Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Project: GJO Horsethief Canyon SWA Grant Renewal (HCSWA)

The purpose of the Grand Valley Unit (Unit) of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Project is to decrease salt loading to the Colorado River. The Unit improved canal and lateral systems in Mesa County, Colorado. As these improvements were made, scattered wetlands and other wildlife habitat were dried up and lost. To compensate for this loss, Reclamation worked with the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Colorado Division of Wildlife (now the Colorado Parks & Wildlife) to acquire, develop, and preser ve permanent wildlife habitats along the Colorado River.

Th
e
se areas that CPW will operate and m
a
intain encompass over 2
,
000 acres o
f
p
r
ime wildlife habitat along th
e
Colorado River. Project will release stress on properties and provide restoration of native cottonwood riparian forests, create wetlands
,
and plant permanent grassland and shrub habitat.