Project Grant R24AP00483

THROUGH WATERSMART (SUSTAIN AND MANAGE AMERICAS RESOURCES FOR TOMORROW), RECLAMATION LEVERAGES FEDERAL AND NON-FEDERAL FUNDING TO WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH STATES, TRIBES, AND LOCAL ENTITIES AS THEY PLAN FOR AND IMPLEMENT ACTIONS TO INCREASE WATER SUPPLY SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH INVESTMENTS AND ATTENTION TO LOCAL WATER CONFLICTS.THROUGH PLANNING AND PROJECT DESIGN GRANTS, RECLAMATION PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO STATES, TRIBES, IRRIGATION DISTRICTS, WATER DISTRICTS, OTHER ENTITIES WITH WATER OR POWER DELIVERY AUTHORITY, AND NON-PROFIT CONSERVATION GROUPS TO CONDUCT PLANNING ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE WATER SUPPLIES (E.G., WATER SUPPLIES TO DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES THAT DO NOT HAVE RELIABLE ACCESS TO WATER, WATER MARKETING, WATER CONSERVATION, DROUGHT RESILIENCE, AND ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE) OR THE FINAL DESIGN OF ON THE GROUND WATER SUPPLY CONSTRUCTION (INCLUDING DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS FOR TRIBES, INSULAR AREAS, AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES), WATER MANAGEMENT CONSTRUCTION AND RESTORATION PROJECTS.THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NAVAJO NATION, WILL PLAN AND DESIGN RIVER ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION PROJECTS ALONG THE SAN JUAN RIVER. THE SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN IS HOME TO TWO FEDERALLY ENDANGERED FISH: THE COLORADO PIKEMINNOW AND RAZORBACK SUCKER. THESE SPECIES FACE MULTIPLE IMPEDIMENTS TO RECOVERY, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BEING THE LOSS OF NURSERY HABITAT. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY SUITABLE BACKWATER NURSERY HABITAT RESTORATION SITES USE EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY AND EXPERT INPUT FROM THE SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN RECOVERY IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM (SJRIP) AND THE NATION TO SELECT TWO PRIORITY SITES TO UNDERGO DETAILED ANALYSES AND FINAL DESIGN. THE PROJECT WILL OCCUR ON THE MAINSTEM OF THE SAN JUAN RIVER IN THE SEGMENT WHICH INCLUDES UTAH, COLORADO, NEW MEXICO, AND THE NATION. THE PROJECT WILL BUILD ON EXTENSIVE PREVIOUS PLANNING AND ANALYSES CONDUCTED BY EXPERTS AND THE SJRIP WHICH INCLUDES FEDERAL, STATE, TRIBAL, NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS, AND WATER USER REPRESENTATIVES.