About
Stream management plans (SMP) are data-driven assessments of river health that help communities prioritize how to protect or enhance environmental and recreational assets in their watershed. A well-developed SMP uses biological, hydrological, geomorphological and other data to assess the flows, water quality parameters, and other physical conditions that are needed to support collaboratively-identified environmental and/or recreational values. This table identifies common SMP goals and possible key questions.
Using this assessment, stakeholders can identify and prioritize management actions to maintain or improve flow regimes and other stream conditions at a reach scale. SMPs are not regulatory, and participation is not required; therefore, community involvement and buy-in is necessary. SMPs are meant to be collaborative efforts; thus, goals in these plans are informed by stakeholder concerns and priorities. SMP efforts can be combined with consumptive water use planning efforts, thereby approaching water management and planning in a more integrated manner.
Stream management plans (SMP) are data-driven assessments of river health that help communities prioritize how to protect or enhance environmental and recreational assets in their watershed. A well-developed SMP uses biological, hydrological, geomorphological and other data to assess the flows, water quality parameters, and other physical conditions that are needed to support collaboratively-identified environmental and/or recreational values. This table identifies common SMP goals and possible key questions.
Using this assessment, stakeholders can identify and prioritize management actions to maintain or improve flow regimes and other stream conditions at a reach scale. SMPs are not regulatory, and participation is not required; therefore, community involvement and buy-in is necessary. SMPs are meant to be collaborative efforts; thus, goals in these plans are informed by stakeholder concerns and priorities. SMP efforts can be combined with consumptive water use planning efforts, thereby approaching water management and planning in a more integrated manner.
Current Updates:
The Draft Data Gaps Analysis is available for review and a the accompanying spreadsheet allows stakeholders the opportunity to add resources that have not been identified in this initial draft.
Help us identify any missing elements
Data Gaps Analysis DRAFT
Data Gaps Spreadsheet
The Draft Data Gaps Analysis is available for review and a the accompanying spreadsheet allows stakeholders the opportunity to add resources that have not been identified in this initial draft.
Help us identify any missing elements
Data Gaps Analysis DRAFT
Data Gaps Spreadsheet
General Information on the Animas Plan Scoping project:
Contacts:
• Warren Rider, Project Lead, Animas Watershed Partnership (970) 274-3646 [email protected]
• Stacy Beaugh, Facilitator, Strategic By Nature Inc. (630) 854-5129 [email protected]
• General updates on the scoping phase will be posted at http://www.animaswatershedpartnership.org/
• Information on River Planning in Colorado can be found at https://www.coloradosmp.org/
Purpose:
Convene local stakeholders in a community-driven effort to identify priority values for planning and management of streams within the Animas Basin, assess existing data and information and identify opportunities to address those gaps.
Objectives:
1. Assemble and coordinate an Animas River Plan working group and stakeholder group to identify water-related values and attributes and identify the geographic scope of future planning efforts.
2. Review existing data and information, to determine data gaps for subsequent assessment. The effort will seek to incorporate forest health and climate change considerations, expanding on existing community efforts.
3. Support the stakeholder group to develop a process and supporting scope of work for an assessment to establish goals for stream management, identify flows and physical conditions needed to support environment and recreational water needs (Phase II) and prioritize alternative management actions (Phase III).
Funding:
Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), Southwestern Water Conservation District
Subcontractors:
• Amanda Kuenzi/Mountain Studies Institute staff/Animas River Community Forum (ARCF), will help to connect the work of this planning effort with the Animas River Community Forum stakeholders.
• Stacy Beaugh, Strategic By Nature, who serve as facilitator and conduct the stakeholder assessment.
• Jake Kurzweil, Scott Roberts and other Mountain Studies Institute staff, will perform the data gaps analysis.
Process Agreements and Other Considerations:
• Proactive Approach: The goal of this planning effort is to provide a venue for stakeholders in the watershed to be proactive in planning for the attributes of value in the Animas River system.
• Inclusive Approach: This process should be inclusive of and open to all interested stakeholders. It is important to the Work Group to garner community input as well as direct/key stakeholder input. As such, opportunities for community input will be built into the phases of the planning effort.
• Funding Expectations: As part of the CWCB Watershed Restoration Grants/Stream Management Planning Program, it is expected that future phases of this planning process will at a minimum assess geomorphological, biological, and hydrological functions of the river. However, the purpose of the scoping phase is to work with stakeholders to understand their goals/interests and expand on these expectations during this scoping phase.
• Colorado-Focus: While the Animas River stakeholders have in the past recognized the importance of looking at the Animas River as a full watershed, to include both Colorado and New Mexico, this scoping process is limited to Colorado due to funding constraints. The intention is for New Mexico stakeholders to engage via the Animas Watershed Partnership.
Work Group:
The work group will help to provide oversight and input, supporting the project lead, subcontractors and stakeholder group throughout the scoping process. The Work Group supports the design and implementation of the stakeholder assessment (use a pre-planning document and example from other watersheds to assist). The Work Group will consider stakeholder input and work with the stakeholder group to determine the scope of the Animas River Plan and develop future grant proposals as appropriate.
Work Group Members as of 8/2022:
• Alison Layman, La Plata County Wildfire and Watershed Protection Fund
• Joe Cunningham, Landowner
• Amanda Kuenzi, Mountain Studies Institute
• Laura Spann, Southwestern Water Conservation District
• Ashleigh Tucker, 4Corners Riversports
• Nichole Fox, Give a Dam
• Vacant, US Forest Service
• Peter Butler, Bonita Peak Citizens Advisory Council
• Buck Skillen, Trout Unlimited
• Ryan Unterreiner, Colorado Parks and Wildlife
• Carrie Padgett, Harris Water Engineers
• Stacy Beaugh (Facilitator), Strategic By Nature, Inc.
• Clyde Church, La Plata County & Falls Creek Landowner
• Steve Wolff, Southwestern Water Conservation District
• Jeff Titus (Advisory), Colorado Division of Water Resources
• Warren Rider (Scoping Phase Lead), Animas Watershed Partnership
• Jimbo Buickerood, Hermosa Ditch & San Juan Citizens Alliance
• Sara Burch, Animas Riverkeeper
Stakeholder Group: To be determined as a result of the stakeholder assessment.
Contacts:
• Warren Rider, Project Lead, Animas Watershed Partnership (970) 274-3646 [email protected]
• Stacy Beaugh, Facilitator, Strategic By Nature Inc. (630) 854-5129 [email protected]
• General updates on the scoping phase will be posted at http://www.animaswatershedpartnership.org/
• Information on River Planning in Colorado can be found at https://www.coloradosmp.org/
Purpose:
Convene local stakeholders in a community-driven effort to identify priority values for planning and management of streams within the Animas Basin, assess existing data and information and identify opportunities to address those gaps.
Objectives:
1. Assemble and coordinate an Animas River Plan working group and stakeholder group to identify water-related values and attributes and identify the geographic scope of future planning efforts.
2. Review existing data and information, to determine data gaps for subsequent assessment. The effort will seek to incorporate forest health and climate change considerations, expanding on existing community efforts.
3. Support the stakeholder group to develop a process and supporting scope of work for an assessment to establish goals for stream management, identify flows and physical conditions needed to support environment and recreational water needs (Phase II) and prioritize alternative management actions (Phase III).
Funding:
Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), Southwestern Water Conservation District
Subcontractors:
• Amanda Kuenzi/Mountain Studies Institute staff/Animas River Community Forum (ARCF), will help to connect the work of this planning effort with the Animas River Community Forum stakeholders.
• Stacy Beaugh, Strategic By Nature, who serve as facilitator and conduct the stakeholder assessment.
• Jake Kurzweil, Scott Roberts and other Mountain Studies Institute staff, will perform the data gaps analysis.
Process Agreements and Other Considerations:
• Proactive Approach: The goal of this planning effort is to provide a venue for stakeholders in the watershed to be proactive in planning for the attributes of value in the Animas River system.
• Inclusive Approach: This process should be inclusive of and open to all interested stakeholders. It is important to the Work Group to garner community input as well as direct/key stakeholder input. As such, opportunities for community input will be built into the phases of the planning effort.
• Funding Expectations: As part of the CWCB Watershed Restoration Grants/Stream Management Planning Program, it is expected that future phases of this planning process will at a minimum assess geomorphological, biological, and hydrological functions of the river. However, the purpose of the scoping phase is to work with stakeholders to understand their goals/interests and expand on these expectations during this scoping phase.
• Colorado-Focus: While the Animas River stakeholders have in the past recognized the importance of looking at the Animas River as a full watershed, to include both Colorado and New Mexico, this scoping process is limited to Colorado due to funding constraints. The intention is for New Mexico stakeholders to engage via the Animas Watershed Partnership.
Work Group:
The work group will help to provide oversight and input, supporting the project lead, subcontractors and stakeholder group throughout the scoping process. The Work Group supports the design and implementation of the stakeholder assessment (use a pre-planning document and example from other watersheds to assist). The Work Group will consider stakeholder input and work with the stakeholder group to determine the scope of the Animas River Plan and develop future grant proposals as appropriate.
Work Group Members as of 8/2022:
• Alison Layman, La Plata County Wildfire and Watershed Protection Fund
• Joe Cunningham, Landowner
• Amanda Kuenzi, Mountain Studies Institute
• Laura Spann, Southwestern Water Conservation District
• Ashleigh Tucker, 4Corners Riversports
• Nichole Fox, Give a Dam
• Vacant, US Forest Service
• Peter Butler, Bonita Peak Citizens Advisory Council
• Buck Skillen, Trout Unlimited
• Ryan Unterreiner, Colorado Parks and Wildlife
• Carrie Padgett, Harris Water Engineers
• Stacy Beaugh (Facilitator), Strategic By Nature, Inc.
• Clyde Church, La Plata County & Falls Creek Landowner
• Steve Wolff, Southwestern Water Conservation District
• Jeff Titus (Advisory), Colorado Division of Water Resources
• Warren Rider (Scoping Phase Lead), Animas Watershed Partnership
• Jimbo Buickerood, Hermosa Ditch & San Juan Citizens Alliance
• Sara Burch, Animas Riverkeeper
Stakeholder Group: To be determined as a result of the stakeholder assessment.
Project Updates:
12/14/2022:
As of 12/14/2022, the Animas River Plan scoping project has held two Work Group meetings, begun the Data Gaps Analysis, and has conducted nearly 40 stakeholder assessment interviews to inform the scope and scale of future planning work.
Our next Work Group meeting will be in early 2023 and more updates will be available following that meeting.
12/14/2022:
As of 12/14/2022, the Animas River Plan scoping project has held two Work Group meetings, begun the Data Gaps Analysis, and has conducted nearly 40 stakeholder assessment interviews to inform the scope and scale of future planning work.
Our next Work Group meeting will be in early 2023 and more updates will be available following that meeting.
