Apply for Yampa River Fund – United States

Deadline: 01-Apr-2024

Applications are now open for the Yampa River Fund (YRF), a community-based collaborative dedicated to identifying and funding activities that protect the water supply, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities provided by the Yampa River.

The YRF will invest in conservation and restoration activities that positively impact Yampa River flows and support natural resource-based livelihoods, including agriculture and recreation, throughout the basin. It will ensure that a healthy, flowing Yampa River remains the thriving center of the communities for generations to come.

The goal of the Yampa River Fund is to establish a sustainable, voluntary funding source for the Yampa River in order to:

• Enhance water security for communities, agriculture, the economy, and the natural environment in the Yampa Valley;
• Support a healthy, flowing river and enhance critical low flows through water leases from reservoirs, and;
• Maintain or improve river function through a holistic approach to restoration of riparian and/or in-channel habitat.

Eligible Project Types

• Proposed projects must satisfy these YRF Priorities:
  • Support science-based projects classified in one of the project pools listed below.
  • Provide project budget, timeline, evaluation and monitoring plan, and letter(s) of support from affected project area landowners and/or water users.
• Project Funding Pools (Determine which Pool best represents the Project)
  • Pool A – Flow Enhancement Reservoir Releases: Voluntary, market-based water leases and releases from reservoirs that will enhance river flows based on best available science. Projects should benefit a critical river reach as defined by YRF Conservation Objectives, address aquatic habitat need, recreational activities, or ameliorate water quality standard exceedances. Examples include:
    • Any voluntary water lease from a reservoir (consistent with Colorado water law and in compliance with interstate compacts and the Federal Endangered Species Act) that increases flow during a period when river flows would not otherwise attain flow goals identified in the Yampa River Fund’s Conservation Objectives.
    • Priority is placed on leases that will benefit stream reaches with known valuable aquatic resources and/or riparian resources, recreational activities or that have known water quality standard exceedances.
  • Pool B – Identified Restoration Actions: Restoration actions (on private and public land) that will improve riparian, in-channel, streambank, and aquatic habitat, with emphasis on those that address critical water quality issues.
    • Examples include:
      • Restoration activity identified as a priority in the Steamboat Stream Management Plan or the Integrated Water Management Plan (“IWMP”).
      • Projects that restore stream function, provide aquatic habitat to benefit aquatic and/or terrestrial species, re-vegetate riparian areas with native species, reduce erosion, improve channel/floodplain connectivity, and other restoration projects that address ecological needs identified in the Yampa River Fund Conservation Objectives.
  • Pool C – Infrastructure Improvements: Infrastructure improvements that will generate combined consumptive use and environmental/recreational benefits.
    • Project proponent’s approach to long term sustainability must be described in the evaluation and monitoring plan.
    • Examples include:
      • Infrastructure projects that improve fish passage and recreational opportunities.
      • Infrastructure projects that eliminate the need for annual construction of gravel push-up diversion dams (and thereby allow fish passage and improve aquatic habitat).
      • Water efficiency improvement projects that result in measurably less water diverted from the river.

Eligibility Criteria

• The following categories are derived from the Yampa White Green Basin Roundtable eligibility criteria.
  • Public (Government): municipalities, enterprises, counties, and State of Colorado agencies. Federal agencies are eligible entities, but the agency would need to demonstrate why a local non-federal partner should not be the grant recipient. Federal agencies are encouraged to with local entities.
  • Public (Districts): Authorities, Title 32 special districts, (conservancy, conservation, and irrigation districts), and water activity enterprises.
  • Private Incorporated: this is limited to mutual ditch companies, homeowners’ associations, and nonprofit corporations.
  • Non-governmental organizations (NGOs): typically, nonprofit organizations.
• In the Yampa River Fund’s spirit of collaboration and desire for community benefit, landowners and groups that do not meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to partner with qualified organizations on potential YRF projects.

For more information, visit Yampa River Fund.