Plan Updates

Across the Upper Gunnison Basin, community members, organizations, and agencies are working together to put drought planning into action. These stories highlight the innovative projects, collaborative partnerships, and on-the-ground solutions that are helping to conserve water, protect ecosystems, and support local livelihoods.

By sharing these examples, we celebrate progress and inspire continued efforts to build a more resilient future for our watershed.

Successful Projects

Keeping Water in Tomichi Creek in Dry Years

Tomichi Water Conservation Program, Trout Unlimited

Tomichi Creek, a vital tributary of the Gunnison River, often runs dry in summer—disrupting the flow of the river and cutting off habitat for fish. In 2018, Trout Unlimited and the Colorado Water Trust teamed up with six local landowners to change that.

Together, they launched a creative solution: after July 1, participating irrigators agreed to temporarily stop diverting water from the creek when flows dropped too low. This “Temporary Instream Flow Lease” kept water in the creek for up to 12.3 miles in the Tomichi State Wildlife Area, helping fish move freely and keeping the river connected—while still supporting local agriculture.

The plan was triggered by seasonal water forecasts. In total, 1,003 acres of irrigated land were enrolled, and landowners received compensation for the water they conserved. The project was carefully modeled in advance—both streamflow and groundwater—to determine impacts, viability, and measure success. 

The results? Streamflows were met during critical months, and a positive example of how irrigators, agencies, and community organizations can work together to conserve water. Trout Unlimited hopes this collaborative effort will inspire similar local conservation partnerships in the future.

Working Together for the Taylor River

Taylor River Local Users Group, Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District 

Bringing together the various interests and the expertise of local agricultural irrigators, boaters, flat water recreations, anglers, and property owners, the Taylor Local User’s Group (TLUG) is responsible for making recommendations to the UGRWCD Board of Directors on operational releases from Taylor Park Reservoir each year to balance competing water needs. 

The TLUG has integrated state of the art water supply planning and data collection such as airborne snow pack measurement, SnoTel and SnoLite stations, manual field snowpack measurements, soil moisture sensors, stream gauges, etc. that assist with forecasting seasonal water supply availability. The TLUG meets regularly from March through September.

Don Sabrowski (Chair TLUG), “The collective work of the TLUG serves as a model for how diverse water users can come together to collaborate in the management of limited water supplies for the greatest community good.”

For more information visit ugrwd.org/tlug.

Working Together for the Taylor River

Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District 

Thanks in part to grant funds the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District received as part of the “Transformative Landscape Challenge,” non-functional turf was removed at the office and a demonstration garden was installed.  

This project supports the District’s broader goals of promoting native plant use, reducing water consumption, and enhancing local biodiversity. Plus, it ties in as a direct mitigation action within the Upper Gunnison Drought Plan’s Native Gardens Demonstration Project.