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Rio Grande Initiative Partners Work Together to Protect More then 2,000 Acres - Governor Ritter Praises Effort
“The Rio Grande River is truly one of our state’s most important natural treasures,” said
Governor Bill Ritter, who announced in 2007 that the Rio Grande Initiative had been
designated a Legacy Project by the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Board and awarded
$7.4 million. “Its waters sustain productive farms and ranches that were founded before
Colorado became a state, and wildlife thrive along its impressive length. All Coloradans
should be heartened to know that in these difficult economic times, creative people came
together to protect the land, water and wildlife that are the heart and soul of one of our iconic
landscapes.”
Click here to read the full press release.
Colorado Conservation Board Awards $1.5 Million in Matching Funds
for the Rio Grande Initiative
On March 19th, 2008, the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) voted unanimously to award $1.5 million
from the state’s Water Supply Reserve Account to the Rio Grande Initiative, to
match the GOCO Legacy grant mentioned above. Thanks to the support of the Rio
Grande Basin Round Table, this award represents a new level of collaboration
between the conservation and water interests in Colorado. These funds will help
secure senior water rights along the Rio Grande through conservation easements.
Mike Sullivan, Division of Water Resources, Division 3 Engineer, said in his
letter of support, The protection of the hydraulic characteristics of the
alluvial corridor of the Rio Grande is important to providing for a functional river system. This protection includes continued operation of the
irrigation systems along the river; systems which were in place when the Rio
Grande Compact was negotiated and are thus a part of the underlying physical
framework and assumptions of the Compact.
RiGHT Accomplishes a Major Milestone for the Rio Grande
In December, RiGHT was awarded $7.4 million dollars to protect six ranches
along the Rio Grande river as part of our Rio Grande Initiative.
Grant announcement were made by Governor Ritter. This funding is a major
milestone in our ability to provide landowners incentive to protect their land
for its agricultural productivity, scenic beauty and wildlife habitat.
The Rio Grande Initiative
The Rio Grande is Colorado's last major mountain river corridor that still has a
significant amount of intact private lands in farming and ranching along its
banks. At a length of 1,885 miles, the river is also the fourth longest in the
United States and has played a major part in defining the Southwest's history
and modern-day demands.
The Rio Grande Initiative (RGI) is a community projects in the San Luis
Valley to protect the strategic and critical private lands along Colorado's 175
mile reach of the Rio Grande corridor with voluntary conservation easements.
Why Protect the Rio Grande:
Land and water conversion from open space and agriculture to development of
subdivisions on private lands threatens the integrity of the Rio Grande
including: loss or degradation of wildlife habitat (including the South Western
Willow Flycatcher, listed as Endangered), fragmentation and development of
corridors for residential and commercial uses and transportation, increased
sedimentation and pollution, introduction of invasive and exotic species, loss
of agricultural productivity and its economic contributions, water table
reductions and changing return flows, to name a few..jpg)
Why Now:
The Rio Grande corridor in Colorado is still relatively intact, but the threats
to it are increasing at an alarming pace. Currently there are 10,700 acres
of private land protected along the Rio Grande by either RiGHT, The Nature
Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited or the National Resources Conservation Service.
However, nearly 40,000 acres of intact
private land remains unprotected and susceptible to development. This
combined with the frenzied pace of growth along the Rio Grande means we need to
take action now. As the American Farmland Trust report "Farming on the
Edge" states, "We are losing our best land - most fertile and productive - the
fastest.
Read More: download the Rio Grande Initiative
Newsletters:
Rio Grande Initiative Newsletter
Vol I.
Rio Grande Initiative Newsletter
Vol II.
Rio Grande Initiative Newsletter
Vol III.
Rio Grande Initiative Newsletter
Vol IV.
Rio Grande Initiative Newsletter
Vol V.
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