RBC | Former water commissioner for the White River Basin, Shanna Lewis, has been selected as the coordinator of the “Miracle in the Desert: Riparian Restoration Using Low Cost/Low Tech Solutions,” according to White River Alliance president Shawn Welder. “We are excited to have someone with Shanna’s water knowledge and local relationships for this educational and hands on program.
Welder explained that a $25,000 grant from The Nature Conservancy would provide funding for a hands-on workshop this fall for interested landowners and citizens in Northwest Colorado. “We will host knowledgeable speakers at the workshop and give interested people a chance to see what has been done already in Rio Blanco County using these techniques, from ‘one rock dams’ to ‘beaver dam analogs’ and other solutions,” said Welder. “These techniques have been used in several other very dry states in the West to revitalize springs and tributaries, to help reduce sediment and to restore riparian areas.”
The public is invited and more details will be shared as Lewis and the White River Alliance committee members, along with partners including the White River BLM, American Rivers and RiversEdge West finalize the plans.
Lewis grew up in Yampa, Colorado, on her family’s cattle ranch. While growing up helping her family on the ranch she learned the importance of taking care of our natural resources. After college she began working for the State of Colorado as a water commissioner in the North Platte drainage. When the water commissioner position opened up in the White River drainage in late 2014 she accepted the position. In July 2022, she resigned from the State to enjoy spending time with her kids. Her most recent adventures include starting her own business, White River Records, and accepting the project coordinator position for a riparian restoration workshop being put on this fall. In her free time she loves spending time with her family outdoors and with livestock.
“I am really looking forward to learning more as this project comes together, and educating the community about how we can restore our critical riparian habitat which has been so challenged in recent years with drought,” Lewis said.
PRESS RELEASE
Submitted to the Herald Times
