In 1998, Colorado included a 12-mile reach of the lower Rio Blanco on its list of impaired waters for failure to support its aquatic life due to sediment.

A grass roots project organized by the residents aided by numerous local statewide and federal agencies to restore the stream channel to match the altered flow regime, resulted in the river's physical and biological function and water quality being improved.

[2] Parts of the river range from 10 to 20 feet (3.0 to 6.1 m) wide, and fishing is permitted along the side creeks including Rito Blanco.

[5] There are 3 miles (4.8 km) of the river that were transformed by hydrologist Dave Rosgen, from being wide and shallow to a deep flow that now supports a variety of trout.

He also constructed a tube to divert away the gravel and sand, which allows water to flow through, but the sediment is routed to a holding area which is regularly emptied and used elsewhere.