River Ecosystem Restoration Initiative RERI

1
River Ecosystem Restoration Initiative (RERI)

• New Mexico Environment Department
• Surface Water Quality Bureau
• Karen Menetrey

2
RERI Funding

• Governor Richardsons 2007 Year of Water
• Goals and objectives developed by stakeholders in
  January 2007
• 2.5 million appropriated in 2007 (Governors
  capital outlay funds)
• 2.8 million appropriated in 2008
• (severance tax bonds)

3
RERI Goal

• To fund projects that restore instream ecosystem
  function and watershed health.
• Primarily physical projects
• Planning, design, permitting, education,
  outreach, monitoring costs funded if integral to
  a physical project.

4
RERI Administrative Process

• RFP issued spring 2007 and 2008
• 25-30 proposals received
• Multi-agency Evaluation Committee NMED, NMGF,
  NMEMNRD (Forestry Division), NMDA, ISC, USACE,
  NMSU
• Finalists selected by Governors Office
• 12 projects in 2007
• 15 projects in 2008

5
(No Transcript)
6
RERI Objectives/Project Selection Criteria

• Physical project addressing instream ecosystem
  function and watershed health
• Clear objectives and measurable outcomes
• Maximizes biological diversity
• Community support/partnerships
• Pre-and post-project monitoring
• Long term stewardship
• Education and outreach plan
• Leverages other funding/Links to an existing
  project

7
Typical Elements of an RERI Project

• Removing/changing manmade structures
• Constructing erosion control and instream
  structures
• Removing non-native vegetation
• Planting native riparian vegetation
• Fencing out livestock large wildlife from new
  plantings
• Providing other water sources

8
Gila River- The Nature Conservancy
Installing a piezometer to measure ground water
level
Planting willows in the floodplain
9
Rio Puerco- Wild Earth Guardians Stream Team
Volunteers plant willows, cottonwoods, other
riparian species on a point bar
John Horning, Wild Earth Guardians, directs
volunteers
10
Galisteo Creek- Earth Works Institute
One rock dams for erosion control
Earthmoving to reinstate a meander
11
Lower Pecos River at Bitter Lake NWR
Paul Tashjian, USFWS biologist directs baseline
flow measurements and nets fish with Venture
Scouts and 4-H club members
12
RERI Challenges

• Capital outlay limits funding uses
• Funding not directly to NMED
• Funding may not be recurring
• Difficult to show and attribute results in a
  short period

13
Restoration Results Take Time
Newly planted cottonwood poles on the Rio Puerco
compared to an older cottonwood tree
14
RERI Successes

• Tremendous interest and response
• Interagency cooperation (evaluation process)
• Integrative projects
• Education and Outreach (adults and youth)
• Promotes creative partnerships
• Some 2007 projects nearly completed

15
Timeframe for Completion and Updating of RERI

• Four year contracts
• Current RERI cycle completed by 2012
• Ongoing discussions with stakeholders about
  RERIs future

16
For RERI informationwww.nmenv.state.nm.us/SWQB/
RERIKaren Menetrey [phone]