Alamosa River – Terrace Reservoir

Background

The Alamosa River Watershed Restoration Master Plan and Environmental Assessment, created to support the river and the watershed after it had been affected by low flows and contamination, brought on Colorado Water Trust as a technical consultant for water rights and instream flow information in 2008.

Tool

Permanent Projects

Alamosa Riverkeeper used mitigation funding to purchase water rights diverted from the Alamosa River, and donated the water for permanent enrollment in the State’s Instream Flow Program. Every year, the water rights are stored in Terrace Reservoir and released to keep the river flowing in November, where it was historically dry prior to the project’s implementation.

Partners

Alamosa RIVERKEEPER, Colorado Water Conservation Board, Terrace Irrigation Company, Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Impact

Through 2023, the Terrace Reservoir Project has restored over

1.41
Billion gallons

4538
Acre-feet of water to the Alamosa River.

Timeline

Implemented in 2015, this project permanently restores water to the Alamosa River.