After 318 cottonwood trees along the Uncompahgre River were summarily cleared last fall to make way for a 57-acre regional shopping center on the southern end of Montrose, a group of concerned citizens has organized to develop a watershed plan for the 1,000 square miles of river corridor in Ouray, Montrose and Delta counties.

Dubbed the Uncompahgre River Stewardship Alliance, the group’s mission is to develop a watershed plan to restore and protect water quality in the entire Uncompahgre River Basin and “enhance opportunities for safe public enjoyment.”

The watershed area passes through five municipalities and comprises 531 miles of perennial waterways and 21 lakes.

At present, the region is facing unprecedented development pressures that show no sign of abatement.

Last year, members of the newly formed Friends of the River Uncompahgre as well as the Montrose-based Uncompahgre Valley Alliance and the Western Colorado Congress, complained that there were no public hearings, environmental impact statement, “proper” permits, or an effective response from local, state or federal agencies before the tree clearing occurred at the River Landing shopping mall site. In short, an oversight process was not in place that could ensure protections of the riparian area situated at the south end of Montrose.

Moreover, it became evident that there was no watershed plan in place for the Uncompahgre River corridor, despite the fact that the Uncompahgre River is listed on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Impaired Water Quality List 303(d).

According to a presentation by Ouray County resident and activist Sara Coulter, who appeared before the Ouray County Board of Commissioners on April 24 representing the Uncompahgre River Stewardship Alliance, the organization’s strategy will be to provide assessment and management information “for a geographically defined watershed in order to resolve and prevent water quality problems that result from point and non point source problems.”

“The stimulus was the River Landing outrage,” Coulter said. “Those who followed what happened there asked, ‘Isn’t there any protection for the river?’ What there was wasn’t being enforced.”

Coulter asked the county commissioners for a letter in support of the Uncompahgre River Stewardship Alliance in order for the organization to obtain what is known as a Section 319 grant, which would be used to fund development of an Uncompahgre Watershed Plan. The county commissioners agreed to support the idea in principle, but stopped short of approving a resolution. They said a letter of support would be forthcoming pending additional feedback from the public.

According to a paper prepared by the Uncompahgre River Stewardship Alliance, “Laying the Groundwork for an Uncompahgre Watershed Plan,” the organization will coordinate information and expertise and facilitate public involvement in restoration and river protection, providing a forum for citizens, land managers, interest groups and all levels of government to collaborate on river stewardship projects in the Uncompahgre River Watershed.

The Uncompahgre River Stewardship Alliance has gained initial support and commitments from the City of Montrose, Town of Ridgway, Montrose Recreation District, Ridgway State Park, San Juan Corridors Coalition, Friends of the River Uncompahgre, Ridgway-Ouray Community Council, and the Uncompahgre Valley Association.

It will also be contacting a myriad of potential project partners, including other municipalities along the corridor, forest agencies and public lands foundations and nonprofits, as well as landowners, recreational interests, and gravel and mining companies.