Posted on March 19, 2019
A new stretch on the Uncompahgre River near Mayfly Outdoors will become the destination for fishermen, kayakers and even bikers and runners once the “Connect the People to their Parks and Recreation” trails move in.
That’s what City Manager Bill Bell envisions for Montrose’s future once later this year, Phase 1 of a project that would restore and improve a 0.65-mile stretch of Uncompahgre River begins.
The project has become a reality after Wednesday’s Montrose Urban Renewal Authority meeting. The MURA board approved $1.1 million, which the city would loan to the authority from its undesignated fund balance.
“It (Uncompahgre River) is all open to the public. There’s no private access to those waters,” Bell said. “So it’s all going to be really good.”
The city anticipates construction to begin in November. Bell said, due to the river flow, work has to be completed within a four-month timeframe from November to February, when the water is at its lowest point.
Construction is needed for parts of the Uncompahgre River because it has become unsteady and hurt over time, City Engineer Scott Murphy said previously to the Montrose Daily Press. The problem stems from past land use practices, leaving some areas packed with debris and rubble
Additionally, aerial images have shown the river channel has migrated around 400 feet in some places over the past 50 years, Murphy said.
The city previously received helped to address this in a $400,000 grant given by the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) in January. The funds come through the Colorado Watershed Restoration Program to enhance the Uncompahgre.
City of Montrose grant coordinator Kendall Cramer previously said the river has experienced flow modifications and encroachment, which has developed a wider channel, bank stabilization issues and a lack of aquatic and riparian habitat.
The city is hopeful this project will be the first step in receiving a gold medal fishery designation within the Uncompahgre River. Once completed, this section of the river will join a section of the Gunnison River which connects to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and joins the Gunnison Gorge.
According to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website, gold medal standing is reserved for state waters that produce a minimum of 60 pounds of trout per acre and 12 trout measuring 14-inches or longer per acre.
City officials said Phase 1 of the project for the Uncompahgre wouldn’t be possible if not for Mayfly Outdoors, the parent company of Abel and Ross Reels, donating 42 acres of land along the river to the city.
That stretch of land off North Grand Avenue next to Mayfly is also ready to see growth, Bell said. Businesses, apartments and rentals could be built on that end of town, he added.
The city manager indicated once Mayfly started building its project, there was “a domino effect” put into place as various companies — like Marriott Hotels — have expressed interest to move to Montrose.
“The hard part of any new development, especially when it was all vacant ground before, is nobody wants to be the first one in,” Bell said. “But now that Mayfly’s building has been built and the improvements on the streets and everything, you can now feel like you’re in something.”
Plans are underway for Phase 2 and 3 of the Uncompahgre River, Bell added. One section of improvement will be by the West Main Street bridge and the other phase will include work on the north end of town, he explained.
The MURA was created in late 2016 by a Montrose City Council resolution. MURA encompasses around 160 acres along the Uncompahgre River northwest of downtown Montrose. The board is comprised of Brad Hughes, Montrose County assessor; Tad Rowan, Montrose Fire Protection District fire chief; Gayle Johnson, Montrose County School District board vice president; city council and the city manager.
Source: montrosepress.com
