HomeMy WebLinkAbout20000371.tiff Weld County Tri-Area Sanitation District
Telephone : (303) 833-2977 P.O. Box 213, Frederick, Colo.80530
January 24, 2000
COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721 i
Denver, Colorado 80203
RE: Weld County Tri-Area Conveyance Improvements Project
Request for Funding
Dear Board Members:
We hereby request funding from the Colorado Water Conservation Board in the amount
of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000.00) for the design and
construction of a regional stormwater detention facility in the Town of Frederick,
Colorado. This facility will supply much needed flood protection to persons and
properties in the City of Dacono, Town of Frederick, Town of Firestone and
unincorporated areas of Weld County, Colorado. (This area is commonly and jointly
referred to as the"Tri-Area").
The proposed project consists of the construction of a regional stormwater detention
facility. This facility will collect surface flows from south and east of the Town of
Frederick and release these flows at a rate significantly less then the historical peak flow
through this area during a 100 year storm event (1940 cfs historic vs. 567 cfs after
construction). Reduction of the peak flow will require detention storage in the amount of
146 acre-feet and a surface area of approximately 60 acres. More specifically, the project
will require the removal of approximately 438,300 cubic yards of soil, and the
construction of approximately 26,200 cubic yards of embankment and an outlet structure
and re-establishment of ground cover in all disturbed areas.
Our communities were once coal mining centers surrounded by rural farmland. Now the
farmland is quickly developing. Our residents are a mixture of retired miners, farmers,
migrant farm workers and young families with single incomes . The average income is
estimated at $20,000 per year.
We have adopted very strict criteria for the building of individual detention facilities
required to detain flows for each new subdivision developed over the past six years. We
require developers to detain their flows and release at a 2-year historical flow rate. This
has helped newly developed areas, but our old town and county properties still sit
dangerously close to disaster.
The Tri-Area has consistently experienced severe drainage and flooding problems from the
south and east sides of the communities due to the run-off of irrigated farmlands as well as
developed areas of the community. All of these communities are partially or completely in
t the flood plain as defined by FEMA. In 1985 the three communities received funds from
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the City of Northglenn because they were discharging wastewater and storm runoff
through the conveyance of Bull Ditch. Those funds were spent for improvements to the
systems, but only touched the surface of the entire project. Since that time, the District
has been maintaining the drainage ditches, but has not had funding for any additional
improvements.
The area has suffered other floods as well. There was a flood recorded on May 9, 1957.
Water raised 2-1/2 feet at Sixth and Oak when a dike south of the Town of Frederick
broke. The shaft of the Firestone Mine (water supply for Frederick) caved in, shutting off
all water to the Town. The water supply was contaminated, the sewer had backed up and
it continued to rain. Damage estimates in 1957 were set at $300,000. Floods have also
been reported in the 1960's due to the same south side weakness.
Our residents have asked us to seek funding for this project which could save lives and
prevent property damage. We have a new day care center only blocks from the existing
8th Street ditch embankment which broke and sent thousands of gallons of water down
the street in 1990 flooding residents in Frederick and Firestone.
There have been numerous studies done on this area over the last 20 years. All these
studies reached the same conclusion. Recently, Weld County completed a stormwater
master planning study that further confirmed previous recommendations and conclusions.
There is harmony among the towns and agreement regarding the need for this project at
this time. The history of the area shows that this was not always the case. Our current
Board of Directors is very proactive and also realizes the need for the facility. We are
very committed to seeing this project to completion.
We plead with you to help us solve this problem for our communities. There is a very
desperate need in these communities to get this stormwater conveyance problem fixed.
Sincerely, 41/429L-1'
Anthony norato, Jr.
President
cc: Dale Hall—Weld County Commissioner
Don Sandoval—Department of Local Affairs
Ed Tagliente—Town of Frederick
Rick Patterson—Town of Firestone
Linda Stepien— City of Dacono
Don Silar- Sear-Brown Group
Paul Rufien—Collins-Cockrel
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