Project Summary
In March of 2003 the Eagle River Watershed Council began the process of completing a comprehensive assessment of our river system in order to effectively prioritize our conservation efforts and resources. Colorado State University Departments of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences took on the technical aspects of the project. The cooperative effort involved natural resource agencies, local governments, outfitters and guides and citizens actively interested in land and water resources. A wide variety of input from across the valley was very important to the success of the project.
The need to develop a science-based inventory of the condition of our rivers was necessary so ERWC could augment its decisions regarding restoration, rehabilitation and access to the river. At the time, there was no comprehensive inventory of the problem areas within the watershed to guide our decision-making process. This project was supported by the goals of the Eagle River Watershed Plan (1996) that directed us to develop a prioritized annual work plan. The finished assessment allowed ERWC to integrate scientific data, limited funding sources and the demands of the public in order to make responsible choices for the health and conservation of the watershed.
In 2005 the Eagle River Inventory and Assessment (ERIA) report was finished. It determined priority areas for restoration efforts and is the primary document that guides the ERWC's efforts today.
The ERIA now provides a roadmap for our efforts to restore damaged habitat, enhance low impact recreation access, and preserve critical riparian parcels throughout our valley. From the headwaters to the Colorado River, the project offers guidance to us in implementing restoration and conservation projects in the Eagle River corridor that provide the maximum ecological and social benefits for the environment and the community.
This ERIA is an important tool for decision makers to ensure our limited financial resources will be spent in the areas of greatest ecological priority combined with the strongest community support.
Download the Report
You can download a copy of the full report here.