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I I I I I I I I I CACHE LA POUDRE AT GREELEY, COLORADO G. I. STUDY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Cache la Poudre River is subject to flooding that originates both from high mountain snowmelt in the spring and runoff from intense thunderstorms on the high plains, The town suffered extensive flood damage during a flood in May 1999, The natural riverine ecosystem provided by its channel and flood plain is scarce in the semi- arid high plains of eastern Colorado, yet provides essential habitat features to over half of Colorado 's bird species, The riverine ecology in Greeley is in poor shape and much of the river is cut off from access to local residents, Seeking to reduce flood damages, improve the environment within the flood plain and to integrate the river into the fabriC of the community, the city of Greeley has requested that the Corps of Engineers study the feasibility of both flood control and ecosystem restoration in and around the city, The study was authorized by a Senate Resolution under the Rivers and Harbors Act, A Reconnaissance Study has been completed that shows the likelihood of a Federal interest in reducingflood damages and improving the environment at Greeley, The Corps of Engineers proposes to evaluate the feasibility of flood reduction and ecosystem restoration measures along a 17 mile reach of the river, in and around Greeley, Flood damage reduction efforts will be directed at a 7 mile reach of the river inside the city limits and will focus on protecting high,damage areas along a 2 to 3 mile reach largely east of ffh Avenue, The ecosystem restoration effort will include areas of the entire 17 mile reach with focus on the restoration of old oxbows, and meander channels, available gravel pits and flood plain storage areas and on providing connectivity through green space restoration in the flood way, The gravel pits that characterize much of the flood plain in and around Greeley will be evaluated for both their flood storage utility and their potential to improve the ecosystem of the river and its flood plain. The feasibility study will employ the body of knowledge derived from recent studies and will employ validated models used in those efforts, Hydrologic, hydraulic and economic models will focus on determining where frequent flooding generates high damages, and on cost effective methods of damage reduction, Both structural and non- stn/ctural flood damage reduction measures will be considered, Current mapping will be used for modeling, and for delineation of property and utilities, The initial focus of the study will be to identify the flood reduction measures that will be the most cost-effective to construct and to identify locations in the flood plain that will provide the greatest benefit to the regional ecosystem through restoration, Special emphasis will be placed on identifying areas that can serve to both reduce flood damages and which can be reclaimed for use by both wildlife and enjoyed by the citizens of Greeley, The results of this initial focus will be provided so that decision makers may determine the future course ofthefeasibi/ity study. At its conclusion, the study will produce a Recommended Plan and Environmental Assessment contained in a Detailed Project Report, which can be used to seek authorization and appropriation to proceed to project design and construction, 3