Pagosa Gateway Project

A Community Project to Preserve Aquatic Habitat and Recreational Opportunities in the Face of Drought and Climate Change Colorado

The Pagosa Gateway Project improves approximately 2.5 miles of the San Juan River immediately upstream of the Town of Pagosa Springs to preserve aquatic habitat and recreation opportunities in the face of declining flows and warming temperatures. The tourism-based economy of Pagosa Springs is tightly coupled to the ecological well-being of the San Juan River and the aesthetic and recreational values derived from it. A recent environmental and recreational (E&R) water supply needs assessment, commissioned by the WEP, identifies potentially significant changes in hydrology and limiting conditions for aquatic life in this section of the San Juan River. Assessment results suggest late summer and fall flows may restrict the availability and quality of aquatic habitat for fish and other aquatic species, as well as the number of days in a year when recreational craft can successfully navigate this segment of the San Juan mainstem (Lotic 2021).

This project will implement a series of interventions, including the creation of low-flow channels, promotion of bank stabilization, riparian vegetation, and fish passage, as well as the removal of hazardous streambank materials to increase the resiliency of the San Juan River and its ability to support aquatic life and diverse water users.

Objectives

The mechanical and biological interventions proposed within the Pagosa Gateway Project respond to the results of the WEP's E&R assessments and seek to offset the negative impacts of changing streamflows on environmental and recreational water needs via the following objectives:

1. Encourage the formation and persistence of low-flow channels.
2. Facilitate expansion and resilience of stream-side riparian vegetation communities.
3. Remove trash, construction debris, and other hazards from the river and streambank.