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Integrated water managment plan |
Integrated Water Management Plan
BRWG has partnered with Trout Unlimited to create an Integrated Water Management Plan (IWMP) for the Blue River Watershed, that will provide a comprehensive roadmap for future water use, restoration projects, and other solutions to the issues that currently threaten the health of the watershed. The IWMP will guide the strategic direction of BRWG for the next several years through ongoing scientific research and resource evaluation, planning of restoration projects and acquiring funds to sustain those projects, implementation of projects that have secured funding as well as evaluating and maintaining completed projects. Read more about the IWMP and how you can be involved below:
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is the IWMP?
A: The acronym stands for Integrated Water Management Plan and it is a framework of scientific studies and research that provides us with a better understanding of what the Blue River needs to become a thriving healthy ecosystem despite impacts from dams and reduced flow, poor water quality, and increased recreational use.
Q: Why do we need an IWMP for the Blue River Basin?
A: The long-term goal of the IWMP is to enable all water users to plan for current and future use and integrate those uses for the maximum benefit of all users while protecting the existing water resource and the fragile ecosystems it supports.
Q: Where are we at in the process?
A: The project has published up Phase 1, conducted field research for Phase 2, and is in the project proposal and planning parts of Phase 3.
Q: What are the phases of the IWMP?
A: There are 3 Phases including: researching the problems, collecting data and information on how the problems can be solved, and project design and implementation.
Phase 1 was an information gathering phase. We compiled current research, management plans and stakeholder input. A big takeaway is that we do not know the reason(s) for the declining Blue River trout fishery between Silverthorne and Green Mountain Reservoirs.
Phase 2 involved collecting additional data in several areas in order to present the community with a comprehensive picture of the health of the Blue River watershed. This phase pinpointed effective strategies to address the declining fishery between Dillon and Green Mountain Reservoirs.
Phase 3 is in process. We are in the process of implementing the newly created Blue River Habitat Restoration Project to assist in improving and maintaining the health of our watershed.
A: The acronym stands for Integrated Water Management Plan and it is a framework of scientific studies and research that provides us with a better understanding of what the Blue River needs to become a thriving healthy ecosystem despite impacts from dams and reduced flow, poor water quality, and increased recreational use.
Q: Why do we need an IWMP for the Blue River Basin?
A: The long-term goal of the IWMP is to enable all water users to plan for current and future use and integrate those uses for the maximum benefit of all users while protecting the existing water resource and the fragile ecosystems it supports.
Q: Where are we at in the process?
A: The project has published up Phase 1, conducted field research for Phase 2, and is in the project proposal and planning parts of Phase 3.
Q: What are the phases of the IWMP?
A: There are 3 Phases including: researching the problems, collecting data and information on how the problems can be solved, and project design and implementation.
Phase 1 was an information gathering phase. We compiled current research, management plans and stakeholder input. A big takeaway is that we do not know the reason(s) for the declining Blue River trout fishery between Silverthorne and Green Mountain Reservoirs.
Phase 2 involved collecting additional data in several areas in order to present the community with a comprehensive picture of the health of the Blue River watershed. This phase pinpointed effective strategies to address the declining fishery between Dillon and Green Mountain Reservoirs.
Phase 3 is in process. We are in the process of implementing the newly created Blue River Habitat Restoration Project to assist in improving and maintaining the health of our watershed.
Check out our Q&A Instagram Live event recordings
Update - phase 3
Released July 2023
Additional research completed in spring, summer, and fall of 2022. Study area is downstream of Dillon Dam to determine the potential causes of the declining fishery.
The attached files include a habitat restoration master plan to improve the fisheries.
The attached files include a habitat restoration master plan to improve the fisheries.
| Blue River IWMP Master Plan.pdf |
| Technical Report Dillon Dam to USFS Blue River Campground2023.pdf |
| Referenced: CPW Blue River in Silverthorne_2018.pdf |
Update - phase 2
Published May 2022
Additional research completed in spring, summer, and fall of 2021. Study area is downstream of Dillon Dam to determine the potential causes of the declining fishery.
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IWMP: Phase 1
Read The SUMMIT Daily's summary of the iwmp's report on river health
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Want to help?
There are three ways you can make a difference today: 1. Funding: The Blue River Watershed Group and Trout Unlimited have secured $750,000 dollars to scientifically determine the limiting factors in the Blue River and our watershed. Each dollar you donate will be matched with a dollar donated by the Colorado Water Conservation Board! 2. Participate in Public Review. Attend the State of the Blue River free educational event on May 23rd, 2023 at the Silverthorne Pavilion to learn about the research conclusions and how you can help prioritize the needs of the watershed. 3. Join the Advisory Committee. The group that has a large impact on our basin-wide management plan and steers the creative process. Email [email protected] to get placed on the stakeholder list. Learn more in our fall virtual BRIWMP updateRECORDING
Topic: Fall Blue River IWMP Update Time: Sep 30, 2021 Fast-forward to minute 7 for the presentation |
The Blue River Watershed Group is proud to have partnered with Trout Unlimited to produce a basin-wide Integrated Water Management Plan (IWMP) for the Blue River basin.
Fund good science and donate to the IWMP so our studies can tell an accurate story about the health of the river and GET MATCHED DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR
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Project details by Phase
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Interested in joining the IWMP Advisory Committee?
Are you an Angler?
Take a moment to share your concerns for the watershed as an angler. 
We want to hear from you! Please fill out our short questionnaire to tell us what watershed issues, concerns, and projects are the most important to you. |
Phase 1:
Objective 1. To understand the potential causes of the declining fishery between Dillon and Green Mountain reservoirs and determine whether (and how) the decline can be reversed or mitigated. Objective 2. To compile, review and integrate existing basin studies, plans and other information regarding physical and biological aspects of the Blue River basin water resources for the purpose of formulating objectives and goals that will guide future water management decisions. Project staff established an Advisory Committee who guide and inform the identification of concerns and important issues, goals and objectives, analyses and studies, framework for long-term monitoring and the development of a community driven plan that will be carried forward into Phase 2. The committee will meet at all major junctions of the process and will be made up of representatives of the major stakeholder groups including (but not limited to):
If you are interested in being a member of the IWMP Advisory Committee, please contact [email protected]. We will be hosting our next Advisory Committee (AC) meeting after our project team reviews the comments provided from the AC on the draft report for Phase 2. Sign up for our newsletter to ensure you are notified of current dates and events. |
Phase 2: Assess declining fishery between Dillon and Green Mountain Reservoirs
Phase one's results have pointed to the need for additional data in several areas in order to present the community with a comprehensive picture of the health of both the main stem of the Blue River and the entire watershed. The project team believes that additional data is needed throughout the watershed but is especially important in our effort to pinpoint effective strategies to address the declining fishery between Dillon and Green Mountain Reservoirs. The following tasks will be completed in Phase 2 to build upon the work completed thus far:
Outreach Phase Spring/Summer 2023:
Develop and Implement Goals and Objectives
The information generated by the Project Staff and Consultants will be utilized to inform the Blue River community and Advisory Committee on relevant issues and support the development of the IWMP through implementation goals and objectives in Phase Two. Those goals and objectives will likely include multi-use projects and innovative water management techniques that will be vetted through the development of environmental, agricultural and recreational values and goals that will be identified during community meetings and through the Advisory Committee review and recommendation process.
Projects will consider the following among many other factors:
Phase one's results have pointed to the need for additional data in several areas in order to present the community with a comprehensive picture of the health of both the main stem of the Blue River and the entire watershed. The project team believes that additional data is needed throughout the watershed but is especially important in our effort to pinpoint effective strategies to address the declining fishery between Dillon and Green Mountain Reservoirs. The following tasks will be completed in Phase 2 to build upon the work completed thus far:
- Task 1: Develop scientifically valid restoration strategies through evaluation of existing stream flows – both temporally and quantitatively – in relationship to the geomorphology of the stream.
- Task 2: Sample macroinvertebrates at 10 sample sites in 2021 (following the same protocol from 2020). Eight of these sites were sampled in 2020, and two of these sites will be new in 2021.
- Task 3: Sample periphyton at 8 sample sites (coincident with Macro sites) 3 times during the growing season. This will build on the initial samples taken in 2020 from the Blue River at the macro-invertebrate sampling sites and subsequently analyzed.
- Task 4: Create temperature profiles at the sample sites to offer variable correlations and demonstrate habitat conditions.
- Task 4: Continue to work closely with stakeholders including the Advisory Committee and BREW to ensure the BRIWMP project stays on track with community priorities and concerns. Members of these groups also provide critical expertise in a wide variety of subject areas.
- Task 5: Integrate the findings of Phase 2 into an updated BRIWMP.
Outreach Phase Spring/Summer 2023:
Develop and Implement Goals and Objectives
The information generated by the Project Staff and Consultants will be utilized to inform the Blue River community and Advisory Committee on relevant issues and support the development of the IWMP through implementation goals and objectives in Phase Two. Those goals and objectives will likely include multi-use projects and innovative water management techniques that will be vetted through the development of environmental, agricultural and recreational values and goals that will be identified during community meetings and through the Advisory Committee review and recommendation process.
Projects will consider the following among many other factors:
- All collected and existing available studies, restoration efforts, data, and anecdotal information.
- Water operations, diversions for local and major water users.
- Recreational users such as the boating and angling community (river and marinas) and skiing and golf community.
- Conditions of agricultural irrigation and producers infrastructure.
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Header photo courtesy of Bill Linfield.
Thank you the supporters of the iwmp!
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