Organization: EAGLE RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL INC
Mission: EAGLE RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL ADVOCATES FOR THE HEALTH AND CONSERVATION OF THE UPPER COLORADO AND EAGLE RIVER BASINS THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND PROJECTS.
Activities: WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT PROJECT - TO ENSURE CONTINUED AND IMPROVING WATER QUALITY THROUGH EXTENSIVE WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND DATA ASSESSMENT IN COLLABORATION WITH 12 ENTITIES IN THE EAGLE VALLEY.
EAGLE RIVER COMMUNITY WATER PLAN - THE PLAN IS AN EAGLE RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL (ERWC) LED EFFORT TO DEVELOP PROACTIVE WATER MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ANTICIPATE CHANGES TO POPULATION GROWTH AND INCREASING MUNICIPAL DEMAND FOR WATER IN EAGLE COUNTY, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND PROJECTS RELATED TO THE 1998 EAGLE RIVER MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (ERMOU) - AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR DEVELOPING MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLIES IN THE UPPER EAGLE RIVER WATERSHED. PLANNING ACTIVITIES WILL FOCUS ON THE MAINSTEM EAGLE RIVER FROM ITS SOURCE ON THE EAST FORK EAGLE RIVER BELOW EAGLE PARK RESERVOIR TO THE CONFLUENCE WITH THE COLORADO RIVER, INCLUDING ASSESSMENT ON HOMESTAKE AND GORE CREEKS.
ABRAMS CREEK PROJECT - ABRAMS CREEK GREEN-LINEAGE CUTTHROAT TROUT (ONCORHYNCHUS CLARKII PLEURITICUS) IS THE ONLY INDIGENOUS TROUT POPULATION IN THE EAGLE RIVER WATERSHED. A DITCH DIVERTS WATER FROM ABRAMS CREEK FOR IRRIGATION AND THE REDUCED FLOW THREATENS THE TROUT. WITH FUNDING AND PROJECT PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT FROM EAGLE RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL, TROUT UNLIMITED AND COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE NEGOTIATED AN AGREEMENT WITH BUCKHORN VALLEY METROPOLITAN DISTRICT TO PIPE PORTIONS OF THE DITCH TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF WATER DELIVERY IN EXCHANGE FOR REDUCING ABRAMS CREEK DIVERSIONS BY ABOUT 40 PERCENT, LEAVING AN ADDITIONAL AVERAGE OF 300 ACRE-FEET PER YEAR OF WATER FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TROUT. THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT RUN WITH THE DITCH WATER RIGHTS IN PERPETUITY AND ALSO REQUIRE BUCKHORN TO FOREGO ALL DIVERSIONS IF ABRAMS CREEK FLOWS ARE AT OR BELOW 1.25 CFS.
NTEE category: Environment
Secondary category: Animal-Related