|
<br />loc:;a I_~t~ ,==_hj:!JLce por.t:.,,::",,"=-__
<br />
<br />
<br />BIG THOMPSON
<br />WATERSHED
<br />FORUM
<br />
<br />Background and Mission
<br />Founded in 1996, the mission ofthe
<br />Big Thompson Watershed Forum is to
<br />assess and protect the quality of water
<br />in the Big Thompson Watershed.
<br />The Big Thompson Watershed
<br />is located approximately 50 miles
<br />northwest of Denver, and extends
<br />west from the South Platte River to
<br />the Continental Divide. Covering
<br />approximately 900 square miles, our
<br />watershed includes portions of Larimer,
<br />Boulder, and Wcld counties.
<br />OUf goals arc to serve as a forum
<br />that fosters stakeholder teamwork in
<br />conducting watershed assessment,
<br />identifying priority protection
<br />measures. educating affected interests.
<br />and promoting voluntary practices that
<br />protect the Big Thompson Watershed
<br />and the quality of its waters. \Vatcr
<br />quantity issues are an integral and
<br />indispensable aspect of \vater quality
<br />and wi II be addressed as such by the
<br />Forum.
<br />
<br />Current Projects and
<br />Issues
<br />The Fonull has operated a basinwide
<br />water quality monitoring program since
<br />2000. Monthly samples arc collected
<br />year-round and analyzed for nutrients.
<br />metals, volatile organic compounds,
<br />coliform bacteria. and physical
<br />parameters such as temperature and
<br />pi!. The resulting data have been made
<br />available to state agencies, members
<br />
<br />-
<br />--
<br />
<br />
<br />.-
<br />
<br />of the Forum. and other intercsted
<br />parties.
<br />Bascd on the data from our
<br />monitoring program. the Forum
<br />has identified nutrient pollution
<br />as the most important issue in our
<br />watershed. a conclusion supported by
<br />the first summary report. published in
<br />November 2003.
<br />
<br />f;'Jf~~
<br />r",."' '.' . .(.Jl~"
<br />'t"'., .{j,' _ ..t'.,",;;~, ,."',
<br />1ff :.'.. ~ -,-'< -:;... _t ,~-
<br />0;... _ .~. ., ,...,.. .", ".,-'\.,"" - ..,.;
<br />,,,iIi. . ,~ ,:..I. "c ..~. ". ..
<br />~I'~ i; ....,,~,";r-""!~;t ~ .:- : ..-_~
<br />v)..:.;_ ,::.., .~.-' ~_......~;.,~~~"!,,,,,..,t.".(~
<br />~,., 'C .,1'\/'" ;.'
<br />.,,;$~E ,..~~,.,.y:,:;:,,: 'f.
<br />il i-ii::A-I~- .,~:t..;. . ; :,:;'\
<br />: ;-.',:' . .~i'''t,i .",w.', . ,;~'i~
<br />~~ '''..~;,.~~'B' ~~
<br />y:~~,.." -.
<br />. ~~........--' "'. -
<br />. .-..... ....... . '.. . ~
<br />~ __ # ....~L... _.~
<br />>~ - .'~ --'"
<br />~:r
<br />'" - .~~~-
<br />..~,f:..... ~4'
<br />~~-:t!".
<br />,,~
<br />. ,
<br />
<br />- .
<br />
<br />Big Thompson Watershed stream
<br />
<br />The Forum hosts a number of
<br />public outreach events each year,
<br />including a September celebration
<br />called the Thompson River Revival. a
<br />
<br />This year we will
<br />embark on creating a
<br />comprehensive,
<br />formal Watershed
<br />Management Plan.
<br />
<br />-
<br />
<br />\\'orld \Vater Monitoring Day training
<br />program for high school teachers, and
<br />a May River Clean-up. This spring
<br />approximately fivc tons of trash were
<br />removed during this clean-up from a
<br />waterway along a popular bike trail.
<br />A group of dedicated citizens
<br />constitutes The Small Lakes Focus
<br />Group. an organization dedicated to
<br />sound management of small lakes. In
<br />2003, a homeowners' organization took
<br />thc Focus Group's advice to purchase
<br />a Solar Bee to help alleviate seasonal
<br />stratification and related water quality
<br />problems in Silvcr Lake in Loveland.
<br />Data collected by the Forum before and
<br />after installation of the Solar Bee will be
<br />used to assess its effectivcness.
<br />
<br />Looking Ahead
<br />This year\ve will embark on creating
<br />a comprehensivc, formal \Vatershed
<br />Management Plan. \Ve arc also working
<br />with the City of Lovcland on a number
<br />of storm water Phase II permit projects.
<br />including a citizcn survey. mapping and
<br />monitoring stormwater outfalls. and
<br />reviving the Loveland Children's \Vater
<br />Festival. We will also begin evaluating
<br />the water quality impacts and potential
<br />remedies for a local exchange ditch.
<br />which delivers wanll, silt~ladcn \vater
<br />to the Big Thompson River.
<br />As the Forum plans for the future.
<br />we look forward to collaborating with
<br />all partics interested in water quality in
<br />the Big Thompson \Vatershed.
<br />
<br />
|