The Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership (UWP) is issuing a “Request for Proposals” (RFP) seeking a qualified and experienced consultant (herein referred to as “consultant”) to coordinate a community outreach project concerning river recreation in Ouray County (herein referred to as “project”).
The Uncompahgre River Valley is teeming with kayakers, rafters, paddle boarders, and tubers. Local river recreationalists often travel to rivers around Colorado and nearby states. The Montrose Water Sports Park and Uncompahgre River through the City of Montrose are well-used destinations. Lesser known but popular with Ouray County residents and visitors is a river segment starting at Rollans Park in Ridgway, flowing through BLM land and Dennis Weaver Park, and ending at Ridgway Reservoir.
As the local watershed group with an annual festival on the river banks at Rollans Park, UWP is frequently asked if the wave structures installed in the river at the park could be rebuilt to work more effectively. River lovers also have a strong desire for strategically located boat put-ins with dirt ramps and signage along the river. UWP’s strategic plan has a goal to assist in the prioritization and implementation of projects to improve the Uncompahgre River corridor around Ridgway, and some studies and meetings have set a foundation for future planning.
The project is focused on doing outreach with key stakeholders and interested community members with two purposes:
- Educate the community about the Uncompahgre River and riparian corridor conditions related to recreation on the stretch from the City of Ouray to Ridgway Reservoir, and help them understand the river and riverside recreation’s impact on the local economy and quality of life in Ouray County, and
- Develop a report about the economic/quality of life impacts of river-related recreation in Ouray County, and a report outlining community priorities for improvements to recreational and riverine functionality and infrastructure from the City of Ouray to Ridgway Reservoir, and possibly further north along the Uncompahgre.
Our primary goal is to increase local capacity by moving beyond dispersed conversation, ideas and lack of action, to strategically gather input about how people use the river corridor and help the community understand river corridor use and needs. Our secondary goals are to increase people’s connection to the Uncompahgre River, and develop plans for improving recreational and riverine function, balancing ecosystem health and human use and enjoyment.
Through community and decision-maker engagement, we can better understand potential projects, costs and funding sources, and community priorities. We can also garner the support of partners and key stakeholders through cooperation, in-kind contributions, and funding including donations and grants.
The improved river corridor will bring a higher quality of life, making local recreation accessible for novice to moderate paddlers and floaters. Preliminary, identified projects to explore with the community are: connecting the river trails between Ouray and Ridgway, creating public put-ins and takeouts for anglers and boaters, and installing signage to educate river users and promote safety and responsibility.
The rejuvenated river corridor will attract visitors to enjoy the river stretch and spend money in Ridgway and Ouray County: going out to eat and drink before and after their river excursions, renting equipment and gear from local outfitters, paying for guiding services, renting rooms to stay overnight, and purchasing local souvenirs to remember their great time here. This increased activity on the river will help take pressure off areas that are overrun with jeeping and camping in the summer. Finally, UWP’s leadership in the process will help ensure decisions promote environmental sustainability, watershed health, and wildlife habitat protection.
Funding for this project has been provided by the Town of Ridgway and the Western Colorado Community Foundation Donor Grants Fund. Key partners will be the Town of Ridgway, Ouray County, City of Ouray, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Colorado West Land Trust, Trout Unlimited Gunnison Gorge Anglers, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Ouray County Tubing Alliance, Ouray Trails Group, Ridgway-Ouray Community Council, and American Whitewater.
Full RFP with Scope of Work & Submittal Instructions
For questions regarding this RFP, please email Tanya at tanya@uncompahgrewatershed.org
For more information about the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership, please visit thttps://www.uncompahgrewatershed.org/
For information on Recreation Allies of the Uncompahgre River (RAUR), please visit https://www.uncompahgrewatershed.org/sustainable-recreation-committee/
