Restoring rivers. Improving water quality.
From headwaters to the Lower Arkansas — restoring the basin’s waterways.
Connected by water.
What happens upstream affects everything downstream.
The Arkansas River Basin carries a century of history in its water — from mining legacy in the headwaters to agricultural infrastructure in the lower basin. ARWC’s watershed restoration work addresses the full spectrum: cleaning up contaminated mine sites, restoring degraded streams, improving fish passage, monitoring water quality, and building new partnerships with communities who depend on the river.
This work looks different in every part of the basin. In Lake County, it means reclaiming mine-impacted lands at California Gulch. Near Pueblo, it means studying the feasibility of improving the Minnequa Diversion Dam for fish passage and river connectivity. In the Lower Arkansas, it means listening to agricultural communities and building relationships before prescribing solutions.
What ties it all together is data. Our River Watch monitoring program provides the water quality information that drives every project decision — science-informed, locally driven, and built on partnership.
How we do it.
Programs and projects designed to restore landscapes across the basin.
California Gulch Mine Reclamation
ARWC’s largest project — a multi-year, $3.9M+ effort to clean up legacy mining damage in Lake County. Three active projects address stream crossings, upland mine sites, and mine tunnel remediation in partnership with CDPHE.
Minnequa Diversion Dam Feasibility Study
Evaluating options for improving fish passage, river connectivity, and recreational access at a 1940s-era diversion dam on the Arkansas River near Pueblo. Supported by CWCB and 12 community funding partners.
River Watch Monitoring Program
A citizen science-based water quality monitoring program in partnership with River Science and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Volunteers and staff collect data at sites across the basin to track water quality trends and inform project decisions.
Lower Arkansas Engagement
ARWC is expanding into the lower basin — building relationships with agricultural producers, ditch companies, conservation districts, and municipalities from Pueblo to the Kansas border. Watershed health in the Lower Ark means reliable water, managing selenium and salinity, and maintaining aging infrastructure.
Stream & Riparian Restoration
Restoring degraded streams and riparian areas across the basin — including Flume Creek erosion control, Hayden Meadows restoration with Trout Unlimited, and Twin Lakes/Interlaken implementation work.
Restoration in numbers.
Measured progress, from headwaters to plains.
CA Gulch investment
Water quality monitoring sites
Minnequa funding partners
Counties in our service area
Where we’re working.
Active restoration and monitoring across the basin.
Fluvial Tailings Remediation Project
Project Background Along an 11-mile stretch of the Arkansas River, almost 7...
Sherman Mine and Channel Construction Project
Project Background The Sherman Mine, also known as Day Mines, is situated in the upper Iowa Gulch at the base of Mt....
Dinero Mine Tunnel Investigation Project
Project Background The Dinero Mine Tunnel, located in the upper Arkansas River area, has been the focus of restoration...
Water connects us all.
Learn how you can support watershed restoration.
Every contribution helps protect the rivers, streams, and water supplies that communities across the basin depend on.