Yamaguchi South Project

The San Juan River forms the "foundational infrastructure" for our local recreational and economic tourism-based activities, including boating, fishing, trails, bird-watching, etc. While downtown Pagosa Springs currently offers a variety of recreational opportunities, river access is restricted.

This project was developed out of the WEP’s Integrated Water Management Plan. While The Town serves as the project manager, WEP has been actively involved with the project development. 

Grant funding will be used for designing and installing various new and/or improved river access points (graded/gravel boat ramps, wading/swimming holes), channel features (sandbars, riffles, and pools) along the banks of Yamaguchi South, a town-owned public park. This will enhance recreation options at various river flows, reduce access conflicts, create geomorphology more resilient to hydrological and sediment deposition changes, install channel and stream bank shaping, and create diverse aquatic habitats that support coldwater trout and native fish populations in the face of drought and climate change. It will also improve the water irrigation system for Yamaguchi Park, including a new in-stream rock diversion structure with a headgate and an open water delivery ditch to an adjacent wetland pond that would be used for irrigation water storage and wetland pond habitat.

The project objectives are to:

1. Create diverse aquatic habitats that support coldwater trout and native fish populations in the face of drought and climate change.
2. Create geomorphology more resilient to hydrological and sediment deposition changes.
3. Enhance recreation options at various river flows and reduce access conflicts.
4. Improve the water irrigation system for Yamaguchi Park, including a new in-stream rock diversion structure with a headgate and an open water delivery ditch to an adjacent wetland pond that would be used for irrigation water storage and wetland pond habitat.

The structures to be included within this project to meet the objectives are:

1. Various Habitat Structures
2. New Boat Ramp/parking area
3. Improved River Access Options
4. Wetland Area/Pond Improvements
5. Channel Shaping Structures with Riffles and Pools

(Click HERE for the definitions and purpose of each of the proposed improvements)

Funding for the Yamaguchi South River Improvements has been provided by:

• Colorado Water Conservation Board, Water Supply Reserve Grant
• Colorado Water Conservation Board, Water Plan Grant
• Southwest Water Conservation District
• Town of Pagosa Springs
• Archuleta County
• Trout Unlimited
• San Juan Conservancy District
• The Nature Conservancy