Water supply and quality in the upper San Juan River are threatened by ongoing drought, warmer temperatures, and significant regional wildfire risk. Water from the San Juan River is essential for local municipalities, agricultural producers, ranchers and aquatic life. Additionally, a thriving river-recreation economy relies on dependable stream flows.
The Upper San Juan Watershed Enhancement Partnership (WEP) is a Colorado nonprofit corporation that is comprised of community-based stakeholders in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. The WEP's current focus is developing and implementing cooperative sustainable restoration projects that benefit multiple water uses within the Upper San Juan River Basin.
WEP collaborates to implement projects benefiting watershed function and health, river-related recreation, and irrigated agriculture in the Upper San Juan River Basin.
History and Development
● We were initially an informal group starting around 2018, coming together to investigate environmental and recreational water supply needs and agricultural irrigation infrastructure needs in the Upper San Juan River watershed.
● We embarked on the Upper San Juan Integrated Water Management Planning effort in 2018, with the first phase funded by Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB).
● This planning effort was conducted in three phases over several years:
~ Phase I: Formation of the Steering Committee, community outreach, and initial data review (2018-2020).
~ Phase II: Detailed environmental and recreational (E&R) needs assessment, along with an agricultural irrigation infrastructure assessment (May 2020-May 2021).
~ Phase III: Interpretation of findings and identification of cooperative projects across water user groups (June 2021-2022)
● Incorporated as a Colorado nonprofit organization in late 2023. IRS 501(c)(3) status obtained in 2024.
Integrated Water Management Plan (IWMP)
● The IWMP was a multi-year (2018-2022), stakeholder-driven planning process.
● It identified 25 potential projects across various sectors, guiding our current project implementation.
● The IWMP was a collaborative effort involving public meetings, web surveys, and partnerships with organizations.
The WEP launched their first multi-year river restoration project, The Pagosa Gateway Project, in 2024.
Organization name
Upper San Juan Watershed Enhancement Partnership
other names
Upper San Juan WEP
2023
Tax id (EIN)
93-2533694
Category
Environment
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
PO BOX 3238Archuleta County, CO, US
Mineral County, CO, US
Hinsdale County, CO, US