percent completed.
This project is being driven by a diverse
group of organizations that have met on a
regular basis as part of the River Restora-
tion Committee to provide the design firm
with valuable feedback.
¡°We couldn¡¯t have made it to this point
without the help of the volunteer river
design committee and are excited to make
this project a reality for Montrose,¡± said City
Engineer Scott Murphy. ¡°It was a pleasure
to work with such a community-focused
committee throughout the project¡¯s design
process.¡±
Mayfly Outdoors, the parent company of
Abel and Ross Reels, is currently building a
41,000 sq. ft. fly-fishing reel manufacturing
facility along the Uncompahgre River and
recently donated 42 acres of land along the
river to the city.
¡°We are thrilled to see the support from the
Colorado Water Conservation Board. The
city¡¯s vision for the river corridor is extraor-
dinary, and their team is doing a great job.
Our community should be proud,¡± said David Dragoo, president of Mayfly
Outdoors.
The City of Montrose has a long-standing record of work to preserve, protect
and enhance the Uncompahgre River corridor, beginning with the acquisition
of land along the river to build Riverbottom Park in the early 1970s.
¡°This project will continue to enhance one of our community¡¯s greatest as-
sets, the Uncompahgre River. The value of our river has caught the attention
of anglers, white water enthusiasts, and companies like Mayfly Outdoors
who want to protect the Uncompahgre because of everything it offers,¡± said
city Grant Coordinator Kendall Cramer.
¡°The Colorado Water Conservation Board joins a growing a list of individuals
and organizations that have this shared interest. We are grateful for their
support.¡±
The city anticipates construction to begin in winter 2019-2020. Due to river
flows, work must be completed within a four-month timeframe from Novem-
ber to February when the river is at its lowest.
(source: CityOfMontrose.org)
Montrose Nets $400,000 For River Improvements
First step in development of Gold Medal fishery
feel younger with
this food... Pg 9
when it¡¯s time to
relax...
Pg 7
new shed antlers
rules... Pg 10
Stephen Marley
Acoustic... Pg 12
City has long-standing record
of work to preserve, protect and enhance
the Uncompahgre River corridor
MONTROSE, 2/1/19: The City of Montrose will
be receiving $400,000 from the Colorado
Water Conservation Board for river improve-
ments and fishing habitat development.
The city applied for funding in October 2018
and the Colorado Water Conservation Board
approved funding for the project at their Janu-
ary 28, 2019, board meeting.
The grant funds will be used to begin Phase
1 of river restoration improvements on 0.65
miles, or 3,400 feet, of the Uncompahgre
River, traversing Montrose.
A variety of land use practices, flow modifica-
tions, and encroachment have impacted the
Uncompahgre River and resulted in an overly
wide channel, bank stabilization issues, and
lack of aquatic and riparian habitat.
Within the project area, approximately two-
thirds of the river contains what would be con-
sidered marginal fish habitat; the remainder is
generally devoid of any suitable fish habitat.
2019 FEB/MAR #10-1
Aerial imagery indicates the river¡¯s channel has moved approximately
400 feet over the past 50 years.
The project will include reestablishing a resilient channel, connecting the
river to its floodplain, creating a stable riparian zone, improving fish and
other aquatic habitats, stabilizing the river banks, and providing river
access to the public.
The project complements the Montrose Urban Renewal Authority
(MURA) development and the soon-to-be-constructed Great Outdoors
Connect Trail.
This is the first step in the development of a Gold Medal fishery within
the Uncompahgre River. Once completed, this section of the river could
be designated a Gold Medal fishery, joining a section of Gunnison river
that flows through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and
adjoining Gunnison Gorge as the other Gold Medal waters in the vicinity
of Montrose.
The design contract for the project was awarded to Ecological Resource
Consultants (ERC) in 2017 and the project design is currently seventy
The project will include reestablishing a resilient
channel, connecting the river to its floodplain,
creating a stable riparian zone, improving fish and
other aquatic habitats, stabilizing the river banks,
and providing river access to the public.