Little Thompson Watershed Restoration Coalition (LTWRC) Update
TETRA TECH SELECTED AS RIVER MASTER PLANNER
After many hours of review, discussion and voting rounds, the LTWRC Selection Committee chose Tetra Tech out of Ft Collins as our partner for developing the Master Plan for the entire 61 miles watershed. You will get a chance to hear from and meet them at the landowners meeting on April 16 (see next item) http://www.tetratech.com/. Seven river engineering companies submitted excellent proposals; any one of them would have been capable of doing a great job, and we welcome Tetra Tech to our river!
MASTER PLANNING KICK-OFF WED. APRIL 16 at 7pm IN BERTHOUD
The next LTWRC public landowners meeting is Wednesday, April 16 at 7 pm, Berthoud Community Center. Updates on ongoing activities, needs, and resources, plus a presentation by our new master planning team, Tetra Tech and their partners. You’ll learn about your role in the master planning process to take place now through September 2014. We’ll also have updates on debris removal and programs for recovery efforts.
NEW COALITION COMMITTEE STRUCTURE
For the master planning phase of our work, the Coalition has reorganized into two committees: the Steering Committee and the Coordinating Committee. The focus is on six river reaches, or “neighborhoods” that are contiguous reaches along the river sharing some key characteristics such as access, predominant land use, and geophysical environment. They are: Big Elk Meadows, Pinewood Springs, Blue Mountain, Boulder County, Berthoud and Johnston/Milliken. There are neighborhood captains for each river reach who will be your contact. Keep in touch!
See http://www.ltwrc.org/committees.html
DEBRIS REMOVAL IN PROGRESS
One hundred volunteers will work on properties on April 26th and May 3rd in a big push to get major stretches of the river cleaned up. Smaller teams are working on various sites in April and May. Have we heard from you? We can only help if you’ve registered with us and filled out the Right of Entry form. Work will continue over the spring, summer and fall as weather and river conditions allow. Talk to or email your neighborhood captain right away. Find them on http://www.ltwrc.org/page49.html Phones and emails:http://www.ltwrc.org/page78.html
LARIMER COUNTY—will end public road right-of-way flood pick up on May 10, 2014. LTWRC volunteers want to meet this deadline. If you’re not on our volunteer clean-up crew schedule (and you must sign the Right of Entry) and wish to do your own clean up, call Larimer’s Debris Hotline at 970-498-7140 to schedule your pick up before May 10. Questions? Email Lori Hodges, Director, Emergency Management and Flood Recovery: lrhodges@larimer.org
Flood debris must be separated into piles by debris type. http://www.larimer.org/flooding2013/?page=cleanup-debris#program
Debris placed roadside by paid contractors cannot be picked up, nor can debris from unimproved land, farm and ranch land, and commercial property.
BOULDER COUNTY—extending its right-of-way debris clean-up for hardest hit flood areas. http://www.bouldercounty.org/flood/health/pages/debris.aspx
SANDBAGS
Larimer County is working with Serve 6.8 and the Red Cross to provide free, filled sandbags to flood impacted citizens. Go to www.larimer.org/flooding2013, Riverwatch 2014 tab, for information .Serve 6.8 can be contacted at (970) 231-6445 (www.serve68.org)
In Boulder County, empty sandbags are available at Boulder County Road Maintenance, 5201 Saint Vrain Rd, Building 5 in Longmont, 7:30am to 3pm Mon through Thurs. Individuals may take up to 300 bags per address (verify your address with driver’s license). Filled bags also available any time at the west entrance outside the fence. Supplies are limited and availability varies. Call 303-441-3962 for an estimate of what’s currently on hand. Info on proper use and placement of sandbags, call NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation District) 303-776-4034, extension 3.
SOIL TESTING AVAILABLE
Concerned about sediments left by the flood? CSU offers complete soil analysis, including heavy metals, for $25. Bring a sample in a jar and a check for $25 to our next public meeting on April 16, and LTWRC’s Laura Tyler will deliver them to the lab for you.
COLORADO SPIRIT OUTREACH TEAMS GOING DOOR TO DOOR
If you haven’t registered with your county Long-Term Recovery Group, don’t be surprised to hear someone from the Colorado Spirit Outreach Team knocking on your door in the coming days or weeks. Registering is so important we’ve asked this group to make sure no one is overlooked.
FARMERS!! THERE MAY BE GRANT MONEY FROM THE CO DEPT OF AGRICULTURE
Part of the HUD money for Colorado is scheduled to be available to farmers as grants. It’s still an “if” situation depending on what HUD actually approves. An important part of being able to receive the grants is having your farm registered as a business with the Colorado Secretary of State. More news to follow.
LONG TERM RECOVERY NEEDS
If you need longer term help in restoring your home or property (besides debris removal), you must register with the Long Term Recovery group in your county. Registration puts you on the list if grants or loans for restoration become available.
Boulder County Long-Term Flood Recovery Group Office
4775 Walnut St. Suite A, Boulder, CO 80301 303-895-3429
Larimer County Long-Term Flood Recovery Group, Loveland, House of Neighborly Services
1511 East 11th Street, Loveland, CO 80537, Mon–Fri; 9 am–5 pm 970-461-2222
Larimer County Long-Term Flood Recovery Group, Estes Park office,
517 Big Thompson Ave #302, Estes Park, CO, Hours: TBD 970-586-5051
- estesvalleyltrg@gmail.com
- Case manager for Little T residents: Willow Cooper-Barton. Direct dial: 970-402-7535, or email: willowcooperbarton@gmail.com In an email, send your name, address, phone and a request that she contact you.
Weld County Long-Term Flood Recovery Group 970-590-8401
WE NEED EQUIPMENT AND OPERATORS
Do you have machinery or trucks you’re willing to loan volunteers for debris removal? Email info@LTWRC.org
LTWRC WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK
www.LTWRC.org An excellent place for resources and updates.
www.facebook.com/groups/LTWRC Share stories, comments, photos, ask and answer questions, get to know your fellow denizens of the watershed.
DEMO DAY FOR GRINDING DEBRIS
We’ll demonstrate the machine used to grind debris on Saturday, April 12 at 2275 Alpine Sky Drive, west of Berthoud. More information will be on the website soon.
LOST & FOUND
Did the river deposit someone else’s treasures at your doorstep? Did it sweep away something you’re hoping to get back? You can now report lost and found items tolost.found@LTWRC.org, and we’ll try to facilitate a happy reunion.
Source: Little Thompson Watershed Restoration Coalition – Journal, Issue 7, April 3, 2014
Recent Comments