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MONTROSE P DAILY RESS
montrosepress.com | SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 2019 MURA approves over $1M in Uncompahgre River restoration
• MURA determined amount during Wednesday meeting • Project to benefit Uncompahgre River • Bell says businesses interested near Mayfly Outdoors interested near Mayfly Outdoors
BY ANDREW KISER
A new stretch on the Uncompahgre River near Mayfy Outdoors will become the destination for fsh- ermen, kayakers and even bikers and runners once the “Connect the People to their Parks and Recreation” trails move in. Tat’s what City Manager Bill Bell envisions for Montrose’s future once later this year, Phase 1 of a proj- ect that would restore and improve a 0.65-mile stretch of Uncompahgre River begins. Te project has become a reality afer Wednesday’s Montrose Urban Renewal Authority meeting. Te 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. Tere’s no private access to those waters,” Bell said. “So it’s all going to be really good.” Te city anticipates construction to begin in November. Bell said, due to the river fow, 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 A cloudless sky and clear waters from the Uncompahgre River at Riverbottom Park. Montrose has been selected by the time, City Engineer Scott Murphy said previously to Colorado Water Conservation Board to receive $400,000 for the Colorado Watershed Restoration Program and improvements on the Uncompahgre River. (Montrose Daily Press file photo) the Montrose Daily Press. Te problem stems from past land use practices, leaving some areas packed with de- Program to enhance the Uncompahgre. the Uncompahgre River. Once completed, this section bris and rubble Additionally, aerial images have shown the river chan- City of Montrose grant coordinator Kendall Cramer of the river will join a section of the Gunnison River nel has migrated around 400 feet in some places over previously said the river has experienced fow modifca- which connects to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison the past 50 years, Murphy said. tions and encroachment, which has developed a wider National Park and joins the Gunnison Gorge. Te city previously received helped to address this channel, bank stabilization issues and a lack of aquatic According to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife web- in a $400,000 grant given by the Colorado Water and riparian habitat. site, gold medal standing is reserved for state waters Conservation Board (CWCB) in January. Te funds Te city is hopeful this project will be the frst step come through the Colorado Watershed Restoration in receiving a gold medal fshery designation within See MURA page 3
Published for the Uncompahgre Valley WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MONTROSEDAILYPRESS @montrosepress and Karl Schaeffer of Montrose
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BACK 138371 MONTROSE DAILY PRESS LOCAL SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 2019 A3 MURA on that end of town, he now feel like you’re in northwest of down- BUY • SELL • TRADE • BROWSE FROM PAGE A1 added. something.” town Montrose. The The city manager in- Plans are underway board is comprised of GUNGUN SHOWSHOW dicated once Mayfly for Phase 2 and 3 of the Brad Hughes, Montrose ADMISSION $5 MAR 15 - 17 CHILDREN UNDER 12 that produce a minimum started building its Uncompahgre River, Bell County assessor; Tad 3 DAY PASS $10 FREE WITH ADULT of 60 pounds of trout per project, there was “a added. One section of im- Rowan, Montrose Fire MONTROSE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS acre and 12 trout measur- domino effect” put into provement will be by the Protection District fire NORTH 2ND & PYTHIAN - 2 BLOCKS NORTH OF MCDONALD’S ing 14-inches or longer West Main Street bridge chief; Gayle Johnson, FRIDAY: 4PM-8PM|SATURDAY:9AM-5PM|SUNDAY:9AM-2PM
place as various com- 141385 per acre. panies — like Marriott and the other phase will Montrose County School City ofcials said Phase Gun Show Rates Available FOR RESERVATION MAIL REMITTANCE TO: include work on the north District board vice pres- at Black Canyon Motel MONTROSE ROD & GUN CLUB 1 of the project for the Hotels — have ex- pressed interest to move end of town, he explained. ident; city council and 1605 E Main St - Montrose C/O RICHARD FRANTZ OR WENDY BRITTELL Uncompahgre wouldn’t be Te MURA was created the city manager. 970-249-3495 517 E. MAIN, MONTROSE, CO 81401 possible if not for Mayfy to Montrose. “The hard part of any in late 2016 by a Montrose Andrew Kiser is the Outdoors, the parent City Council resolution. Montrose Daily Press’ new development, es- company of Abel and Ross MURA encompasses sports/business writer. pecially when it was all Reels, donating 42 acres around 160 acres along Follow him on Twitter vacant ground before, is of land along the river to the Uncompahgre River @andrew_kpress the city. nobody wants to be the Tat stretch of land of first one in,” Bell said. North Grand Avenue next “But now that Mayfly’s News tip or story idea? to Mayfy is also ready building has been to see growth, Bell said. built and the improve- Businesses, apartments ments on the streets [email protected] and rentals could be built and everything, you can