The coalition for the poudre river watershed, located in northern colorado, is a nonprofit watershed group working to improve and maintain the ecological health of the poudre river watershed through…

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation awarded the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW), a non-profit organization in Fort Collins, Colorado, a $270,170 Project Grant under the Cooperative Watershed Management Program (CFDA 15.554) on September 16, 2024. The grant funds will be used to complete 80% design plans for the restoration of Reach 16 on the lower Cache La Poudre River. The project aims to reconnect the river to its floodplain, reduce flooding risk, and enhance instream habitat. This work builds upon CPRW's previous WaterSMART grant to expand stakeholder engagement and complete 30% design for this priority restoration effort. The Cooperative Watershed Management Program provides funding to support collaborative watershed management initiatives across the Western United States, focusing on activities such as restoration planning, project design, and implementation of watershed improvement projects.

The coalition for the poudre river watershed, located in northern colorado, is a nonprofit watershed group working to improve and maintain the ecological health of the poudre river watershed through community collaboration. The watershed spans approximately 1,542 square miles from the headwaters in rocky mountain national park to its confluence with the south platte river. The historic floodplain area and its riparian habitat have been lost or badly degraded by grazing and agriculture, gravel-mining, and development. In 2019, the coalition received a watersmart cooperative watershed management program phase I grant to expand their lower poudre steering committee, increase lower watershed engagement, and complete approximately 30% design for a priority restoration project. This grant will expand upon their existing engagement and outreach efforts in the lower watershed to complete 80% design for the restoration of reach 16, located on the lower cache LA poudre in the city of greeley. The reach 16 design will focus on reconnecting the river to its floodplain, reduce flooding risk, and increasing the opportunity for instream habitat function improvements.