Coalition For The Poudre River Watershed

THE COALITION FOR THE POUDRE RIVER WATERSHED, LOCATED IN NORTHERN COLORADO, IS A NONPROFIT WATERSHED GROUP WORKING TO IMPROVE AND MAINTAIN THE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH OF THE POUDRE RIVER WATERSHED THROUGH COMMUNITY COLLABORATION. THE WATERSHED SPANS APPROXIMATELY 1,542 SQUARE MILES FROM THE HEADWATERS IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK TO ITS CONFLUENCE WITH THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER. THE HISTORIC FLOODPLAIN AREA AND ITS RIPARIAN HABITAT HAVE BEEN LOST OR BADLY DEGRADED BY GRAZING AND AGRICULTURE, GRAVEL-MINING, AND DEVELOPMENT. IN 2019, THE COALITION RECEIVED A WATERSMART COOPERATIVE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROGRAM PHASE I GRANT TO EXPAND THEIR LOWER POUDRE STEERING COMMITTEE, INCREASE LOWER WATERSHED ENGAGEMENT, AND COMPLETE APPROXIMATELY 30% DESIGN FOR A PRIORITY RESTORATION PROJECT. THIS GRANT WILL EXPAND UPON THEIR EXISTING ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH EFFORTS IN THE LOWER WATERSHED TO COMPLETE 80% DESIGN FOR THE RESTORATION OF REACH 16, LOCATED ON THE LOWER CACHE LA POUDRE IN THE CITY OF GREELEY. THE REACH 16 DESIGN WILL FOCUS ON RECONNECTING THE RIVER TO ITS FLOODPLAIN, REDUCE FLOODING RISK, AND INCREASING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INSTREAM HABITAT FUNCTION IMPROVEMENTS.

THE COALITION FOR THE POUDRE RIVER WATERSHED, LOCATED IN NORTHERN COLORADO, WILL PARTNER WITH THE TOWN OF WINDSOR, COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE, AND NORTHERN WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT TO DESIGN AN UPGRADE OF THE WHITNEY AND EATON DIVERSION STRUCTURES, INCLUDING FISH PASSAGE, AND RIVER RESTORATION PROJECTS ON A HALF MILE OF THE SURROUNDING POUDRE RIVER. THE CURRENT DIVERSION STRUCTURES ARE A COMPLETE BARRIER TO FISH PASSAGE AND THIS REACH IS RIVER IS DISCONNECTED FROM ITS FLOODPLAIN. ONCE COMPLETE, THE DESIGN WILL SUPPORT A FUTURE PROJECT BY THE PARTNERSHIP TO RESTORE THE REACH OF RIVER, AND REESTABLISH 13 MILES OF THE POUDRE TO BE PASSABLE BY FISH, WHILE PROVIDING BENEFITS TO THE LOCAL DITCH COMPANIES BY INCREASING THE WATER SUPPLY RELIABILITY OF THEIR STRUCTURES. THIS PROJECT IS SUPPORTED BY MULTIPLE PLANNING EFFORTS AND IS IN A PRIORITY REACH IDENTIFIED IN THE COALITION FOR THE POUDRE RIVER WATERSHEDS 2017 LOWER POUDRE FLOOD RECOVERY AND RESILIENCY MASTER PLAN.

RIVER RESILIENCY MASTER PLAN LOWER CACHE LA POUDRE - PHASE 2