FLOOD08316 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Otber News and Projects Early in 1997, Denver requested the District to take the lead in the design of low flow channel improvements between ISth Street and the downstream limits of the new Rockmont Part<. The design includes aquatic habitat improvements through the use of low flow training jetties that simulate the appearance of rock outcrops occurring natorally in this reach of the river and low level grade control structures that provide pools and riflk.. Denver will construct this project upstream of 19th Street in 1998 as part of its Commons Park constnJction. The District will build four grade control structures for Denver downstream of 19th Street using its restorative maintenance funds. These structures are needed to arrest continued degradation of the river's bottom, in addition to providing improved aquatic habitat and boatability of this stretcb of the river. Work for these four structures will be completed by April of 1998. Municipal Stormwater Permit Implementation Activities by JoIm T. Docrf'" Projoct Hydrologist M...... Planning I'ro8I>m The District continued to assist the cities of Denver, Aurora, and Lakewood in 1997 with planuing activities related to implementation of their stormwater permits. A permit authorizes the holder to discharge runoff from its stonn sewer system in accordance with approved stonnwater management programs. The three cities proposed management programs in their permit applications submitted in November 1992. Permits mlre issued by the State of Colorado in May, 1996. The Clean Water Act requires that all permit requirements be implemented within three years of permit issuance. The permits define an implementation schedule that the three cities must meet for full compliance by June 10, 1999. Some elements of the permits-sucb as street sweeping, inlet cleaning, and trashldebris removal from channels- existed prior to any permits. These are no longer discretionary activities and must be continued by the cities. The new programs required by permits and . Also in 1998, the District will head up a project to update the South Platte River Major Drainageway Plan through Adams County. This project is being cosponsored by Metro Wastewater Reclamation District, Adams County, City of Thornton, City of Brighton and Commerce City. It will examine the current plan and adjust to meet current needs and visions for the river. The project will rely heavily on the input of the project sponsors, state and federal agencies, and the public. We will look developed in 1997 by the three cities, with District assistance, include: Annual Reporting and Cost Estimates. There are a variety of specific data to be reported each year. Early in 1997, the cities, with assistance from the District, developed databases, cost-estimating worksheets, and report templates to be used for each city's annual report. Industrial Facilities Program. Although specific industrial sites must obtain an individual stonnwater permit from the State, the three cities were required to implement a program to inspect and mouitor certain industrial sites within their jurisdictional area as well. This program was approved by the State after extensive review and discussion in 1997. Municipal Facility Runoff Controls. The cities operate certain facilities similar to those in the private sector- such.as vehicle-maintenance yards-that require industrial stonnwater permits. The Best Management Practices (BMPs) for use at these sites, and the list of sites and schedule for plan implementation before 1999, were approved this year. 8 at water quality, aquatic and terrestrial habitat needs, open space needs, recreational needs, water resources development needs, gravel mining and its impacts on the river corridor, and many other issues that surround this very important river reach in Adams County. We hope to have the first phase of the plan completed in 1998 and the final plan completed in 1999. Wet-Weather Monitoring Program. The penults also require the cities to develop a wet-weather mouitoring plan that meets the State's and DRCOG's Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study and planuing needs. The District entered into agreements with the three cities and Arapahoe County to assist them with wet weather mouitoring. The mouitoring plan prepared by the District was approved by the TMDL Advisory Committee and State of Colorado in April. The U.S. Geological Survey has worked with the District to install mouitoring equipment at five sites. Wet-weather mouitoring will begin in the spring of 1998. Dry-Weather Sampling Protocols. The cities sampled all of their major stonn-sewer outfalls during dry weather as a requirement of penult applications. Permits require that these same outfaIIs. and additional ones, be sampled again once during the 5-year penult tenn. The District assisted cities in 1997 develop improved sampling protocols. Other major programs currently in development include public education, new development planuing procedures, and construction-site sediment control.