HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 10/29/2019 - Memorandum From Jason Stutzman Re: Mail Creek Stream Rehabilitation UpdateUtilities
700 Wood Street
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221-6700
970.221-6619 - fax
fcgov.com
MEMORANDUM
DATE: October 18, 2019
TO: Mayor Troxell and Councilmembers
THROUGH: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager
Kevin Gertig, Utilities Executive Director
Theresa Connor, Utilities Deputy Director
Matt Fater, Civil Engineering Director
FROM: Jason Stutzman, Special Projects Manager
RE: Mail Creek Stream Rehabilitation Update
Bottom Line
The Mail Creek stream reach (3-1), just above Meadow Passway Drive, is within an urbanized
corridor and is experiencing severe bed and bank erosion. This segment of stream is part of the
Stream Rehabilitation and Enhancement Program. Initial funding for the project was approved in
the 2017-18 budget cycle and design work began in January of 2018. Improvements will include
stabilizing the creek beds and banks through a combination of bio-engineered designs, re-grading
and re-vegetation to improve safety and habitat. After 22 months of public outreach and
involvement, design work, and easement acquisitions, the project is set to go to construction
beginning in November of 2019.
Background
Since the late 1990’s, residents of Fossil Creek Meadows have been reaching out to the City for
assistance with the erosion of this segment of Mail Creek. No adequate source of funding was
available during these times.
In 2008 the Fort Collins City Council directed the Stormwater Utility to repurpose the
Stormwater Program to include stormwater quality and urban stream rehabilitation.
In 2011 the City hired Colorado State University (CSU) to conduct a stream rehabilitation –
stability study. This study prioritized future stream management and rehabilitation work on 10
streams within the City in coordination with the basin specific water quality improvements. The
study quantified the geomorphic, erosional susceptibility, and physical habitat state of these
streams. Numerous stream segments were identified with severe erosion and poor habitat quality
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due to urbanization and agricultural practices. This study did not include the Poudre River as
there are other studies and planning efforts focused on the River.
In 2012, City Council adopted the Stormwater Quality and Stream Rehabilitation Master Plan
identifying numerous stream rehabilitation projects to be completed. Based on the prioritization
of the stream reach projects, the top ranked stream restoration projects were: 1. Fossil Creek
upstream of Lemay Avenue through Fossil Creek Park; 2. Spring Creek through Edora Park; and
3. Mail Creek upstream of Meadow Passway Drive through Fossil Creek Meadows HOA
property.
The Fossil Creek project was successfully completed in 2015. The Spring Creek project was just
recently completed in 2019. Mail Creek at Meadow Pass way is now scheduled to begin in the
fall of 2019.
The 2017/2018 City budget included $1.4 Million in funding to begin design of the Mail Creek
project (Safe Community Offer 8.6). To date, approximately $400,000 has been spent
conducting preliminary design, final design, cost estimating and easement acquisition for the
project. Additional funding in the amount of $1.4 Million was approved in the 2019/20 budget
for completion of the construction and restoration establishment (Safe Community Offer 11.4)
Project Goals
Goals of the stream rehabilitation program, including the Mail Creek project, include:
Address poor aquatic habitat and unstable streams throughout Fort Collins while
preserving natural and beneficial functions of floodplains
Increase emphasis on stormwater quality and protection of the City's urban watersheds
Incorporate the triple bottom line- environmental, social and economic benefits to the
project and overall drainage basin
Improve stream connectivity throughout each basin
Improve water quality within City's urban streams
Next Steps
The project is scheduled to begin construction in the fall of 2019 and be completed in the spring
of 2020. The project will then move into a revegetation establishment period that could last
between 2-3 years.
Activity 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2024
Community Outreach and Input
Evaluation and Alternatives
Design and Permitting
Easements & Cost Estimating
Construction
Revegetation establishment period
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Figure 1 – Stream Rehabilitation Project Priority Exhibit
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