|
1. INTRODUCTION limited toe additional environmental and engineering studies; detailed engineering design; permitting; local land use and
<br />property ownership; and local public engagement processes.
<br />1.1 Authorization
<br />This St. Vrain Creek Watershed Master Plan (SVMP) was authorized by Boulder County and the St. Vrain Creek Coalition (the
<br />Coalition) under contract with Michael Baker Jr., Inc. (Baker) for this project. The Baker project team is comprised of Anderson
<br />Consulting Engineers, Inc.; CDR Associates; David Evans and Associates, Inc.; S2o Design and Engineering, LLC; and Walsh
<br />Environmental Scientists and Engineers, LLC.
<br />1.2 Purpose
<br />Agencies and groups along the St. Vrain Creek and its tributaries formed the Coalition to support long -term creek recovery by
<br />initiating a master plan project for the watershed. The Coalition is made up of representatives from the following entities:
<br />» Boulder County (contracting entity);
<br />» The City of Longmont;
<br />» Colorado Water Conservation Board;
<br />» Colorado Department of Transportation;
<br />» Forest Service, Arapahoe /Roosevelt National Forest;
<br />» Natural Resources Conservation Service;
<br />» St. Vrain Left Hand Water Conservancy District; and
<br />» The Town of Lyons
<br />1.3 Project Scope
<br />The St. Vrain Creek Watershed — which includes the following creeks: South St. Vrain Creek, Middle St. Vrain Creek, North St.
<br />Vrain Creek, and the main stem of St. Vrain Creek — is one of the most important natural features in the Colorado Front Range. It is
<br />unique in its richness of natural and ecological resources and in its diversity of historic and cultural features. Moreover, it is cherished
<br />for the recreational opportunities it provides and for the numerous economic, cultural, and social opportunities afforded by the St.
<br />Vrain Creek corridor.
<br />In September 2013, St. Vrain Creek experienced a catastrophic flooding event. The flood destroyed large sections of Colorado
<br />Highway 7, US Highway 36, local roads, and public, residential, and commercial properties along the St. Vrain corridor. While
<br />short -term recovery solutions were being implemented, communities within the St. Vrain Creek corridor recognized a need to
<br />conduct long -term planning for the creek at the watershed scale. Planning at this scale is necessary in order to integrate local needs
<br />and broader stakeholder interests into an approach to flood control and stream restoration. For these reasons, the SVMP project was
<br />initiated.
<br />Master planning is a process that establishes the framework and key elements of a site plan. The SVMP synthesizes restoration
<br />components, flood risk reduction, community resilience, improved ecological function, and enhanced aesthetics. Additionally, this
<br />plan supports grant and loan applications, as the majority of funding for most of these activities will need to be procured in the
<br />future. The purpose of the SVMP is to guide the County, its municipalities, and individual landowners in the identification and
<br />prioritization of stream rehabilitation and restoration projects, as well as activities related to economic recovery, hazard mitigation,
<br />and recreation. It is also meant to inform the public, property owners, stakeholders, and local decision makers about the current
<br />conditions of the watershed so that they are better able to identify and prioritize risk reduction projects.
<br />The SVMP articulates the vision for the future of the watershed and guides future planning and development activity by
<br />highlighting recommended projects that align with diverse community priorities. All proposed watershed activities in this
<br />plan still need to comply with all federal, state, and local requirements prior to implementation. This includes but is not
<br />A large level of planning and effort was undertaken by both public and private entities immediately following the September
<br />2013 flood and during the flood recovery phase. Whenever possible, the planning team looked to existing plans (including
<br />local flood recovery action plans; parks, recreation, and trails master plans; multi - hazard mitigation plans, and more) to inform
<br />recommendations, shape planning goals, and to evaluate the alternatives along the stream corridors.
<br />The scope of work for the project was developed in conjunction with
<br />the Coalition. The following tasks were critical to the development of
<br />the SVMP:
<br />» Development and implementation of a collaborative,
<br />locally- driven community engagement strategy;
<br />» Review and integration of best available data including:
<br />Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data and maps,
<br />pre- and post -flood aerial photos and Light Detection and
<br />Ranging (LiDAR) data, existing reports and studies on
<br />drainage facilities;
<br />» Review of the previously completed hydrologic analysis for
<br />the existing and proposed basin conditions;
<br />» Review and integration of existing zoning and land
<br />ownership plans, current and future land use plans, and
<br />other land -use management documents;
<br />» Comprehensive assessment of existing conditions,
<br />including site investigations to identify major drainage
<br />structures, existing problem locations, and post -flood
<br />hydraulic parameters;
<br />» Development of watershed alternatives that address future
<br />needs of diverse stakeholders;
<br />» Evaluation of alternatives based on public feedback,
<br />estimated construction costs, potential flooding, planning
<br />constraints and/or other related issues
<br />The St. Vrain Creek watershed is an important part of the rich regional system of human communities and ecological services
<br />that defines the Colorado Front Range. Its wellbeing is critical to maintaining the health, biodiversity, character, and economy
<br />of communities within the region. This planning effort supports project stakeholders and other users in the implementation of
<br />drainage improvements, interagency coordination, floodplain management, hazard mitigation, and other land -use controls as
<br />needed to reduce potential damages and adverse development in flooded areas. Moreover, it strengthens the capacity of watershed
<br />communities to adapt to changing flood risk and provides a framework for building local and regional resilience.
<br />While the SVMP will provide the road map for long -term recovery, implementation of the projects outlined in the SVMP still
<br />requires funding, detailed design, permitting, right -of -way acquisition, etc. Due to the size and severity of the flood damage in this
<br />area and the need to identify watershed needs for recovery, this and other watershed master plans were prepared in an expedited
<br />time frame with the best available data, given the changed physical conditions in the flood - affected watersheds. As the master
<br />plan projects are implemented, the conceptual plans outlined in this report will greatly benefit from more detailed analysis and
<br />site- specific survey and topographic information. It is also the intent of the Coalition to continue past the SVMP completion to
<br />champion the implementation phase and serve as stewards of the overall watershed health moving forward.
<br />
|