PROJ00221

• Contract/PO #: FS0017X
• Contractor Name: Ouray, City of
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 0
• County: Ouray
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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02/26/99 11:43 ft303 245 6933

FISH & WILDLIFE

III 002

United States Department of the Interior

FISH AND WILDLIfE SERVlCE
Ecological Strvlces
764 Horizon Drive. South Annex A
Grand Junction. CoJol'lldo 81500-3946

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IN REPLY REFER TO :
ES/CO:COE
MS 65412 GJ

February 26. 1999

Walter Yep. Chief of Planning Division
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Sacramento District
1325 J Street
Sacramento. California 95814-2922

Dear Mr. Yep:

ThiS letter responds to your October 8. 1998. request for a Planning Aid
Letter concerning the Skyrocket Creek Diversion Rehabilitation. Skyrocket
Creek is located immediately north of the town or Ouray. Colorado. The
Skyro~ket Creek diversion is located at about 8.000 feet elevation and drains
about 0.7 square miles. This letter has been prepared under the authority of
and in accordance with. the provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination
Act (48 Stat. 401 as amended: 16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.),

In 1929. Ouray County rerouted Skyrocket Creek to the north. to reduce the
risk of debris flows into Hot Springs Park. A new channel was blasted through
the rock on the northern bank of the Creek. The original diversion structure
was constructed of wood. Since a breach in 1981. the diversion structure has
been replaced with earth and rock to fill in the natural bedrock drainage way.
The diversion is now topped with timbers that have been displaced through
erosion and time. Remnants of cabling. chain link fencing and sawn timbers
that were part of the structure have toppled into the downstream drainage way.
If the current structure is not replaced. any moderate precipitation event
coupled with the steep slope could cause a breach in the structure. resulting
in dangerous conditions of fast water. mud and debris flows. Water and
. debris. if allowed to flow down the old channel. would cause severe damage to
downstream facilities within the town of Ouray,

The proposed diversion structure will be made of reinforced concrete and will
replace the current dirt and timber structure. Construction activity will
last 2 to 3 weeks. There will be ground and noise disturbances associated