Infrastructure Resource Hub
Project
Management
Identifying multi-benefit projects
Multi-benefit projects can be a key to establishing funding, developing partnerships, collaborators, and partners, and ensuring longevity. When thinking about the goals of any project, there are likely ways to think bigger and broader. The scope does not just make a better project, but outcomes are often more widespread and positive in the end. Take for example a simple ditch infrastructure upgrade project. Often, a ditch company has little capacity and capital to make this project happen without a grant and additional support for the grant writing and management. Depending on a number of factors, a simple one-organization project and application can become multi-partner and multi-benefit. Adding features to improve fish habitat, add small hydropower, or plant buffer strips along the banks of a stream are simple ways to incorporate additional benefits such as improved water quality or habitat creation that may open up additional funding and technical assistance.
Adding partners and other collaborators to a primarily agricultural stakeholder project can provide addition benefits like:
Infrastructure assessments and maintenance plans
Added dialogue with others in the community or state-wide
“Match” for grants
Fire and forest health and recovery
Channel and bank stabilization
Phreatophyte removal
Flow and quality analysis
Groundwater recharge analysis
Adding components to any project to make a more robust project can be fairly easy- the creation of the vision is the first and easiest step. What comes with the added components, however, can include a need for more project partners and expertise, more funding, and more “cooks in the kitchen” if you will. A strong leader with a clear vision is necessary in this phase of the project when bringing on the right people and pieces to the project. Project leaders must also make sure all components are in line with the overall goal and main applicant. Ditch companies and other agricultural irrigators can be unsure of the grant process and adding many other project pieces may add to the trepidation of it all. A strong leader with a robust agricultural background can be an integral team member of the entire project.
To assist in making a project multi-benefit, it is worthwhile to reach out to local water conservancy or conservation districts, an existing watershed coalition, or another organization in your community that designs projects at the intersection of agriculture and the environment.
Prioritizing Projects
Prioritizing a project can be tricky for an agricultural irrigation company as there is always a long list of items to maintain and fix. Selecting the one project to put ahead of the rest needs to be strategic. Things to consider when prioritizing a project:
01
Will water be lost?
02
Do you have funding for the entire project?
03
Do you have support from shareholders, board members, staff, and other collaborators?
04
If the infrastructure or other project piece “breaks” will it be at a detriment to the system, ditch, and surrounding community at large?
Sometimes there is an opportunity to partner with other agricultural organizations or irrigation districts in the region for similar projects so that contributing funds can be used together. Other times you can use the same approach for similar components. For example, if a ditch company needs a new culvert and another needs new flow meters, sometimes you can still work on a grant together in order to collaborate and partner together. This also allows for greater opportunities for grant and project management.
​
Another thing to consider when prioritizing a project is the potential to add several projects into one grant. Oftentimes, you can add a gate restoration with a concrete repair on the dam, along with a wastegate cleanout and repair. This of course will add dollars to the total project cost but allows for more work to be done without changing the scope or elongating the project.
​
Prioritization also comes with timelines of funding and partnerships. Matching federal grants with state and local grants is a creative and beneficial solution to getting projects funded. A grant writer/manager will be a key aspect of the project if this is the route an organization pursues as it takes multiple applications, a long time, and patience in the process. Strategically applying for grants in tandem and in multiple time frames can really allow for a project to grow and change as it progresses.
TYpes of Projects and Scoping
General Project Scoping
To make a project multi-benefit will require additional time, resources and expertise.
Before starting any project the following items will need to be addressed in some way shape or form:
Types of technical assistance that’s needed to scope out a project
-
Environmental Impact Studies
-
Water Law Requirements for Diversions
-
Social and Economical Impacts
-
Risk Assessments
-
Upstream and Downstream Users
-
Water Quality Impacts
-
Water of the United States Assessments
-
FEMA Floodplain Impact Assessments
-
Survey depending on the scope of the project
-
Engineering designs include geotechnical, water resources, and infrastructure.
-
Permitting at federal, state, and local levels
-
Environmental scientists including but not limited to, macro and micro invertebrates specialists, water quality specialists, riparian area specialists, and policy adherence specialists
-
Funding acquisitions and managements
-
Project Management
-
Certified contractors to ensure liability and safety of the project
Diversion Upgrades and Reconstruction
01.
SCOPING
-
Investigate the current structure for faults, safety issues, or possible concerns for upstream and downstream users.
-
Examine the sediment deposition, debris, or blockage on the upstream and downstream sides of the structure.
-
Assess the capacity of the structure to handle the flows that are decreed per the uses under Colorado Water Law
-
If the assessments require the structure to be resized, removed, or poses a safety hazard then begin the process of Environmental Impact Studies, Social and Economic Impact Studies, Mineral Rights Assessment, Risk Assessment, and Initial Survey
-
If the project is a full tear down or build expect to take 2-5 years just to design, assess, and permit the project before any construction begins.
-
After the design, a licensed contractor will need to be hired through an RFP/RFQ to build the project based on the plans presented in engineering and survey design studies.
-
-
If the project is safe but requires repairs then start with an assessment of the problem.
-
Is the problem on the face of the structure or under the water level. If the damage is below the water level then plans for dewatering will need to be addressed. If the project can be repaired with fill in place materials then operations do not need to be stopped while repairs are needed.
-
03.
Skills Needed
Understanding of how to read designs assess safety, funding acquisition, partnership building, engineering and survey team acquisition, technical guidance for project management, and general water rights and diversion knowledge.
​
​
02.
Types of Assistance
-
Funding
-
Survey Teams
-
Engineering Consultants
-
Water Law Assessments
-
Water Quality and Environmental Impact Teams
-
Construction and General Contracting
-
Social and Economic Impact Teams
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
04.
Examples
REmote Measurement Devices
01.
SCOPING
-
Evaluate the accessibility of the project site for remote telecommunications
-
Including radio signal, Cell phone signal, and satellite access
-
Accessibility to the site for repairs, and maintenance.
-
-
Evaluate the site for the possibility of visibility for vandalism or other factors that could cause issues to equipment.
-
Assess the area for connectivity.
-
Locate and work with agencies to store and promote the data
-
DWR will likely be willing to integrate data into their DSS systems, but others might be self-serve built by tech companies.
-
How will the data be accessed by everyone or just by those with access codes?
-
-
Contact remote measurement device companies for constructability and installation.
02.
Skills Needed
Knowledge of how to handle, process, and store data. Privacy measures for all data that is shared, basic wiring and control set-ups, and equipment maintenance. Partnership building and development of a working relationship with state and local agencies.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
FISH AND Boater Passage
01.
SCOPING
-
Investigate the current situation for a boat or fish passage
-
Assess historical data for volume and type of passages that occur at the location.
Evaluate the historical incidents that have occurred such as injuries, failure for fish to swim upstream for spawning, or turbulence interaction with habitat and recreation.
-
-
Survey the project location for accessibility and mobility of the site.
-
Ensure that the project will be on a stable level ground that will be safe for all involved
-
Ensure that ownership is met for accessing the site, especially on private lands
-
-
Perform Environmental Impact Studies
-
Perform Water Quality Studies
-
Perform Social and Economic Studies
-
Perform Water Quality Studies to ensure that flows are sustainable for the structure.
-
Acquire multi-level funding (environmental, ag, municipal, governmental, and industrial)
-
Design the structure to fit the needs of the passage
-
Perform Education and Outreach for multi-discipline groups and the public based on the design and studies
-
Evaluate the public and other discipline group comments and incorporate them into a final design
-
Permit the project through federal, state, and local agencies
-
Construct and build the project
-
Perform post-development analysis of impacts
03.
Types of Assistance
-
Funding
-
USBR, NRCS, CWCB, CDPHE, Colorado Water Trust, Acorn, Gates Family, Conservation Trust, Walton Family, Patagonia
-
-
Engineering Firms
-
Survey Teams
-
Water Law Assessments
-
Water Quality and Environmental Impact Teams
-
Construction and General Contracting
-
Social and Economic Impact Teams
02.
Skills Needed
Understanding of historical data passage for micro and macroinvertebrate passage as well as boating efficiency. Environmental, Social, Economical Impact studies, funding, project development, project management, partnership building, risk analysis, and basic design/construction understanding.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​​
Riparian Habitat and Bank Erosion
01.
SCOPING
-
Investigate the current situation for erosion, habitat encroachment, and sedimentation deposition.
-
This would entail historical data based on what has happened in the past versus current conditions.
-
Evaluate the historical inhabitants and how they have been impacted over the past 5, 10, 15, and 20 years
-
-
Survey the project location for accessibility and mobility of the site.
-
Fund the stability of the banks and how to access the banks if they are unstable
-
Ensure that ownership is met for accessing the site, especially on private lands
-
-
Perform Environmental Impact Studies
-
Perform Water Quality Studies
-
Perform Social and Economic Studies
-
Perform Water Quality Studies to ensure that flows are sustainable for the structure.
-
Acquire multi-level funding (environmental, ag, municipal, governmental, and industrial)
-
Design the banks and riparian zones based on the naturally occurring specimens to ensure long-lasting effects
-
Permit the project through federal, state, and local agencies
-
Construct and build the project
-
Perform post-development analysis of impacts
-
Outreach to the local boating community to identify whether they consider the structure a boating hazard
03.
Types of Assistance
-
Funding: USBR, NRCS, CWCB, CDPHE, Colorado Water Trust, Acorn, Gates Family, Conservation Trust, Walton Family, Patagonia
-
Engineering Firms
-
Survey Teams
-
Water Law Assessments
-
Water Quality and Environmental Impact Teams
-
Construction and General Contracting
-
Social and Economic Impact Teams
​
02.
Skills Needed
Understanding of historical data for undercuts, sedimentation, bank failure, habitat loss, and riparian buffers. Environmental, Social, Economical Impact studies, funding, project development, project management, partnership building, risk analysis, and basic design/construction understanding.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​