Arvada 1996 WCPlan

• Project Type: Water Conservation Plan
• Project Name: Arvada Water Conservation Plan
• Title: Water Conservation Master Plan
• Date: 6/25/1996
• County: Adams
• County: Jefferson
• Water Conservation - Doc Type: Complete Plan

M-E'M'O

TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:

Sterling Schult~, Utilities Manager
Mike Lee, Landscape Architect ~

December 8, 1988

64TH AVENUE AND 80TH AVENUE MEDIAN RENOVATION

The 64th Avenue and 80th islands have long been a source of frustration. The islands
consist of narrow sections of bluegrass watered by a traditional spray irrigation system.
The system waters the grass as well as the street. The ground is very hard so that water
that does land on the grassed areas is applied so rapidly that much of this water also runs
on the pavement. These problems result in angry motorists, extensive roadway damage,
visible water waste, and medians that are difficult and costly to maintain.

This memo will address both 64th and 80th Avenues and propose phasing that will
eventually eliminate these problems. The cost implications of these alternatives will
also be discussed. I have not been able to find any detailed drawings of the 64th Avenue
medians, I therefore had no alternative but to use aerial photographs for my cost
estimates. Accurate drawings do exist for 80th Avenue.

Both 64th Avenue and 80th Avenue have similar problems and therefore the solutions and
phasing plans can follow a similar course for both projects. This effort deals only with
the central median areas as they appear to be the primary problem. Future efforts may
address areas adjacent to the roadway. The major difference between the two roadway
medians lies in the irrigation systems. The 80th Avenue project has an automatic
system, while 64th Avenue has a much older, manual irrigation system. By saying
"manual" I mean that 64th Avenue has a basic irrigation system consisting of mainline,
laterals, valves and spray heads. The valves, however, must be physically turned on and
off manually to water the islands. This obviously is a major disadvantage to accurately
and efficiently apply water and requires extensive manpower to turn on and off the
valves. Watering can only occur during the day.

The solution to the watering problems is costly so I would recommend that the projecLb~ _ _ _
- - -- - ----phasectover a: periOa 61 yearS;-The-solU!lon Involves baSIcally three phases:

(I) Physical median modification - prevent run-off;
(2) Irrigation modifications - provide more effective, efficient coverage;
(3) Vegetative changes - change vegetative cover adding low water-demand
ground covers, shrubs and trees.

The first phase wili consist of installing slope paving approximately 3 feet wide (this will
vary based on the actual median width). The ultimate height of the slope paving must
relate to the height of existing median plantings if they are to be saved. This is critical
on 80th Avenue where extensive tree plantings exist and less critical on 64th Avenue
where plantings are sparse. Figure I shows the existing median and the slope paving
approach.