Larimer County Engineering - Boxelder Creek Regional Stormwater Improvements

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LARIMER COUNTY BOXELDER STORMWATER INFORMATION							BOXELDER STORMWATER AUTHORITY
Boxelder Improvements Overview	History & Master Plan Elements	Coal Creek Flood Mitigation Project	Larimer County Stormwater Fees	Frequently Asked Questions	Contact Us		BOXELDER STORMWATER AUTHORITY

Coal Creek Flood Mitigation Project

Last Updated: April 23, 2012

NEW!

The replacement of the County Road 7 bridge over the North Poudre Inlet Canal is complete. The dredging of the reservoir is complete. The excavation for the inlet canal is complete. The submittal to FEMA to update flood maps is underway

This project is the first regional project identified in the adopted Boxelder Creek Regional Stormwater Master Plan. The project is being designed and constructed by Larimer County on behalf of the Boxelder Stormwater Authority and will reduce the potential for future flooding downstream of the North Poudre Inlet Canal by diverting floodwaters from Coal Creek through Clark Reservoir. The result of the project will eliminate the need for flood insurance for more than one hundred properties, avoid cleanup costs, limit resident displacement and prevent the loss of public services.

The project components include:

Enlarging The North Poudre Inlet Canal From The Railroad to Clark Reservoir
New County Road 7 Bridge Over Inlet Canal

Improvements to Clark Reservoir

Emergency Spillway
Adding Capacity to Reservoir to Hold Floodwaters

Project Funding

The total project cost is estimated to be about $5 million dollars. Larimer County received a national PDM (Pre-Disaster Mitigation) Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that will cover almost $3 million dollars of the cost. An additional $1 million dollars is funded through the three local entities participating in the Boxelder Stormwater Authority (Town of Wellington, City of Fort Collins, and Larimer County). The remaining cost is covered by Boxelder Stormwater Authority fees.

Environmental Assessment

As a part of the PDM grant process, FEMA completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the project. FEMA is required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to consider all reasonable alternatives for reducing the potential for future flooding in the Wellington Area.

The Environmental Assessment looked at the alternatives, and analyzed them in the following areas:

Geology, Soils; Land Use/zoning; Traffic; Public Health and Safety; Socio-economics; Visual Resources; Air Quality; Public Services; Noise; Water Resources; Biological Resources; Cultural Resources; Environmental Due Diligence; and Cumulative Impacts.

FEMA also coordinated with the following Public Agencies:

US Army Corps of Engineers (COE); Fish and Wildlife Service; Natural Resources Conservation Services; Colorado Division of Wildlife; Colorado State Historic Preservation Office; and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Based on the results of the analysis and following the public comment period, A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was made for the proposed Coal Creek Flood Mitigation Project.

A supplement to the EA was prepared to document revisions made to the final design of the Coal Creek Flood Mitigation Project. The Project still addresses the purpose and goals as described in the original EA and approved in the original FONSI. The overall project elements, location and approach are the same, but refinements in the final design have resulted in fewer impacts than assumed in the original EA.

There are two project components, the outlet channel improvements and the culvert and swale installation in Wellington that are not necessary for this project and have been eliminated. In addition, the final design reduced anticipated wetland impacts by 97%, from 11.8 acres to 0.33 acres. The wetland mitigation for this project will still be on a 1:1 basis as stipulated in Item 6 of the original FONSI.

Notice of the Supplement to the EA was published in the Coloradoan newspaper on February 28, 2011. Finalization of the EA supplement is in process.

Current Status

The design phase of the project was completed in early 2011. Construction has been underway since 2011 and is expected to be completed in 2012.

During the design phase, some of the items completed included: holding an open house to share information and receive input on draft plans, completing the technical design and plans, submitting design and analysis information to FEMA for review and approval, and working on numerous agreements with both the North Poudre Irrigation Company and other landowners.

The project construction is being completed in two parts:

The first part was the construction of the County Road 7 bridge over the North Poudre Inlet Canal just south of CR 70. This work was done during the spring of 2011.

The second part of the construction includes the dredging of Clark Reservoir, an addition to the emergency spillway of the reservoir, and the widening of the remainder of the inlet canal. That construction began in summer 2011 and major components, including dredging and inlet canal widening, is now complete. Final completion is expected in 2012.

Each month, Larimer County provides a "Status Report" of the project to the Boxelder Stormwater Authority Board of Directors. Those reports can be accessed below.

Overall Project Timeline

Construction will occur in 2011 and 2012. Project completion is expected in 2012.

Public Information

A preconstruction public meeting was held on Thursday, January 6, 2011, to provide details (see handout) on the construction work on County Road 7.

Exhibits from the Open House held Tuesday, June 15, 2010:

Other Public Information

Some residents living along Indian Creek had questions and concerns about the project's impact on Indian Creek.

Contacting Project Staff

Project questions can be addressed to:

Martina Wilkinson
(970)498-5731
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