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PresenterUpdates and Ongoing ActionsResourcesAnimas River Community Forum CommitteesAmanda KuenziMarcel GaztambideMandy Eskelson1. ARCF 2020 Updates:Convene 3 meetings with co-hosts (Mar. 12, tentatively Jun. 18 and Sep. 17)Implement projects/actions from 416 Fire Recovery & Response Action Planex: Education/Outreach Committee Chair (Marcel): update watershed stakeholders & resource list; communications plan; Our Animas updates, wildfire chapter and online StoryMap. StoryMap currently in development, to be shared this spring/early summer. Research/Monitoring Committee: data sharing workshop in planning stage, possibly for Fall 2020.MSI applied for funding through CWCB to continue ARCF coordination & projects2. MSI working with La Plata County/SGM to coordinate stakeholder engagement with Watershed Restoration Program identification, prioritization, and implementation.Focus Group Workshop-March 25, held remotely via conference call/webinarStakeholder Workshop-April 2, NOW POSTPONED, rescheduled date TBD3. Annual ARCF Membership Drive. Contribute to ARCF support watershed resilience, opportunities to leverage partnerships/funding/volunteers, and have your organization’s logo/individual name acknowledged in online Our Animas and future prints!416 Fire Recovery and Response Action PlanInterested in joining 416 Action Plan Committee (i.e. Education, Research/Monitoring)? Contact animasriverforum@Join ARCF Membership Drive SGM/La Plata CountyJordan DimickMegan Graham La Plata County and SGM offered updates on two major 416 Fire recovery programs:Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program:Summary of work completed or almost completed in 10 EWP Complexes with LPC, NRCS, SGM, and landowners. Project examples include: debris removal, channel stabilization, riprap placement, concrete barrier installation, revegetation, etc. Post 416 Fire Watershed Restoration Program (WRP):Projects focusing on protecting/restoring watershed health, stream function, and ecological processes. Options may include: channel stabilization, habitat improvement, log erosion barriers, stream gauging, early warning detection, etc. CWCB approach: identify areas of risk, source areas, transport mechanisms, depositional areas, then assess and prioritize projects3. La Plata County & SGM invite stakeholders to participate in Watershed Restoration Program Planning Workshop.Scheduled for April 2 (new date TBD and announced soon)Join the restoration process! Help LPC & SGM develop and prioritize watershed needs, project areas, and cost effectiveness for mitigation efforts.Emergency Watershed Protection WebpageWatershed Restoration Program Webpage coming soon!Presentation: La Plata County 416 Recovery Efforts & OpportunitiesPartner UpdatesLa Plata County (LPC)Alison Layman1. LPC’s Office of Emergency Management received a grant through the Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire (CPAW) Program.Timeline: 8-month programGoals: Wildfire Hazard Assessment for La Plata County. Report recommendations on land use and building codes for high risk zones in wildland urban interface. Recommendations on mitigation efforts, public outreach, and hazard map for LPC.Join: May 5 & 6 meet CPAW team and presentation to Board of County Commissioners at La Plata County Administrative Office.General CPAW info here HYPERLINK "(1).pdf" County CPAW flyerContact Alison Layman 970-382-6438alison.layman@co.laplata.co.usSan Juan National Forest (SJNF)Lorena “Lo” Williams1. Columbine Ranger District (SJNF) is partnering with National Forest Foundation and local organizations to help implement components of Hermosa Creek Watershed Management Plan. Initially planned to install years ago, but delayed due to 416 Fire.Forest Service is looking for partners to help fund construction/installation of trailhead signs within Hermosa SMA to educate public on area and regulations. Signs installed at Purgatory, Upper Hermosa, and Hermosa Creek campground/trailhead as well as low traffic use areas.Public outreach/education opportunity to showcase the importance of Hermosa Creek Watershed and recognize your organization (i.e. logo on sign panel, press release, etc.)Presentation: Hermosa Creek Watershed-Recreation Kiosk Partnership OpportunityContact Columbine Ranger District970-884-2512Cam Hooley, Project Manager orJames Simino, District RangerMountain Studies Institute (MSI)Scott Roberts1. 416 Fire Aquatic Monitoring: In 2018 MSI, Colorado School of Mines, and USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station formed research group to look at 416 Fire impacts and track recovery to share with our community.Accomplishments: deployed instrumentation at monitoring sites in the Animas River, Hermosa Creek and Junction Creek; grabbed water quality samples across hydrological conditions for variety of analytes (metals, sediment, nutrients); and collected benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) samples to serve as indicators of overall river health. 2. Results so far: Observed significant impacts in 2018 with signs of initial recovery in 2019. To further track recovery, especially after lighter monsoon season in 2019, the research team is poised to continue monitoring in 2020. Delays in receiving data, but full technical report to be released in coming months.3. 2020: MSI began water sampling again in March, will continue sampling each month through October during stable conditions and runoff or storm events. Second year of monitoring results will be shared in future to inform water users and managers.Questions about state of the Animas River Watershed. Check out Our Animas booklet!Coming soon: MSI is developing a 416 Fire StoryMap Animas River MonitoringUS Geological Survey (USGS)Kevin Murphy1. New Hermosa Creek stream gage: cooperatively funded by Southwestern Water Conservation District and Bureau of Reclamation. Opportunity to track 416 recovery and contribute to warning detection system for watershed community.USGS installed gage and telemetry equipment in Feb/March at same location as historic site, although not within old structure.Seasonal gage operating from Mar. 1 through Nov. 30, due to ice preventing accurate results and preventing winter data recording. Data available late summer! USGS uses several methods to collect stage and discharge measurements, create rating tables, and graph measurements of different flows of the river. All these measurements are needed to verify conditions with changing river geomorphology (i.e. river scour, deposition, cross-section changes).2. Other stream gauges in Durango and Silverton will have water quality measurements available again from Apr. 1 – Nov. 30. Funding for these extra measurements due to expire with USGS at the end of 2020, but there’s hope more funding will be provided.3. Access online streamflow data: Colorado Waters Science Center Streamflow: Real-time streamflow information in COWater Quality: Real-time continuous water-quality data in CO (SC, WT, pH, DO, turbidity)NWIS Mapper: Graphic interface to locate current and historic USGS data collection WaterWatch: Real-time streamflow information in the nation, summary statistics, peak flow information, streamflow forecast data (if available), stage-discharge ratingPresentation: Understanding Streamflow Data from USGS Gaging StationsAccess online USGS streamflow dataHermosa Creek gage (USGS 0936100)Animas River at Durango gage (USGS 09361500)Current streamflow conditions across ColoradoSouthwestern Water Conservation District (SWCD)Laura Spann1. SWCD generously helped fund new Hermosa Creek gage with the BOR and is looking for partners to help with ongoing Operations & Maintenance (O&M) in future.2. Annual Water Seminar: April 2020 theme is “Wading into Watershed Health” April 3: postponed to future date (TBD). All registrations have been refunded.Learn about SWCD projects hereUpdates on Annual Water SeminarBPMD Community Advisory Group (BPMD CAG)Ty Churchwell1. Of over 1300 Superfund sites, BPMD site is #2 in priority in the country and therefore receiving significant attention and funding. CAG continues to meet bi-monthly (or until COVID-19 restrictions lifted) and disseminate updates/info to community. 2. BMPD was also selected with 6 other sites to apply EPA’s pilot Adaptive Management Plans, with options to start work on reach-by-reach basis or look at reaches with worst contaminant loadings. CAG sent EPA recommendations in Dec 2019: suggested prioritizing first Upper Cement Creek (location of Gold King Mine and water treatment plant), continue pursuing bulkheading options to address water quality issues, and concurrently prioritize Upper Animas mainstem, particularly between Eureka and Silverton.BPMD CAG meeting notes and information EPA’s BPMD Superfund websiteAnimas Watershed Partnership (AWP)Buck Skillen1. Newly hired AWP Coordinator, Warren Ryder, anticipated to start April 2020 will assist with Florida restoration, including tasks with GIS analysis, stakeholder involvement, and project implementation.2. Currently conducting assessment along Florida River looking for project opportunities, particularly those related to water quality and nutrients.Learn more about Animas Watershed Partnership hereUS Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Silver Jackets Program1. USACE completed a hydrologic analysis for Tripp Gulch as part of the 416 Post Fire Flood Plain Management Services (FPMS) Silver Jackets project. 2.3 square mile watershed modeled using USACE Hydrologic Engineering Center Hydrologic Modeling System to compare pre-fire and post-fire runoff for a range of annual exceedance probabilities. Only ten percent (10%) of the entire study area was outside of the burned area mapped by the US Forest Service. Approximately 10% of the study area was categorized as having a high burn severity classification. The wildfire impacted hydrologic function by reducing infiltration rates and vegetation abstractions, which increased flow rates. Post fire conditions also increase debris flow probability during storm events. A comparison of the pre fire and post fire hydrology shows an increase of over 700% in the 10-year flood event!2. The final report will be submitted to La Plata County in March, prior to being released to the general public. Tripp Creek modeling updateSilver Jackets WebsiteFlood resources from CWCB Floodstage newsletterUSACE Interagency Effort- Colorado Flood After Fire guideDanae Olsen (USACE- Sacramento District)1. Opportunity for ARCF to join an interagency effort, led by USACE, to design a Colorado Flood After Wildfire GuidePotentially share lessons learned, resources, and becoming case study as example of wildfire recovery and preparation. USACE hopes to release their first draft in April, with final product finished in September 2020. 2. ARCF coordinators provided feedback on 3/19/2020, offering resources and lessons learned from 416 Fire, and made request to have final guide have flexibility to add local specific content at end of guide to tailor to our needs.Examples guides from CA and NMContact Danae Olsen danae.m.olsen@usace.army.milFort Lewis College (FLC)Gigi RichardTeal Leahto1. FLC’s Four Corners Water Center seeks to cultivate next generation of water leaders through education opportunities and career advancement. 2. Contact Gigi Richard or the H2Org! student water club to become a guest speaker, offer tour, or host an intern. 3. Events: FLC classes have shifted online, long-term planning TBD. April 7 event still on (currently) April 15: potential career fair with USGS and other federal agency partners Learn more about FLC’s Four Corner’s Water Resources Center and H2Org here March 25 event Science Be Dammed postponedApril 7 event Water Seminar Series currently still availableSan Juan Watershed Group (SJWG)Alyssa Richmond1. Public Meeting-Mar. 23 at Farmington Civic Center 4-6pm to discuss project updates, riparian assessments, microbial source tracking, workshops and events.Learn more about San Juan Watershed Group hereMarch 23 AgendaParticipants: Kevin Murphy (USGS), Theresa Graven (Visit Durango), Alyssa Richmond (SJWG), Marcel Gaztambide (SJCA), Barb Horn (CPW), John Ott (AWC), Ty Churchwell (TU/BPMD CAG), Gigi Richards (FLC), Len Goebel (Animosa HOA), Chad Tidwell (Red Rock Ranch HOA), Ellen Roberts (ARCF, Southwest Basin Roundtable), Teal Leahto (H2Org), Jordan Dimick (SGM), Megan Graham (LPC Public Affairs), Marcie Bidwell (MSI), Jason Reimer (SGM), Lindsey Weber (Durango Herald), Alex Ratcliff (SUIT), Ryan Burke (LPC), Kim Newcomer (LPC), Denise Robbins (Homeowner), Kathleen Costello (Duthie Savastano Brungard, PLLC), Eric Herchmer (USFS), Julie Westendorff (LPC), Mike Fiebeg (American Rivers), Buck Skillen (TU), Lo Williams (SJNF), George Widmeyer (Red Rock HOA), Butch Knowlton (LPC-OEM), Melissa Simmons (CSFS), Tom McNamara (CO State), Alison Layman (LPC Planning), Amanda Kuenzi (MSI), Mandy Eskelson (MSI), Scott Roberts (MSI). ................
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