What Have We Accomplished? What Have We Learned? A Review of Walton Family Foundation Riparian Restoration Program
Peter Skidmore1*, P.G.
1Walton Family Foundation, Denver, CO, USA; pskidmore@wffmail.com
A retrospective on what has been accomplished and what has been learned in riparian restoration is set in the context of a range of goals, opportunities, and constraints on these rivers. Since 2009, the Walton Family Foundation has supported partnerships and restoration of riparian systems throughout the Colorado River basin. Project areas span a spectrum of watershed conditions, dominant stressors, and restoration opportunities dictated by watershed and social context. Through 10 years of engagement and $30M in funding, the foundation’s watershed partners have implemented planned restoration treatments in five diverse river systems - the Dolores River, Escalante River, Verde River, Gila River, and the Colorado River Delta. While there are important lessons and perspectives, restoration of vegetation communities is a long-term endeavor and will require ongoing commitments to stewardship and monitoring.