Salida’s River Sanctuary:
Where Life Flows Freely
Illustration by LVBrown Studio prepared for The Watershed Center’s Stage Zero Field Guide
Our Vision
The South Arkansas River Sanctuary provides permanent protection to Salida‘s last wild river corridor. It is a place where the river can be itself and where we can connect with its wild spirit.
The River Sanctuary provides a place for peaceful interaction with nature and emphasizes an ethic of stewardship, co-existence, contemplation, curiosity, and healing. It is a refuge for all.
The River Sanctuary balances and harmonizes our two rivers, solidifying our promise of truly being the "Heart of the Rockies".
A nature park that will benefit our community for generations to come.
Illustration by LVBrown Studio prepared for: Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed’s Lower Poudre River Flood Recovery & Resilience Master Plan
Benefits for Seven Generations
-
Environmental
River sanctuaries create and preserve crucial habitats and wildlife corridors, helping to maintain biodiversity for both native and migratory species. By allowing for the restoration of natural floodplains and vegetation, these sanctuaries serve as natural water filtration systems, where wetlands and riparian plants absorb pollutants and sediment, leading to improved water quality and helping to recharge groundwater. Furthermore, by providing green space, these sanctuaries help mitigate the urban heat island effect, cooling the surrounding environment through shade and evapotranspiration.
-
Social
An urban river park offers a central hub for community life, providing numerous social benefits. These spaces promote physical health with accessible trails for walking, running, and biking, and they boost mental well-being by providing a tranquil escape from urban stress. River parks also foster a stronger sense of community by serving as a gathering place for social events and shared activities, connecting neighbors and building collective pride. By re-engaging people with nature, these parks become living classrooms that inspire environmental education and a greater appreciation for the natural world.
-
Economic
Economic benefits river sancturies are measured by their holistic contribution to the community's health, environment, and economy. Nature parks provide healthcare savings by promoting physical activity and improving mental well-being. They also drive economic development and job creation by attracting businesses and residents seeking a high quality of life, while boosting local tourism and spending. Substantial environmental cost savings are realized through flood mitigation by restoring natural drainage, improving water quality by filtering stormwater runoff, and enhancing air quality.
"A river doesn't just carry water, it carries life."
- A.D. Posey
Opportunities > Challenges
The development plans for Vandaveer Ranch have acknowledged the need to leave space for the river; however, these plans lack a vision for the long-term evolution of the river corridor and the context within which the property sits in relation to the watershed. This is the CONFLUENCE. This is a DELTA. A land where native families would once find nourishment. The river corridor deserves to be respected and healed. This is an incredible opportunity to do right by the land, for all the species, for seven generations to follow.
Restoration of the river corridor requires long-term thinking, patience, and nudging it to health, removing or relocating incompatible infrastructure, and expanding a vision for long-term healing and restoration through creative conservation practices and patience. As legendary river restorationist Bill Zeedyk likes to say, “Pull, don’t push”. Rather than manipulate the river into submission with an excavator this is an opportunity to pull the river back to its full expression of health for ALL species.
Infrastructure development needs (primarily water delivery and pedestrian access, but also the thoughtful location of recreation fields, dog park, etc.) for the South Ark Neighborhood planned development are compatible with a river sanctuary - they just need to be located outside of the river corridor so that the river can continue to adjust and express itself as we help bring it back to health.
This is Salida’s opportunity to do something different. To do right. For future generations and all species.
A Call to Action
This project needs your help. It needs your energy and your good ideas. It needs your voice. It needs donations of time, skills, and funding. Please let us hear from you.