Floodplain project debated

By JoAn Bjarko
North Forty News

Another rural area near Wellington is taking local government to task for its conclusions about flood mitigation projects in the Boxelder Creek Basin.

Residents from the Indian Creek drainage east of Interstate 25 turned out for a June 15 open house sponsored by the Larimer County Engineering Department. Area residents were invited to look at the latest plans to reduce potential flooding in the region and to offer comments.

Phase I of the Boxelder Regional Stormwater Improvement Project is called the Coal Creek Flood Mitigation Project. Coal Creek and Indian Creek are tributaries of Boxelder Creek.

Criticism of a three-government plan to reduce the region's 100-year floodplain dates back more than a year to when local residents found out they would be assessed annual fees to pay for the work. The first phase, estimated to cost $3.9 million, will get $2.9 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

In June, residents near Indian Creek contended that the first project, for which they are being assessed a fee, has no benefit for them and may even aggravate flooding conditions.

Fees for rural residential properties in the Boxelder Basin have been set by the county between $62 and $97 per year, depending on the size of the property. Wellington town residents and Fort Collins city residents are also paying into the fund through monthly stormwater fees.

Area resident Kay Campbell contended that stormwater fees should not be used to replace the County Road 7 bridge that was already scheduled for an upgrade.

"All Larimer County citizens are equally responsible for paying for the repair of roads and bridges," said the 74-year-old widow who is being assessed $75 a year.

Martina Wilkinson of the Larimer County Engineering Department said the county will look further into issues raised by Indian Creek residents. In the meantime, current plans to mitigate the 100-year floodplain will go to FEMA for review.

Project components include widening the North Poudre Inlet Canal north of Wellington; a new County Road 7 bridge over the inlet canal; and modifications at Clark Reservoir northeast of Wellington that include dredging, spillway improvements and outlet channel changes. Dredged sediment will be moved through a pipe to the southeast corner of County Road 70 and I-25.

Rex Burns, manager of the Boxelder Stormwater Authority, said he is convinced the additional space that will be created in Clark Reservoir will benefit the Indian Creek properties.

Wilkinson said the bridge project will still go to bid in October and the county wants to start construction in January. Other project components are scheduled to go to bid in January.

Current maps show 215 buildings are located in the Boxelder 100-year floodplain. Upon completion of Phase I improvements, the number should drop to nine.

Phase II will be construction of a new Edson Reservoir southeast of Wellington, and the final phase will include channel improvements near Interstate 25, northeast of Fort Collins.