Trout Unlimited Joins Collaborative Effort in Rocky Mountain National Park

By Celia Sheneman

If you have ever driven over Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park, then you have probably enjoyed the serenity and scenery of the beloved Kawuneeche Valley, which lies just inside the Grand Lake entrance to the Park. The headwaters of the Colorado River flow through this landmark valley at the start of its epic journey to Mexico. The Valley is a vital part of the Upper Colorado River watershed, playing significant roles in flood mitigation, drought mitigation, and wildlife habitat. Once a lush, percolating riparian wetlands teeming with birds, bugs, trout, and beaver split by a meandering stream that frequently flooded the meadow, the Valley has now lost more than 75% of its tall willows and with that the beavers that sustained its wetlands. What was once a wet beaver-willow ecosystem is now largely an elk-moose grassland.  

In 2020 Rocky Mountain National Park, the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forests, Northern Water, the Colorado River District, Grand County, and the Town of Grand Lake formed an inclusive collaboration to study and rejuvenate this picturesque and critical gateway. The Kawuneeche Valley Restoration Collaboration (KVRC) goal is to achieve long-term benefits of a healthy environment including improved water quality, wildlife habitat, and aesthetic and recreational value. Now TU has joined this group effort to work to return the Kawuneeche Valley to its status as a vibrant and diverse ecosystem.

KVRC has engaged Colorado State University to perform an assessment of the watershed and to make recommendations for potential pilot restoration sites. Four potential sites with high chances of success and cost-effective ecosystem restoration have been identified. These initial sites are within Rocky Mountain National Park and include Beaver, Baker, Bowen, and Onahu Creeks. Going forward, KVRC is striving to implement a variety of restoration projects on public lands in the Valley and surrounding private lands that could include strategies such as planting willows/riparian vegetation, installation of beaver dam analogs, restoration of abandoned ditches, levees and dams, and temporary fencing to allow recovery of vegetation. CTU joined this group with plans to participate in field projects that align with TU's mission and bringing resource support and volunteers for execution of field projects. Additional participants include Rocky Mountain National Park, US Forest Service, the Colorado River District, Grand County, Town of Grand Lake and the Colorado Water Conservation Board.

As assessment results are evaluated and the new pilot projects are implemented, look for more news on TU’s involvement and engagement as well as opportunities for TU members to participate in the KVRC to renew the riparian home of the headwaters of the Colorado River!

Celia Sheneman is a Director at Large for Colorado Trout Unlimited and represents CTU with the KVRC.