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<br />South Platte River, Chatfield Downstream Channel Improvement Project- Vegetation Management Plan <br /> <br />III. VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN <br /> <br />Vegetation Management Goals <br />This VMP addresses two main goals to be achieved by the CWCB. The first goal is to respond to <br />the Corps inspection requirements pertaining to vegetation removal within the flood control <br />channel. The second goal is to voluntarily provide environmental mitigation and enhancement, <br />outside of the flood control channel but within the Project area, on a reach by reach basis. The <br />four reaches were described in Chapter II. In a letter dated April 15, 2008 the Corps provided its <br />review summary of the Spring 2008 project inspection. In a nutshell, the Corps stated its <br />intention to enforce complete vegetation removal, as described in the full inspection report <br />transmitted also on April 15, 2008, by no later than the end of2010 (USACE 2008). Based on <br />communications with partner(s), the plan described in this section of the report differs from the <br />Corps requirement, and calls for complete vegetation removal by 2012. The CWCB and its <br />partner(s) will be working closely with the Corps to report on maintenance progress (UDFCD <br />2008). The CWCB will expend available funds in a reasonable manner, and in such a way that <br />attempts to meet the challenging requirement set forth by the Corps. <br /> <br />Vegetation Removal Phases <br />In order to address the first main goal, this VMP prescribes phases of vegetation removal that <br />began in 2007 and are planned to occur over a four year period with ongoing management and <br />maintenance thereafter. Full descriptions for each phase of the vegetation removal prioritize the <br />requests of the Corps and are summarized and then further discussed below (See Appendix C for <br />example photos for each phase): <br /> <br />Pilot Proiect (2007): Vegetation removal in test plots within in-channel sandbars in a Deficiency <br />Location documented by the Corps (in USACE 2007). <br />Phase 1 (2008-2009): In-Channel Vegetation Removal (Sandbars and Channel Bottom). <br />Phase 2 (2010): Bank Vegetation Removal near Structures (Bridges, Drops, and Culverts). <br />Phase 3 (2011 and 2012): Bank Vegetation Removal between Structures (Open Channel <br />Sections). <br /> <br />Pilot Project: 2007 Vegetation Removal (9 Acre In-Channel Sandbars) <br />As previously stated, a Pilot Project was initiated late summer 2007 in an area documented as a <br />Deficiency Location in the Corps inspection report (USACE 2007). Pilot test plots were sprayed <br />in-channel on sandbars with FDA approved herbicide from Bowles Avenue to just upstream of <br />the Union Avenue Boat Chutes, where an estimated 9 acres of vegetation was treated in the river <br />channel bottom. Field surveys were conducted to monitor the Pilot Project success and plan for <br />additional vegetation removal phases over a period of 4 years which prioritize Corps requests. <br /> <br />Bi-Monthly project monitoring surveys in September 2007, November 2007, and January 2008 <br />reveal that the test plots have reduced vegetation, that aesthetics are still optimal, and that both <br />receationists and wildlife are using the area (Figure A). In fact, the additional use of park <br />visitors may result in further environmental planning needs, as areas which were chock full of <br />vegetation are now opened and available for use. This sudden use should be monitored and <br />access points to the river may need to be established to reduce the chance of safety threats, <br />vegetation trampling, and Neo-tropical migratory bird nesting disruption. <br /> <br />Page 14 <br />Final Report - April 30, 2008 <br />