The Animas Watershed Project (AWP) is an extension of the Animas River Nutrient Workgroup (ARNW), which formed in December 2002 to address perceived nutrient enrichment on the Animas River. Stakeholders associated with the Animas Watershed Project, and the previous incarnation as the ARNW, include individuals and agency representatives from Colorado, New Mexico, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.
In the fall of 2003, 2004, and 2005, the Animas River Nutrient Workgroup collected nutrient chemistry, periphyton, and macroinvertebrate data to determine whether or not the Animas River is nutrient impaired. As a result of this effort, coupled with data collected by the New Mexico Environment Department, a lower reach of the Animas was put on New Mexico's 303(d) List and a TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) was prepared to address the impairment.
Today, the AWP convenes monthly, alternating between meeting venues in Aztec, New Mexico and Durango, Colorado. The goal of the AWP is to draft a Watershed Management Plan using the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters. [1] This Handbook details nine minimum elements to be included in a watershed plan. The group is also developing a sampling and analysis plan, researching grant opportunities, and compiling a geographical database focusing on water quality and land use along the Animas River.
AWP's Mission is to protect and improve the quality of water resources in the Animas Watershed. The Animas Watershed Project strives to create a community-based collaborative process involving all stakeholders in which we operate by consensus, use all available data sources, and, make informed decisions based on sound science.
The next AWP meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 21, 2009, in Durango, Colorado from 3 - 5 p.m. The meeting will be conducted in the Animas Room at the La Plata County Fairground Extension Office Building.
Please contact Janet Wolf at 970.382.7256 with any questions.
Stakeholders are encouraged to review the following documents and Web sites:
Links:
[1] http://www.epa.gov/nps/watershed_handbook/#contents
[2] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Draft_Agenda_nov_12.doc
[3] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Section_III_Outline.doc
[4] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/slides_nov_12.pdf
[5] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/meeting_summary_Nov.doc
[6] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Draft_Agenda_oct_15.doc
[7] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Rev_Section_2_AWP_Plan.doc
[8] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/slides_janet_oct_15.pdf
[9] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Mtg_Summary_Report_oct.doc
[10] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Draft_Agenda_sept_10.doc
[11] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Meeting_Slides_09_10_Janet.pdf
[12] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Section_II_Presentation2.pdf
[13] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Mtg_Summary_Report_sept.doc
[14] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Draft_Agenda_july_16_0.doc
[15] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Meeting_Slides_07_16_-_Janet.pdf
[16] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Presentation1_7-16-08.pdf
[17] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Mtg_Summary_Report_july.doc
[18] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Draft_Agenda_june_18.doc
[19] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Newcomers_Info_about_AWP_formatted_6-12-08.doc
[20] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Watershed_Plan_Strategy_update_May_30.pdf
[21] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/awsp_3_0_front.pdf
[22] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/awsp_3_0_back.pdf
[23] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/DRAFT_Section_I.doc
[24] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Mtg_Summary_Report_june_rev.doc
[25] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Draft_Agenda.doc
[26] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Newcomers_Info_about_AWP.doc
[27] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Upcoming_Potential_Outreach_Opportunities.doc
[28] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Draft_brochure_text.doc
[29] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Watershed_Plan_Strategy_5_15_2008.pdf
[30] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Mtg_Summary_Report_may.doc
[31] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Draft_Agenda_April_2_2008_rev.doc
[32] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/Draft_Intial_Planning_Document_rev_2.doc
[33] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/AWP_April_2008_presentation.pdf
[34] http://www.ecosphere-services.com/sites/ecosphere-services.com/files/u5/April_2_2008_Meeting_Summary.pdf
[35] http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/swqb/Projects/SanJuan/BasinPlan/SanJuanBasinPlan.pdf
[36] http://www.npscolorado.com/