Projects

Lower Animas Watershed Project

Contact Information:
OSM/VISTA: Michael Barber
Supervisor: Janet Wolf
Address: c/o Ecosphere Environmental Services; 2243 Main Ave, Suite 4; Durango, CO 81301
Phone: 970.382.7256
Email: vista@ecosphere-services.com
Website: http://ecosphere-services.com/resources
US Congressional District: 3rd
County: La Plata

Description of organization and mission:

Our Mission: The mission of the Animas Watershed Project is to protect and improve the quality of water resources in the Animas Watershed. The Animas Watershed Project strives to create a community-based collaborative process involving all stakeholders in which we operate by consensus, use all available information sources, and make informed decisions based on sound science.

OSM/VISTA Michael Barber teaching fifth-graders at the Water Information Program's Children's Water Festival at Ft. Lewis College.

The Animas Watershed Project (AWP) is a partnership of agency representatives and individuals from Colorado, New Mexico, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, and the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe. The Animas Watershed Project was formed in December 2002 after river users noticed large quantities of algae in the Animas River. This observation showed that nutrient levels in the river were too high, an indicator of the declining health of the river. A group of stakeholders formed to begin collaboration on increasing the health of the river. These stake holders have been meeting since 2002 to identify pollutant sources and find ways to keep the Animas River healthy.

Animas River Stakeholders Include:

• Farmers
• Ranchers
• Land Owners
• Environmental Groups
• Water District and Sewage Treatment Staff
• Representatives from the Mining Industry
• Federal Agencies
• Representatives from Construction Companies
• Agency Representatives from the Cities, Counties, and States in the Watershed
• Tribal Representatives (Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribes)
• Local Citizens and Interest Groups

OSM/VISTA Mike Barber leading a Ft. Lewis College class in a discussion of water quality issues in the watershed.

Goals of the Animas Watershed Project

The AWP is currently working to expand its visibility and influence among area watershed groups through outreach into each community. The AWP's goal is to ultimately become a watershed-wide planning group. The AWP is also continuing to work on identifying and prioritizing water quality issues. To aid in this effort the AWP is focusing on completing a Needs Assessment of the watershed and a basin wide EPA nine-point watershed management plan that spans all the political entities along the Animas River. The AWP has also recently completed a common sampling and analysis plan to gather consistent and comparable data across the political boundaries in the watershed and is working to promote the use of the plan among area water sampling entities. Finally, the AWP is working to compile data for the Animas River Watershed in Colorado to match data collected in New Mexico.

Goals of the OSM/VISTA

The purpose of the OSM/VISTA is to assist in the successful completion the Animas Watershed Project's stated goals. The OSM/VISTA will work to recruit more stakeholders through attendance at the meetings of other groups throughout the region where contacts can be made and information shared. The VISTA will also promote outreach into the communities through the development of educational programs furthering the group's visibility in the community.

The OSM/VISTA will also assist with several of the AWP's ongoing project. The VISTA is currently engaged in helping the Durango Fire and Rescue Authority (DFRA) in completing their Emergency Response Action Plan (ERAP.) The VISTA is also helping in identifying and contacting landowners who may be interested in developing a Demonstration Project on their property to promote healthier waters.