Further develop conceptual 30% design of the bluff wetland project completed in march of 2025 to the 60% design level

The Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation awarded Riverrestoration.org, LLC a cooperative agreement valued at $296,726 on February 5, 2026, under the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Endangered Fish Recovery Program (CFDA 15.529) to advance the Bluff Wetland Project from 30% design to 60% design level.

Riverrestoration will deliver technical site assessments and 60% level design technical drawings for off-channel rearing habitat intended to entrain and rear wild razorback sucker larvae along the San Juan River in support of the San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program. The project is located on private property near Recapture Lodge in Bluff, Utah, and is designed to benefit both the recovery program and the local landowner through educational outreach opportunities. Work is scheduled for completion by April 1, 2027. The $296,726 obligation funds design engineering and site assessment activities that will ultimately support construction of the off-channel rearing facility; tagged fish will be released into the San Juan River once they reach sufficient size.

The purpose of the design is ultimately to be developed into final design and used for the construction of off-channel rearing habitat along the SAN juan river to entrain and rear wild razorback sucker larvae. In support SAN juan river recovery implementation program (sjrrip), fish will be tagged and released into the SAN juan river once the fish have reached a sufficient size. The project location is on private property and associated with a hotel business named recapture lodge. The project is intended to benefit the sjrrip in providing off-channel rearing habitat for the razorback sucker. The local landowner is also an intended beneficiary in gaining educational outreach opportunities to attract tourists to the area. Activities to be performed include technical site assessments and 60% level design of off-channel rearing habitat. Deliverables will be 60% level design technical drawings and site assessment reports.nofo: bluff wetland 60% design R25AS00295