The Colorado River Connectivity Channel (CRCC) is restoring the lifeline of the Southwest while balancing water supply needs and environmental health. Spanning 1,450 miles and serving over 40 million people, the river supports communities, ecosystems, and economies across seven U.S. states and two in Mexico.
Built in the 1980s, the Windy Gap Reservoir met critical municipal water needs but disrupted fish migration, altered sediment transport, and elevated downstream temperatures. The CRCC addresses these challenges by creating a new, naturalized channel through part of the reservoir, reconnecting the river and enabling fish passage, sediment flow, and healthier stream temperatures.
The project’s design mimics the river’s diverse landscape, yielding immediate benefits: connectivity for aquatic species like mottled sculpin and trout, enhanced habitat for fish and macroinvertebrates, improved sediment transport, and expanded wetlands and riparian floodplain. Key achievements include more than one mile of new stream length, 50 acres of riparian habitat, 10 acres of wetlands, and 90 acres of restored land.
AECOM partnered with the Municipal Subdistrict and a coalition of agencies, nonprofits, corporations, and local governments—including Trout Unlimited, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Colorado River District—to deliver this transformative work.
Beyond ecological gains, the CRCC supports recreation, tourism, and long-term water reliability, offering a model for sustainable water management. With 20,000 new trees planted and the channel now open for fishing, the project’s ripple effects will benefit the Upper Colorado River and surrounding communities for generations.
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