Finance Committee Meeting 2007

• Board Meeting Date: 9/18/2007
• Description: Finance Sub-Committee Meeting September 18, 2007
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

Post Office Box 471 •Boulder,Colorado 80306
B id Parks and Open Space Department
court 5201 St.Vrain Road • Longmont,Colorado 80503 • [phone] • Fax [phone] •ww w.co.bouldcr.cc.us
� Fairgrounds;995 Nelson Roast• Longmont,Colorado 80501 • (303)678°6235• Event Una:(303):241 3927
August 27, 2007
Colorado Water Conservation Board
1580 Logan Street, Suite 750
Denver, Co 80203
Attention: Mike Serlet, P.E., Chief
Re: St. Vrain Corridor Committee Low Flow Enhancement Non-Reimbursable Funding
Request
Dear Mr. Serlet:
Attached is a grant application, sponsored by the Boulder County Parks and Open Space
Department on behalf of the St. Vrain Creek Corridor Committee, requesting non-reimbursable
funding for a vital infrastructure project that will help with delivering water through the St Vrain.
If funded, this grant will assist with the development of an excellent demonstration project that
. will meet consumptive needs while ensuring needed low flow enhancements for native fisheries
in an important creek corridor in Boulder County.
• The St. Vrain Creek Corridor Committee,which includes Boulder County Parks and Open
Space,the City of Longmont, the St. Vrain& Left Hand Water Conservancy District, the •
Colorado Division of Wildlife, Trout Unlimited, the Colorado Water Trust, and other partners
will install three FlumeGates on the St. Vrain Creek between Lyons and Longmont. These gates
will allow for low flow bypass control as well as accurate measurement of those flows,thereby
protecting streamflows on the St. Vrain Creek and ensuring satisfactory flows for other calling
water users during normal years. The first FlumeGate will be installed in winter 2008 by the
above partners. The remaining two FlumeGates are included in the scope of this funding request.
The St. Vrain Corridor Committee was formed in the 1990's to develop solutions to an important
problem- ensuring that water continues to be delivered through the St Vrain during critical low
flow periods. The St. Vrain Creek, stretching from the foothills near Lyons to the plains of
Longmont, represents one of the best natural aquatic environments along the Front Range,
supporting important native fisheries. Four state listed species occur within the St. Vrain Creek
that passes through open space lands- the brassy minnow, common shiner, stonecat, and Iowa
darter. These native populations are threatened by continued low flows in the creek. Our
Committee has been working hard to find new solutions for improving water flow through the St.
Vrain creek system. A significant step towards meeting the Committee's long-term goal of
moving flows into lower sections of the St Vrain was last year's installation of pumping facilities
at Union Reservoir. Installing these FlumeGates is the next important piece of making this goal a
reality.
•
Cindy Domenico Ben Pearlman Will boor
Cauny Commissioner County Commissioner County Commissioner