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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 05/07/1986MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD MAY 7, 1986 7:00 p.m. Board Members Present: Suzanne Bassinger Dave DuBois Scott Duncan Gil Fechner Bill Fischer Board Members Absent: Bob Sanz (excused) Staff Present: Roger Krempel Brian Woodruff Guests Present: Brian Richter, Storm Drainage Board Howard Alden, Poudre River Trust Ed Armbruster, Aquatic/Wetland Consultants Laurie Rink, Aquatic/Wetland Consultants Jonathan Howard, Engineering Prof., Inc. Tim Johnson Denise LaRue Ari Michelsen Pat Sousa Tod Schwartz Don Yon Edith Felchle Leslie Beckmann, Parks 6 Rec. Bob Smith, Stormwater Dept. Gary Lacy, City of Boulder Mit Parsons, Am. Fisheries Soc. Boulder Creek Plan -- Gary Lacy Deni LaRue opened the meeting by welcoming guests from other boards and organizations. Roger Krempel introduced Gary Lacy of the City of Boulder Planning Department. Lacy handed out material relative to the Boulder Creek project, showed slides, and explained various aspects of the project. The Boulder Creek project is a plan for the preservation and development of Boulder Creek as a fishery. Thirty-one pools and riffles have been completed this year. He introduced Ed Armbruster and Laurie Rink who have been heavily involved with the project. Lacy explained that project costs were minimized by using City crews and equipment. He said that, in terms of material and equipment needs, this kind of project requires only big boulders, and a big backhoe. Lacy remarked that the City of Boulder had wisely preserved a lot of the Boulder Creek area, rather than allowing it to be developed. Therefore, 95% of the property along the project is publicly owned. Owners of the private property have been very cooperative and many have donated easements. Many public relations and education activities were held, and Lacy considered them very important to the success of the project. On -site Public parties were held frequently; raft trips were arranged for City Councilmembers. The bike path was "sold" at $15.00/1-foot section. When concrete for the path was poured, "purchasers" were allowed to put their hand prints into the wet cement. The stream has been stocked with 1-5 lb. fish and fishing is done on a catch and release basis. Docks have been included for handicapped accessibility to fishing. Relative to the hazardous spill in Boulder Creek on 5/5/86, Lacy remarked that fortunately, due to the time of day and other luck factors, as far as they know no fish were killed. For safety purposes, stream flows were designed to eliminate low head dams. Instead they used a process which directs the water so that it "Jets" a person through the area rather than pulling the person under and trapping him. Funding for the project came from various areas including: 95% of the City of Boulder's lottery funds, City Open Space Fund, Parks Fund, Community Development Block Grant, State Trails Grant, local developers, and private donations. Lacy stated that to establish and maintain interest, it is very important to get out of the office and actually begin work on the project quickly. When residents see the work, they like what is happening and want more. Lacy extended an invitation to those present to come to Boulder to see the project. Trout Unlimited has expressed an interest in sitting down with local staff to work out project plans, and possible funding, to develop such a project for the Poudre River through Fort Collins. Riparian Incentive Program -- Mit Parsons Tim Johnson introduced Mit Parsons of the American Fisheries Society, Colorado -Wyoming Chapter. Parsons stated that he represents a coalition of groups working toward passage of a tax incentive action to encourage proper riparian management. He presented a slide show depicting proper and improper riparian management. Poor management results not only in loss of habitat for wildlife along waterways, but also in massive financial loss in terms of flooding and loss of usefulness of land. It is recognized that passage of a program of this type would not happen in the very near future, but the ground work is currently being laid. The program would call for a state tax credit for 75% of the cost the landowner incurs in proper riparian management. It is estimated that proper management would cost the landowner approximately $33.00/acre. A gasoline tax might be used to fund such a program in Colorado. The main opposition to this type of program comes from the agricultural community, particularly cattlemen, who fear encroachment on their land. Misc. NRAB Business After a break during which those in attendance had an opportunity to informally exchange ideas and discover ways in which the various groups represented might work together, the meeting reconvened with only NRAB members and staff present. The Minutes of the April 2, 1986 meeting were unanimously approved as submitted. Woodruff reported that radioactivity from the Soviet nuclear accident has reached Fort Collins, but measurements are so low they are indistinguishable from background levels. Because the meeting was running so late, remaining staff reports were simply handed out in written form. Other material handed out: the Open Space Plan, Windy Gap Report, Urban Wildlife Habitat Mapping Report. It was unanimously decided to postpone discussion of goals until the June meeting. To streamline the approval process at the June meeting, it was decided that if board members have comments they would like to make on the goals, they should send their comments to the Department of Natural Natural Resources. LaRue will then collect the comments and review them to identify areas of agreement and disagreement. The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.