GRAND VALLEY RESTORATION MEETING NOTES
JUNE 14TH 2012
MEETING ATTENDEES:
June 14th, 2012 - Meeting Attendance
Name
Barb Osmundson
Bill Noble
Derek Lovoi
Jeff Crane
Kathy Portner
Katie Steele
Peggy Bailey
Pete Firmin
Russell Knight
Season Martin
Shannon Hatch
Stacy Beaugh
Organization
E-Mail Address
US Fish & Wildlife Service
Barb_Osmundson@fws.gov
Audubon Society - Board Member
andrea@designkiln.com
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Derek.Lovoi@state.co.us
Colorado Watershed Assembly - Executive Director
jeffcrane@coloradowater.org
City of Grand Junction - Neighborhood Services Manager
kathyp@gjcity.org
Riverfront Commission
ksteele8118@msn.com
Tetra Tech - Sr. Project Manager
peggy.bailey@tetratech.com
CO Parks & Wildlife - James M. Robb/CO River State Park Manager
pete.firmin@state.co.us
USDA NRCS - Wildlife Biologist
Russell.Knight2@co.usda.gov
Tamarisk Coalition - Restoration Coordinator
smartin@tamariskcoalition.org
Tamarisk Coalition - Restoration Coordinator
shatch@tamariskcoalition.org
Tamarisk Coalition - Executive Director
sbeaugh@tamariskcoalition.org
Phone - Area Code (970)
243-2778 ext. 21
283-5100
210-7048
261-5043
244-1420
261-3118
453-6394
434-3388
243-5068 ex130
256-7400
256-7400
256-7400
MEETING PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
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Discuss options for moving forward with restoration projects in the Grand Valley, with emphasis on revegetation work
along the Colorado River and its tributaries
o Identify what has been done and what opportunities there are for the future
Tamarisk Coalition (TC) founded in 2002 as an outgrowth of the Riverfront Commission
o TC has hosted volunteer projects in the Grand Valley, worked on Watson Island, and has worked with Army Corp of
Engineers (USACE) to conduct planning for restoration
o TC recognized the USACE project as an opportunity to get resources on the ground for planning; potential existed
to acquire funding for on-the-ground project implementation
 USACE funding currently limited; at this time, there is no funding from them for project implementation
o TC currently has capacity to develop a collaborative process to implement restoration on the ground in the Grand
Valley
US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS PROJECT UPDATES:
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Season Martin provided background on the USACE 206 Project
o Minimal planning work still being completed by Tetra Tech
o Currently, funds are not available through the USACE for project implementation
o TC will continue to work with USACE; however, other opportunities for project implementation exist. TC would
like to work with partners to utilize those funding opportunities.
FORMATION OF A GRAND VALLEY COLLABORATIVE:
Facilitation:
 The group thinks that TC is the perfect organization to coordinate riparian restoration efforts in the Grand Valley
o TC can also provide technical assistance
o TC will be looking to each agency/landowner for support and project implementation
Scope:
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Additional discussions need to be held to define the scope of this initiative; add to agenda for next meeting
o Some suggested a smaller project footprint
 Many have limited staff/funding to complete additional projects
o Others suggested a larger focus, however, project prioritization was advocated
 Sites located in the public eye could help garner support from residents
 Water quality enhancement through invasives removal could attract 319 program funds; work on the
development of wetlands and riparian buffers
 May want to focus on selenium and salinity
o Salinity Control Program funding may be an option
 Bank stabilization also of concern
o Expansion of the project footprint to Colorado River tributaries could assist private landowners
 NRCS funds are more applicable to lands located off of the river corridor
Cooperative Watershed Management Program (lead by US Bureau of Reclamation) is pushing the development of
watershed partnership groups; funding opportunities should be available in the future (grant period open now).
Other groups/people to include?
o Homeless Coalition; Katie Steele will think about an appropriate contact
o United Gravel
o Zane McCallister at Grand River Mosquito Control District
 Very ecosystem conscious; would be great to include to coordinate efforts to benefit the tamarisk leaf
beetle
Private landowners along the river could work through NRCS, Mesa Land Trust
o Work on the Dolores River could serve as a model for private landowner engagement
 Landowners are responsible for their own land but through an MOU, landowners share a common vision
and similar goals
Riverfront Commission planning/implementation could also serve as a model for how work can be prioritized and
completed
IDENTIFICATION OF GRAND VALLEY PROJECTS FOR COLORADO BASIN ROUNDTABLE (CBRT) FUNDING:
Background:
 Other funding opportunities are available, however, focus in currently on the CBRT grant as it is due June 18th, 2012
 CBRT can fund TC capacity and implementation on the ground.
 Projects must also meet requirements laid out in Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) Tamarisk and Russian Olive
(TRO) grant program
 TC can’t apply fom TRO grant program, but we can work with landowners to determine eligibility
 15% match needed; can be counted back to Dec 2011. There are no restrictions on match source.
 Project monitoring and maintenance are required grant components.
Project Selection for Funding:
 Many partners suggested that it would be helpful to have a list of priority projects to select from; want to avoid piecemeal
approach
o ACOE Report could be a starting point
o One meeting attendee suggested dividing the river into sections and then creating a table with potential projects,
treatments, funding sources, and partners
 Partners stressed the need for monitoring and maintenance funding
o Partners want to avoid problems encountered in the past (e.g. tamarisk re-growth after removal due to limited
maintenance funding)
 Willing landowner(s) is/are key consideration
Specific Project Ideas/Needs:
After discussion, the group selected top priorities to be considered for funding through the current CBRT granting process. These
projects are bolded.
 Cottonwood fencing from beaver predation at Audubon’s Ela Property
 Riverbend Park in Palisade – revegetation and bank stabilization work
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Jarvis Island and associated pond (5th Street Bridge Complex) – invasives control and revegetation
Connected Lakes State Park - invasives control and revegetation
Redlands Parkway sites (City of Grand Junction and Mesa County sites)
Watson Island revegetation
Walter Walker backwater habitat creation
Private landowners in Palisade have expressed a desire to conduct work on their land
Secondary weed control is a need at several locations
Plant materials development
Project coordination support
Concerns:
 Colorado Parks and Wildlife is concerned about implementing the projects they are working on under the Basin States
Parallel Program; have limited staff to take on additional work
o Currently not in Walter Walker backwater creation project; can revisit as later date
 Baseline data collection should be a consideration prior to project implementation
FOLLOW-UP & NEXT MEETING CONSIDERATIONS:
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TC will complete CBRT grant. Projects that were bolded above will be described in the grant
o TC will work with partners to complete application, including match contribution information
o Completed application will be send to partners for review
Next meeting tentatively set for July 18, 2012 from 9-12
o Topics to include:
 Project scope and partner responsibilities
 MOU development
 Short –and long-term project prioritization for additional grant funding
 If available, bring management plans that may help to guide discussion
 Plant materials development
 Permitting needs
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