Seeding protects reservoir

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

After any large fire, erosion and watershed pollution are big concerns. The Picnic Rock Fire in early April was no exception, especially since the fire burned right to the edge of Seaman Reservoir. The reservoir, located on the North Fork of the Poudre, supplies drinking water to the city of Greeley.

As a result, Greeley wasted no time in starting a reseeding project around the reservoir after the fire. The city hired Pacific Erosion Group, a company out of Parker, to seed and mulch 312 acres by helicopter during the first week of May. A dry seeding method was used, since Greeley officials were confident there would be enough spring moisture to make the grasses germinate. Pacific Erosion manager Ron Koback said he expects good germination results because of snow and rain that fell on the area in May.

To revegetate the area, a combination of several native grass seeds was used. Helicopters spread the seed on the target areas, then dropped weed-free straw mulch over the seed. The straw serves two purposes, holding in moisture for the sprouting seed and also protecting hillsides from erosion. Superior Helicopter out of Oregon supplied helicopter services for the project.

Jon Monson, director of Greeley's water and sewer department, said Seaman Reservoir has shown no signs of contamination so far. There have been no gully-washer storms since the fire, he noted, just small rains and snows that helped hold the ash in place and did not wash it into the reservoir. In addition, Monson said, the favorable weather has led to quite a bit of new growth in the burned areas that were not reseeded.