need a good snowpack this winter!” 

Daniel agreed. “Projects like this help our local rivers become more resilient to warmer climate conditions. It’s a win-win for the community”. 

If you’d like more information about projects like this, please contact Ann Johnston at Forever Our Rivers or Daniel Boyes at the Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project. 

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