1994-018-07, Garfield County Sediment Reduction and Riparian Improvement Program
Statement of Work and Budget, March 1 - February 28

Technical, Contracting, and Financial Contact:  Duane Bartels

This project was designed to coordinate, implement, and monitor conservation practices for the reduction of sediment from the uplands of Garfield County and enhance habitat in the riparian zones of the streams to improve water quality for Steelhead and Chinook Salmon.  Implementation objectives are as follows:

1. Reduce sediment deposition into streams by substantially reducing streambank, rangeland and cropland erosion.
a. Continue upland cost-share program with a focus on no-till, direct seeding, and changing crop rotations to annual cropping in high priority sub-watersheds.
b. Riparian fencing, tree and shrub planting to stabilize streambanks and recruit LWD in high priority areas will be implemented under existing DOE grants and no funding will be used from the grant.

2. Maintain low water temperatures.
a. Continue yearly tree planting program along Pataha Creek and expand this program into high priority areas of other watersheds in the county. The funding needed from this practice will also be implemented under existing DOE grants.
b. Riparian fencing to manage plantings along stream banks and in riparian zone will also use DOE funding.

3. Improve water quality by removing livestock from riparian areas.
a. additional funding from DOE grants will be used outside CREP program.

Cost-share work is, of course, voluntary and the amount of work done each year depends greatly on local landowner needs.  Work elements and budgets have been estimated based on last year's landowner requests for cost-share, but this year could prove quite different.