Left Hand Creek Watershed Master PlanningLeft Hand Creek Coalition Meeting
August 11, 2014
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AGENDA
Provide project status update
Debrief public meetings
Refine the planning and outreach process for next and remaining phases of project
Updates: funding, possible partnerships for implementation
Next steps
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Project Status Update
Work plan
Field work/assessments
Data analysis
Outreach
Project schedule
Refinements
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Data Sources Data sources used include:
Existing plans from James Creek Watershed Initiative, Lefthand Watershed Oversight Group, Left Hand Water District, Boulder County, and Town of Jamestown
Jamestown Stream Corridor Master Plan Technical Memorandum
Studies and data from NOAA, NWS, CWCB, CDOT, and NRCS
Boulder County Riparian Inventory
News articles for historical data
USFWS memos on endangered species
GIS data and maps
Public meeting materials from December 2013
Data from FRPIC
Descriptions of other projects in the watershed
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Examples from Annotated BibliographyTitle Author Date Summary
Exceedence Probability Analysis for the Colorado Flood Event, 9 - 16 September 2013
Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center, NWS, NOAA 9/17/2013
Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center (HDSC) developed maps showing annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) of the worst case rainfall for the Colorado event that started on 9 September 2013…The Colorado event delivered total rainfall amounts that exceeded 15 inches in some locations as it slowly moved through the area and caused extensive river flooding. For sub-hourly durations, the probability that a measured amount from Justice Center could be exceeded in any year was above 10%; probabilities rapidly decrease with duration and reach 1/1000 at 24-hour. The accumulated rainfall continues increasing through 7 days, and corresponding AEPs are less than 1/1000, but they remain below the 95% confidence limit for the 1/1000 AEP for all durations up to 4 days.
CDOT/CWCB Hydrology Investigation Phase One - 2013 Flood Peak Flow Determinations
Kevin Houck, Chief, CWCB Watershed and Flood Protection Service 1/21/2014
Memo to CDOT Incident Command. CWCB and CDOT measured peak flows from the 2013 flood, compared to regulatory discharges published in the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for each county, as prepared by FEMA. Watersheds studied included the South Platte River, Coal Creek, Boulder Creek, St. Vrain River, Little Thompson River, and the Big Thompson River. Hydraulic characteristics of many rivers were drastically changed by the flood event. NOAA updated design rainfall information for the first time in 40 years. A large volume of data was obtained during and immediately after the flood event, including gridded rainfall, soils and land use information, reservoir releases during the flood, LIDAR topography, and direct and indirect flow measurements. The CWCB hydrology team determined that this was an appropriate time to restudy basin hydrology at the watershed level.
Watershed Management Plan for the Upper Lefthand Creek Watershed, Boulder County, Colorado
Lefthand Watershed Oversight Group 8/10/2005
This Watershed Plan is intended to be a galvanizing tool to bring together diverse watershed stakeholders towards meeting the objectives of the LWOG. The plan provides details on general watershed information, water quality data collection and management, water quality concerns, metals and mining, prioritization of mine sites for cleanup, best management practices, and funding alternatives.
Endangered Species Act Compliance on Flood-Related Projects and Platte River Depletions Following the September 2013 Flood Event USFWS 4/14/2014
This announcement alerts property owners that USFWS temporarily waived Section 7 consultation requirements on all September 2013 flood-related projects resulting in depletions to the Platte River system in Colorado. This waiver is authorized through Spring 2015 runoff.
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Project Schedule
Week Beginning 9-Jun 16-Jun 23-Jun 30-Jun 7-Jul 14-Jul 21-Jul 28-Jul 4-Aug 11-Aug 18-Aug 25-Aug 1-Sep 8-Sep 15-Sep 22-Sep 29-Sep 6-Oct 13-Oct 20-Oct 27-Oct 3-Nov 10-NovDay 0 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 63 70 77 84 91 98 105 112 119 126 133 140 147 154
Task Week # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 231
DeliverablesProject Kickoff 6/11
Develop Project Activities, Milestones and Schedule RoadmapLeft Hand Creek Coalition Meeting Summaries
2Deliverables
Develop and Maintain Project WebsiteAgency, Stakeholder and Public Meeting Summaries
Public Information MaterialsCompile Draft Master Plan Comments
Summary of Planning Issues, Input and Activities
3Deliverables
Existing Conditions Analysis and Recommendations ReportSummary of Existing Plans
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5Deliverables
Creek Evaluation100-yr Floodplain Maps
Geomorphic MapsRisk Analysis and Recommendations
6Deliverables
List of Strategies for the Draft Master PlanPlan Frameworks
Conceptual Level Diagram Maps
7Deliverables
Project Recommendations/ Priority ListFinal Implementation Plans
8DeliverablesDraft Report 9/11Final Report 11/14
Identify Plan Strategies, Frameworks, and Alternatives
Project Prioritization and Implementation
Draft and Final Left Hand Creek Watershed Master Plan (DRAFT PLAN REVIEW)
Project Management and Coordination
Agency, Stakeholder, and Public Engagement
Existing Plans and Post-Flood Conditions
Data Collection
Creek Corridor Evaluation and Risk Assessments
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Project Workplan
See Handout
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Project Status Update (cont.)
Refinements to work plan (including outreach) and schedule
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Website LHCC mtg agendas, presentations, summaries Project updates – mtg summaries, flyers, photos,
description/summary for each project ‘phase’ Online survey about values/vision, plan focus areas Flood-recovery resources
•Email ‘blasts’ and other Key information Directing people to website for updates Business cards with project info/website distributed at
public meetings, events
LHMP Community Engagement/Outreach
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Prior to public meetings Announcement/flyer posted on websites Flyer emailed to BoCo flood listserv Flyer emailed to LHCC to distribute Flyer emailed to project list (FRPIC contacts, Dec. ‘13 mtg
attendees, quicktopic/neighborhood listservs) BoCo postcard Press release Reminder emails to project list, neighborhood leaders
LHMP Community Engagement/Outreach
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LHMP emails/calls received by project team
12 email comments/questions received and responded to Most with questions about master plan, meetings, and for more info4 about site-specific issues
3 calls received and responded to Questions about master plan, meetings, and for more info
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Lower LH public meeting Altona Grange, 7/31
52 signed in, 26 comment cardsQs focused on data considered; sediment/debris;
stewardship, monitoring & private property issues; two-way communication with County
4 small groups. Values/issues :Value of natural/riparian setting, historical legacy of
Creek, legacy of farming, wildlife habitat, flowing riverIssues: sediment/WQ, debris, flood mitigation,
emergency preparedness, long-term stewardship and watershed monitoring, culverts/bridges, sustainable Ag
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Upper LH public meeting Greenbriar, 8/6
58 signed in, 22 comment cardsQs focused on managing sediment, debris
flows, roads, water quality, USFS/CDOT involvement, culverts and bridges
4 small groups. Values/issues:Value of natural setting, wildlife habitat/corridor, privacy, tranquility and quality of life, recreation
Issues: flood mitigation, rebuilding roads and bridges, foot paths, mitigating debris flows, septic/WQ issues, floodplain decisions, property lines obscured, utilities problems, emergency preparedness
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Debrief Public MeetingsLower Watershed Survey Results (26 surveys)
Most important values included: Farming/irrigation
Water quality
Natural setting/quality of life
Most important projects included: Enhancing long-term oversight of watershed
Improving stewardship
Mitigating debris flows
Mitigating risk of private property damage from future flooding
Mitigating risks to personal safety
Ensuring/enhancing water quality
Restoring aquatic/riparian habitat
Restoring natural stream corridor
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Debrief Public MeetingsUpper Watershed Survey Results (22 surveys)
Most important values included: Ecosystem health/habitat
Water quality
Natural setting/quality of life
Most important projects included: Ensuring/enhancing water quality
Restoring aquatic/riparian habitat
Mitigating risks to personal safety
Restoring natural stream corridor
Reducing sediment/silt transport
Mitigating risk of private property damage from future flooding
Mitigating debris flows
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Funding, Partnerships, & Implementation
CWCB creek restoration awardsBoCo, Left Hand Water, and Stephen Strand
Coalition funding challenges
Possible partnershipsTrout Unlimited
Urban Drainage and Flood Control DistrictDo we need to contact/interview these
agencies?
Implementation issues
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Expected Outcomes vs Long-Term Goals
Long-term watershed coalition/network
For funding, projects and stewardship
CWCB/state focus and funding
LWOG existing/future role
Water rights and delivery issues
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Next Steps
Fieldwork for Risk Assessments25 Identified ReachesHope to complete work in 1 week
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Next Steps
Fieldwork for Risk Assessments
Right of Entry
DEM of Difference
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Next Steps
Fieldwork for Risk Assessments
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Next Steps
Flood Risk AssessmentObtained interim flood surface from VardaSorting through issues associated with that workSuspect hydrology
Used flows for LH at Longmont to model reaches west of 36
Uncertain cross section geometry?Models by Baker and NRCS showing different results but
use same hydrology
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Next Steps
EcosystemThe application of the SVAP2 protocol
includes the evaluation of features in the stream system that affect overall stream conditions and generally encompass the following categories: Channel stability (channel condition, bank
condition)Water quantity (hydrologic alteration)Water quality (nutrient enrichment and
manure/human waste)Vegetation (riparian area quantity/quality and
canopy cover)Instream habitat (pools, habitat complexity,
embeddedness)
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Next Steps
Questions and comments?