Dry Creek flood control projects get under way

By JoAn Bjarko
North Forty News

After years of talking, planning and negotiating, flood control structures are being built to control the flow of Dry Creek.

The project will be paid through Fort Collins' stormwater utility fund, which is supported be fees charged to all city water users. The city has allocated $8.1 million for the project, to be spent over three years.

"It feels pretty good to actually be building something after all these years of planning," said Jim Hibbard, engineering and field operations manager.

The first visible sign of work, called Flood Control Basin 2, is taking place at the confluence of Dry Creek and Little Dry Creek. Water will run through the structure at its normal rate, unless there is flooding, said project manager Dean Saye. If needed, floodwater will be held in a detention pond for slow release into Dry Creek. Another, much larger, dry detention pond called Basin 1 is being built 1 mile north. Excavators will create the dry pond at Basin 2 and move the dirt to Basin 1 to build a dam embankment 2,200 feet long. Spillway modifications at Douglas Reservoir will also help control flooding.

The Dry Creek Basin encompasses about 62 square miles, with hundreds of residential and commercial structures located in the floodplain. Dry Creek enters Fort Collins near Willox Lane and College Avenue and meanders through small remnants of ditches and channels until it joins the Cache la Poudre River near Mulberry Street and Timberline Road. At this time, any businesses in the floodplain that want to expand or renovate have to follow federal standards for floodproofing, which is often cost-prohibitive.

East Vine closed

On June 27, East Vine Drive between North Lemay Avenue and Timberline Road closed to through traffic for about two months of construction that includes Dry Creek drainage improvements and roadwork. Businesses will remain open and detour routes will be provided. Project completion is estimated in mid-August. During the construction, Fort Collins Utilities will install box culverts under East Vine Drive.

In addition, the city engineering department will widen and repave East Vine Drive from North Lemay Avenue to Merganser Drive. New lane configurations will include two 12-foot travel lanes, an 8-foot pedestrian/bike lane on the north side and a 6-foot bike lane on the south side.

Questions about the stormwater project may be directed to utilities project manager Link Mueller at 224-6039 or lmueller@fcgov.com. Questions about the road improvements may be directed to Rick Richter at 221-6798 or rrichter@fcgov.com.