Resources

Animas Watershed Project  

History, Purpose and Mission 

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.  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.

AWP Meeting Information

Upcoming Meetings

The next AWP meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, 2009, in Durango, Colorado from 3 - 5 p.m.  The meeting will be conducted in Animas Room at the La Plata County Fairground Extension Building.   

Please contact Janet Wolf at 970.382.7256 with any questions.

Past Meeting information 

• September 30, 2009:  Draft Agenda, meeting summary report
• August 26, 2009: Draft Agenda, meeting summary report
• July 22, 2009:  Draft Agenda, meeting summary report
• June 17, 2009:  Draft Agenda, meeting summary report 
• May 7, 2009:  Draft Agenda, meeting summary report
• March 25, 2009:  Draft Agenda, meeting summary report
• February 25, 2009: Draft Agenda, meeting summary report 
• January 21, 2009: Draft Agenda, meeting summary report    
• November 12, 2008:  Draft Agenda, Section 3 Outline, slide presentation, meeting summary report.
• October 15, 2008:  Draft Agenda, revised draft of Section 2, slide presentation, and the meeting summary report.
• September 10, 2008:  Draft Agenda, Slide Presentations: general meeting, Section 2 content; and the Meeting Summary Report.
• July 16, 2008: Draft Agenda, Slide Presentations for : general meeting, education strategies, Animas River Emergency Response Action Plan, and the Meeting Summary Report.
• June 18, 2008: Draft Agenda, Newcomers Document, Revised Watershed Plan strategy, brochure (front page, back page), draft Section 1 Introduction of the watershed management plan, Meeting Summary Report.
• May 14, 2008: Draft Agenda, Draft Newcomers Document, Public Outreach Opportunities Summer 2008, Draft brochure text, Watershed Plan Strategy , Meeting Summary Report
• April 2, 2008: Agenda, Revised Planning Document, Meeting Presentations, Meeting Summary Report

AWP Resources

Stakeholders are encouraged to review the following documents and Web sites:

• EPA's Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters
• The San Juan Watershed Group's San Juan Basin Watershed Management Plan
• Nonpoint Source Colorado's Web site