Upper Ohio Creek Flow Restoration

Trout Unlimited is working to improve stream flows and fish habitat in Castle Creek and the Ohio Creek--tributaries of the Gunnison River--by collaborating with irrigators on irrigation infrastructure, irrigation management, and riparian improvements.

TU is providing technical and financial assistance to improve irrigation efficiency, and management guidelines to reduce diversions from Castle Creek. TU is in the process of communicating with water users about the relationship between irrigation management and healthy flows.

Plans for efficiency improvements have grown from one irrigation ditch user to two.  The work has increased monitoring and communication between ditch users, which will reduce water being unnecessarily diverted and improve stream flows for fish.