Mesa County begins Riverfront Restoration Project

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) - Mesa County has begun its Riverfront Restoration project. In 2023, the county received a 35-thousand-dollar grant to bring native seed back to the Clifton Nature Park along the Colorado River. “We have a lot of mammals and endangered species that use the Colorado River, so being able to provide that habitat is crucial for Mesa County,” said Ryan Surad, coordinator of Mesa County Noxious Weed and Pest.

The project will not only involve bringing native seed back into the county, but it will also remove the non-native species like Russian Olive and Russian Knotweed. “It’s very poor forage and it can cause chewing disease in horses, and that can lead to death over prolonged exposure,” said Surad.

Mesa County completed seeding the native grass on March 25, but the process is not complete yet. “It takes about 2-3 years for a restoration project to see the benefits and results,” said Surad.

For more information on the Riverfront Restoration Project, click HERE.