The Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership (UWP) is a 501(c)(3) located in Ouray County, Colorado. The group was formed in spring, 2007, when regional groups and concerned citizens applied for a watershed-planning grant. The UWP is a grassroots coalition of citizens, nonprofits, local and regional governments, and federal and state agencies dedicated to understanding, restoring and protecting land and natural resources within the Uncompahgre Watershed. This Power Point gives an overview of the activities the UWP has been involved in over the past year and what our future projects will be. For more information visit our webpage at www.uncompahgrewatershed.org Thanks for watching!

1. Uncompahgre Watershed
Partnership
We strive for healthy rivers in a thriving community!

2. Who Are We?
501(C)3
NON-PROFIT
WATERSHED
GROUP
Water
Availability
Water
Quality
Consensus
Basis
Diverse
Stakeholders

3. Who Are We?
US Bureau of Reclamation: Sec. 6001 Cooperative
Watershed Management Act
Watershed group: a self sustaining, cooperative
watershed-wide group that:
1. Is comprised of representatives of the affected
stakeholders of the relevant watershed
2. Incorporates the perspectives of a diverse array
of stakeholders
3. Is a grassroots, non-regulatory entity that
addresses water availability and water quality
issues within the relevant watershed

4. Who Are We?
4. Is capable of promoting sustainable use of water
resources of the relevant watershed and
improving the functioning condition of rivers
and streams through: water conservation,
improved water quality, ecological resiliency,
and the reduction of water conflicts
5. Makes decisions on a consensus basis.

5. Why Important?
• > 80 watershed groups in Colorado
• Recognized by state & federal programs to safeguard
community’s water through grass-roots initiatives
• Gatherers of historic &
current water data
• Local stewards
• Stakeholders:
- production agr.
- mining
- recreation/tourism
- municipal & industrial
water users

6. UWP Mission
To help protect the economic, natural, and scenic values of the Upper
Uncompahgre River Watershed. The Partnership works to inform
and engage all stakeholders and solicits input from diverse interests
to ensure collaborative restoration efforts in the watershed.

7. Partners
LOCAL
• City of Ouray
• Ouray County Commissioners
• Ouray County Weed Control
• Ouray County Historical Society
• Ouray Library
• Ouray School District
• Ridgway-Ouray Community Council
• Ridgway School District
• Town of Ridgway
STATE & FEDERAL
• CO Division of Reclamation, Mining, and
Safety
• CDPHE – Nonpoint Source Program
• Colorado River Watch
• Colorado Watershed Assembly
• Colorado Watershed Conservation Board
• Ridgway State Park
• U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
• U.S. Forest Service
• Western Hardrock Watershed Team
NON-PROFIT
• Black Canyon Regional Land Trust
• Friends of the River Uncompahgre
• Mountain Studies Institute
• Selenium Task Force
• Transition OurWay
• Trout Unlimited
• Trust for Land Restoration
PRIVATE
• Local business sponsors
• Star Mine Operations
• Western Stream Works
SPECIAL DISTRICTS
• CO River Water Conservation District
• Gunnison Basin Roundtable
• Shavano Conservation District
• Tri-County Water Conservancy District

8. Ken Lipton – Chair
Jerry Roberts – Vice Chair
Scott Williams – Treasurer
Judi Chamberlin – Secretary
Anthony Ramsey
Bob Larson
Dennis Murphy
Board of Directors

9. • US Bureau of Reclamation grant
- UWP Expansion & Incorporation
• Colorado Water Conservation Board grants
- restoration projects
- outreach & education
• Foundation Grants
• Other
- donations
- local fundraisers
- memberships
- non-profit organizations
- Town of Ridgway
UWP Funding

10. FOCUS ON:
Upper
Uncompahgre
Watershed

11. UWP Goals
Uncompahgre Watershed Plan
1. Improve water quality
2. Improve riverine ecosystems
3. Improve water quantity
4. Improve recreation opportunities
5. Create a stable stakeholder group

12. Improve Water Quality
Michael BreenAtlas Mill
River Watch Tire Clean-up

13. • Promote water
conservation
• Collaborate with water
users & water managers
on water conservation
strategies
• Participate in developing
long-term strategies to
augment water supplies
and flows
Improve Water Quantity

14. Streambank stabilization Weeds Eradication
Improve Riverine Functioning
River Assessment Rollans Park Stewardship

15. Crystal Lake
Improve Recreation Opportunities
Ridgway River Festival

16. Field Tours
Sharing Water Activity
Watershed Model
Mining Conference
Outreach & Education

17. Upper Uncompahgre Mine
Remediation Project

18. Main Tasks
Atlas Mill
Michael Breen Mine
Vernon Mine
Pre & Post sampling
Headwaters sampling
Outreach
2014 2015 2016 2017
TIMELINE & SITES
Atlas Mill
Sneffels Cr. Michael Breen
Uncompahgre River
Vernon
Gray Copper Gulch

19. PARTNERSHIP
CLEAN
WATER
UWP
Local
Contractors
& Land-
owners
State &
Federal
Funding
Mining
Company

20. PROJECT FUNDING
$163,123 Colorado Department of Public Health
and Environment – Nonpoint Source
Program
(pursuant to Section 319(h) of the federal Clean Water Act)
$67,884 Water Quality Improvement Fund
$361,075 Match and In-Kind
$524,200 TOTAL

21. IMPLEMENTATION
- removal of tailings
- seeding
- streambank stabilization
- small wetland creation
- 2 interpretive signs installed
PARTNERS
- DRMS
- Star Mine Operations
- Western Stream Works
- Ouray County Historical Society
ATLAS MILL
Sneffels Creek
2014

22. ATLAS MILL – TAILINGS EXTENT

23. ATLAS MILL – TAILINGS ON SNEFFELS CREEK STREAMBANK

24. IMPLEMENTATION OUTCOMES
- diversion of adit discharge
- waste rock removal
- hillslope vegetation
- improved county road drainage
- stabilized loadout structure
- interpretive sign
PARTNERS
- DRMS
- Trust for Land Restoration
- Ouray County Road & Bridge
- Ouray County Historical Society
MICHAEL BREEN
Uncompahgre River
Engineer Pass Rd
2015

27. VERNON MINE
Gray Copper Gulch
2015
IMPLEMENTATION OUTCOMES
- diversion of adit discharge
- waste rock removal
- streambank revegetation
PARTNERS
- DRMS
- Trust for Land Restoration
- Private landowner

30. Please visit our website to join, participate or donate:
www.uncompahgrewatershed.org