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Address Info: 1150 O Street, P.O. Box 758, Greeley, CO 80632   |    Phone: (970) 400-4225   |    Fax: (970) 336-7233   |    Email: egesick@weld.gov   |    Official: Esther Gesick - Clerk to the Board
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HomeMy WebLinkAbout951212.tiffRESOLUTION RE: APPROVE CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER TRAIL MASTER PLAN WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and WHEREAS, the Board has been presented with the Cache La Poudre River Trail Master Plan for approval by the City of Greeley, Town of Windsor, and the County of Weld, State of Colorado, and WHEREAS, on June 5, 1995, a joint public hearing was held by the City of Greeley, Town of Windsor, and County of Weld, at which time the Poudre River Trail Advisory Board presented its recommendation of approval to each entity, and WHEREAS, after review, the Board deems it advisable to approve said plan, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, that the Cache La Poudre River Trail Master Plan be, and hereby is, approved. The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by the following vote on the 12th day of June, A.D., 1995. ATTEST Ja4/ 4 Weld County Clerk to the Board BY: 7 -/de - Deputy ClerK'ta thq B9 APPROVED AS TO FORM: y Attorney r W. H. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WE COUNTY, COR4 DO arbarR?J. Kirkmeyer George E. Baxter Constance L. Harbert / t4` 6bster 1bl 951212 BC0024 NOTICE DOCKET NO. 95-44 The Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, will conduct a public hearing at 9:00 a.m., on Monday, June 12, 1995, in the Chambers of the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, Weld County Centennial Center, 915 10th Street, First Floor, Greeley, Colorado, for the purpose of considering the approval of the Cache la Poudre River Trail Master Plan. All persons interested in presenting testimony relative to said Plan may attend said hearing. Should any interested party desire the presence of a court reporter to make a record of the proceedings, in addition to the taped record which will be kept during the hearing, the Clerk to the Board shall be advised in writing of such action at least five days prior to the hearing. The cost of engaging a court reporter shall be borne by the requesting party. BE IT ALSO KNOWN that a copy of said Plan is available and may be examined in the office of the Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners, located in the Weld County Centennial Center, 915 10th Street, Third Floor, Greeley, Colorado, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Written comments may be sent to the Board at: P.O. Box 758, Greeley, Colorado 80632. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WELD COUNTY, COLORADO BY: DONALD D. WARDEN WELD COUNTY CLERK TO THE BOARD BY: SHELLY K. MILLER DEPUTY CLERK TO THE BOARD DATED: May 31, 1995 PUBLISHED: June 8, 1995, in the Windsor Beacon 951212 �CEio,s7. 4f WIVE DOCKET NO.95 -se The Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, will con- duct a public hearing at 9:00 a.m., on Monday, June 12, 1995, in the Chambers of the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County. Colorado, Weld County Centennial Center, 915 10th Street, First Floor, Greeley, Colorado, for the purpose of considering the approval of the Cache la Poudre River Trail Master Plan. All persons interested in presenting testimony rela- tive to said Plan may attend said hearing. Should any interested party desire the presence of a court reporter to -make a' record of the prc eiditts, in addition to the taped record which will be kept during the hearing, the Clerk to the Board rail be advised in writing of such action at least five days prior to the hearing. The cost of engaging a court reporter shall be borne by the requesting party BE IT ALSO KNOWN that a copy of aald Plan is available and may be examined in the office of the Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners, located in the Weld County Centennial Center. 915 10th Street. Third Floor, Greeley, Colorado, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Written comments may be sent to the Board at: P.O. Box 758, Greeley. Colorado BOARD OF COUNTY COM- MISSIONERS WELD COUNTY, COL- ORADO BY: DONALD D. WARDEN WELD COUNTY CLERK TO THE BOARD BY: SHELLY K. MILLER DEPUTY CLERK TO THE ' BOARD DATED: May 31. 1995 Published M In Windsor Berm on June 9, MSS. AFFIDAVIT OF PUBLICATION STATE OF COLORADO 55 COUNTY OF WELD I, ROGER A. LIPKER, of said County of Weld, being duty sworn, say that I am publisher of WINDSOR BEACON a weekly newspaper having a general circulation in said County and State, published in the town of WINDSOR, in said County and State; and that the notice, of which the annexed is a true copy, has been published in said weekly for / successive weeks, that the notice was published in the regular and entire issue of every number at the paper during the period and time of publication, and ie the newspaper proper and not in a supplement, and that the first publication of said notice was in said paper bearing jra the date of the day of A.D., 19 /C and the last publication bianng the date of the _day of A.D., 19 and that the said WINDSOR BEACON has been published continuously and uninterruptedly for me c:riod of S consecutive weeks, in said County and State, prior to the date of first publication of said notice the same is a newspaper within the meaning of an Act is regulate printing of legal notices and advertisements, approved May 18. 1931, and aii prior acts so far as in force. a VVVV' BLISHER Subscribed and sworn to befog.@ me this % day of 7e. 19(73 t NOTARY PUBLIC My commission expires 2 / 9 % ? 7 951212 NOTICE DOCKET NO. 95-44 The Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, will conduct a public hearing at 9:00 a.m., on Monday, June 12, 1995, in the Chambers of the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, Weld County Centennial Center, 915 10th Street, First Floor, Greeley, Colorado, for the purpose of considering the approval of the Cache la Poudre River Trail Master Plan. All persons interested in presenting testimony relative to said Plan may attend said hearing. Should any interested party desire the presence of a court reporter to make a record of the proceedings, in addition to the taped record which will be kept during the hearing, the Clerk to the Board shall be advised in writing of such action at least five days prior to the hearing. The cost of engaging a court reporter shall be borne by the requesting party. BE IT ALSO KNOWN that a copy of said Plan is available and may be examined in the office of the Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners, located in the Weld County Centennial Center, 915 10th Street, Third Floor, Greeley, Colorado, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Written comments may be sent to the Board at: P.O. Box 758, Greeley, Colorado 80632. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WELD COUNTY, COLORADO BY: DONALD D. WARDEN WELD COUNTY CLERK TO THE BOARD BY: SHELLY K. MILLER DEPUTY CLERK TO THE BOARD DATED: May 31, 1995 PUBLISHED: June 8, 1995, in the Windsor Beacon 951212 POUDRE RIVER TRAIL CORRIDOR 1000 10th Street • Greeley, Colorado 80631 • (970) 350-9780 May 30, 1995 Weld County Commissioners 915 10th Street Greeley, CO 80631 RE: F Street between 59th Avenue and 71st Avenue (Weld County Road 62.2) Dear Weld County Commissioners: LD CC' :.T`P j "'! -7 CLER;S TO Please be advised that the Poudre River Trail Corridor Advisory Board ("The Advisory Board") has voted to recommend that Weld County reopen F Street as a trail, between 59th Avenue and 71st Avenue (Weld County Road 62.2). The Advisory Board's recommendation is based on the thought that trail users will soon be able to ride all of the way from 11th Avenue in Island Grove Park to 71st Avenue, using the paved portion of F Street, between 21st Avenue and 59th Avenue, as a temporary trail. The extension of the existing trail from the Bunk House in Island Grove Park to 21st Avenue should be completed this year, using funding from GOCO and a matching grant from the City of Greeley. The Advisory Board believes that having an open trail from 11th Avenue to 71st Avenue would give added enthusiasm and momentum to the project. The Advisory Board hopes that you will consider this recommendation favorably. Bret Hall, Vice -Chairman Poudre River Trail Corridor Advisory Board ce; Pt.); C'fl; bif 951212 20 ` Greeley/ TO: Paul Grattet, City Manager \\� FROM: Rebecca L. Safarik, Community Development Director SUBJ: Poudre River Trail Master Plan DATE: May 30, 1995 Attached are copies of the Poudre River Trail Master Plan which the Trail Advisory Board has completed and submits now, for formal adoption by its sponsoring entities, the City of Greeley, Town of Windsor and Weld County Government. A formal presentation is planned by the Poudre River Trail Advisory Board members to precede the public comment. Also, an elementary school class has raised money for a park bench for placement along the existing section of Poudre Trail at Island Grove Park. They would like a chance to present that gift early in the meeting. I suggest the following format for the meeting: I. Call to Order Mayor Morton, City of Greeley Mayor Jones, Town of Windsor Chairman Hall, Weld County Commissioners II. ' Presentation of funds by Ms. Baker's first grade class at Cameron Elementary School of a donation to the City of Greeley to be used for the purchase of a park bench for placement along the Island Grove Section of the Poudre River Trail. (see attachment) III. Public Hearing to consider the proposed Poudre River Trail Master Plan for adoption by the City of Greeley, Town of Windsor, and Weld County Government. (Presentation will be made by Board Chair, Fred Otis, and other board and committee members. See attached report) IV. Adjournment 951212 Grattet 5/30/95 Page 2 A block ad will appear in the Greeley Tribune announcing the meeting and contact is being made with as many individuals as possible who have communicated an interest in the trail with the Poudre River Trail Corridory Advisory Board. Please advise if further information is required. 951212 R-100 PLAZA BENCH PLAZA BENCH - MODEL R100 6' and 8' An attractive, architec etoral sI\le' bench featuring square amps stand or ground mount i/8" s i" led( Alai hack strap with support bracing. All seen slats are I'' x I" Fib iroTech " receded plastic or pressure treated wood. \leed parts arc accent black Stith mine planed Listeners. GREEN MOUNTAIN BENCH - MODEL R200 4', 6' and 8' 3" square stand or ground mount. Slats are two I- X 4". lour " x i" EnviroTech -1 recycled plastic or pressure treated wood. R200 GREEN MOUNTAIN BENCH SIZE DESCRIPTION 4' EnviroTech recycled plastic Pressure treated wood EnviroTech recycled plastic Pressure treated wood EnviroTech recycled plastic Pressure treated wood 4' 6' 6' 8' 8' u• 04O \\ f. Ohs I_1 Ili 89 166 112 !18 1-19 Stir -racy or in -ground mount acailahle at same price. Add S or G io model number Shipped unassembled. (ardware includedWhen ordering I:ti' rnl'cch recycled plan ic. spccih color SeaFoam Green. Mucha Brown. Charcoal Gnac, or !Wier Gen 3 It WON' It 1111160 12 11111881' 12 I008\\ DESCRIPTION EmiroTech recycled plastic Pressure treated wood FmiroTech recycled plastic Pressure treated wood \Imull\ Ih. iti 424 Surface Or ground muunl ,mutable .11 .amt' prat' ',Mph adds urGun model number. li t' . RI HIlI'SI Shipped unro.rmhled ILo titan' mdud ed \L lien ordenng Loam Tech traded pLnut. .ptoh col() St:atoam Green. Mocha Nrottn. Charcoal Grn. or fetter (,rat Bench ro osed 4 r jbudre Tram 951212 f j Cameron Elementary School 1424 13th Avenue • Greeley, Colorado 80631 «eld,ty. c. (303) 352-2790 • Robb E. Rankin, Ph.D., Principal Schooljisttii Vle D cxur M r. C Vka_coi my Class i5 e+ --1-,n3 bench for -Hit 0oWare firoc i ( So the P eop € cow re_ s 1,✓h en fkey ge+ f /crd, Thy bcnch Cot1-5 f- S 5 %3 8.00 o n� we I6o•Ob q S 2 11 i 9 cmInc J o� + �i „money+ 1om Gtr ooSfc(S \k/c) a, I You, \ac -e__n err , n o 9 h -t--o do hou+e� $ S 7s. 00 �o r -- b /1 -ench. C_ �(k_ 1% r Il n i 1 till . -1C4-) >1 Laura_ Me, hd) ck 11/4/ ice t2e 7 w T r Sil" 1/40 gi NI\ i CI:NJ Cameron School Mission Statement Our mission at Cameron is for all students to become competent in reading, writing, listening, speaking and problem solving in a caring and challenging environment. 951212 Cameron Elementary School 1424 13th Avenue • Greeley, Colorado 80631 (303) 352-2790 • Robb E. Rankin, Ph.D., Principal see P. ri &dwo11)rlC_7 I Bench 8utYin wild I r e rte5 ►day er1v►(-6"()m 'o hp q4 Cameron School Mission Statement Our mission at Cameron is for ell shwdent4 to become competent in reading, writing, listening, speaking and problem solving in a caring and challenging environment. 951212 Cameron Elementary School 1424 13th Avenue • Greeley, Colorado 80631 Weld cipunty (303) 352-2790 • Robb E. Rankin, Ph.D., Principal SchiloolDisttici Cameron hoot Mission Statement Our mission at Cameron is for ?II students to become competent in reading, writing, listening, speaking and problem solving in a caring and challenging environment. Cameron Elementary School 1424 13th Avenue • Greeley, Colorado 80631 Wle4dthwg (303) 352-2790 • - obb E. Rankin, Ph.D., Principal ScdioolIIiAtiit 3 -hr, a9S- • Cameron School Mission Statement Our misOn at Cameron is for all student to become competent in reading, writing, listening, speaking and problem solving in a caring and challenging environment. 951212 951.212 CV- to erf27 , 199s -CV- Fred Otis, Chair Poudre River Trail Corridor Advisory Board Greeley, Colorado 80631 Dear Mr. Otis: The Greeley Youth Commission is excited about the Poudre River trails! In 1993 the Commission surveyed the youth community and asked what three issues the City should address in the near future. The responses indicated that youth activities, youth jobs, and the environment were priorities. The trails along the Poudre River would provide a host of opportunities for activities and preservation and enhancement of the environment; major areas of concern for the younger population. The Commission's "Poudre River Trails/Bicycle Pathways" Subcommittee regularly reports on the progress of this significant regional project and the Commission anxiously awaits its completion. Greeley's Youth Commission heartily supports the Poudre River Trail Corridor project. Sincerely, KBelly Lady, Cl it Greeley Youth Commission 951212 TWIN RIVERS CYCLING CLUB 1915 20th Street Road Greeley, Colorado 80631 February 7, 1995 Karen Scopel City of Greeley Parks & Recreation Department 1000 10th Street Greeley, Colorado 80631 Dear Karen; This letter is to express our support for the efforts being made for the development the Poudre River Trail. This corridor linking Greeley through Windsor to the Weld - Larimer County line and on to Fort Collins will be a major recreation asset for Northern Colorado. As bicyclists we often field questions from residents in the area and from students at the University of Northern Colorado about where to ride safely in the area. This corridor will enable many to have that safe passageway along a pathway filled with history, educational, and recreational opportunities. In 1993 we participated in the volunteer preparation for the initial trail building efforts. We will look forward to a continued partnership to see this project completed and maintained. Sincerely, Jack Herrick, Co -Founder Twin Rivers Cycling Club 951212 Earth Day b A+��, 251 t44 ego years Sgt NIMIt Greele years Look at the past • Teach the present • Assure thefuture February 8, 1995 Fred Otis, Chair Poudre River Trail Advisory Board 1000 10th Street Greeley, CO 80631 Dear Mr. Otis, The Greeley/Weld Clean Air Committee wants to go on record in support of efforts to build the Poudre River Trail from Greeley to Windsor. Air quality and environmental protection and awareness are the major issues our organization seeks to address..We have been the primary organizers and supporters of Greeley's very successful Earth Day Fair. 1995's event will be the sixth annual fair that will combine the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Earth Day with the 125th anniversary of the founding of Greeley under the theme "(Learn from the past•Teach the present•Assure the future." We believe the completion of the Poudre River Trail will be a wonderful opportunity to improve air quality by providing a safe, attractive route to encourage more bicycle commuting and also to enhance environmental awarness and appreciation of our natural resources. We are glad to support the Advisory Board's efforts by making the "March for Parks" event part of our celebration. We applaud your efforts and wish you much success. Sincerely, Karen Scopel, Member Greeley/Weld Clean Air Colorado Committee Greeleymvekl Earth Day Committee • 1000 10th Street • Greeley, Colorado 80631 • (303)350-9781 951212 Colorado Mountain Club Weld County Group P.O. Box 293 Greeley, Colorado 80632 January 27, 1995 Poudre River Trail Advisory Board Fred Otis City Hall 1000 10th Street Greeley, Colorado 80631 Dear Fred: The Weld County Group of the Colorado Mountain Club would like to express its support of the Poudre River Trail. One of the goals of our organization is to "encourage the preservation of forests, flowers, fauna and natural scenery." We believe that the trail will encourage more people to be outdoors and enjoy the beauty of Weld County and Greeley's natural scenery along the Poudre-River. As a group, we encourage our members to assist in the construction and maintenance of the trail. Sincerely, Barbara Wasung Weld County Group Treasurer State Director 9,512"?_"" UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO COLLEGE OF EDUCATION LABORATORY SCHOOL GREELEY, COLORADO 80639 (303) 351-2321 Richard Quaco t Magar_ Island Grove Regional Park 501 North 14th Avenue Greeley, CO 80631 Dear Mr. Quaco, As chairman of the Educational Sub -committee of the Poudre Trail Advisory Board I feel qualified to speak about the educational utilization of the Poudre Trail and provide support for the City of Greeley's grant request for GOCO funds to continue the development of the trail. The Poudre River Corridor, specifically the 22 miles of the Poudre Trail in Weld County offers an exceptional opportunity to expand the interdisciplinary education scope in the Greeley -Windsor area. The establishment of an interdisciplinary learning center on the banks of the Cache la Poudre River would be a keystone. The Poudre Learning Center would be built on the area along the .reach of the Poudre presently being mined by the Hall- Irwin Construction Company. The Center could develop and offer low cost/no cost interdisciplinary environmental education programs at the Poudre Learning Center to help introduce and reinforce concepts presented in local school curricula. It could serve as a convergence for the interdisciplinary study of the, Poudre River through the use of labs, activities, canoe trips, and of course the Poudre Trail. The Center could offer stream -side teacher training programs and student discovery programs. Through these workshops, teachers can see creative ways to use the Poudre Learning Center and the Poudre Trail. The Center could serve as a focal point for the interdisciplinary study of the history, science, and aesthetics of the regional rivers and their wetlands along the Poudre Trail. ItQUALITY • DIVERSITY • PERSONAL TOUCH COMMITTED TD ArtWMATNE ACTION NC EQUAL OnpITUMTT 951212 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO COLLEGE OF EDUCATION LABORATORY SCHOOL GREELEY, COLORADO 80639 (303) 351-2321 The Poudre Trail has already become a meeting place for a concourse of people from all walks of life in Weld County. People who are hikers, bikers, horse -back riders and even roller bladers are streaming together to build the 22 mile Poudre Trail. The common denominator of this diverse group is a genuine interest in the construction of a recreational and educational trail in the Poudre Corridor. It is a boon for all of those who call themselves outdoor enthusiast. The Poudre Trail Advisory Board has taken an old "working" river, an inspiring setting among the oxbows, cottonwoods and sandstone bluffs and blended the common interest of the Weld County Residents along the Poudre Corridor. Then they put it all together, and the results have become the Cache la Poudre Trail, an engaging and informative greenbelt sure to become a Colorado treasure. The Poudre Trail is an educational gem in the rough. With GOCO funding assistance it can begin to show its real beauty. It is without any hesitation that I support the City of Greeley's request for the Poudre Trail funds. Sincerely Ray T,sbhillard Earth Science Instructor • iji QUALITY • DIVERSITY • PERSONAL TOUCH comMDRD TO AiIC.MATM Anon AND (QUAL OPPORTUNITY 9S1Z12 4AS0CIACI0N DE PLANIFICACI0N Y ACCI0N PARA UNA COMUNIDAD SALUDABLE DE WELD I February 1, 1995 Mr. Fred Otis, Chair Poudre River Trail Corridor Advisory Board 1000 10th Street Greeley, Colorado 80631 Dear Mr. Otis: Vision Together is pleased to offer its full endorsement and support for the Poudre River Trail. As Weld County's healthy community project, Vision Together is one of 150 such projects underway across the country. Each of these projects reflect a growing movement among people who support community and individual health in its broadest sense. Locally, 450 citizen planners or "stakeholders" have worked exhaustively to determine what makes a community healthy, and specifically, what can we do to make Weld County a healthier place to live. We have conducted exhaustive research, and citizens have been very clear about the importance of healthy lifestyles. We have established several vision statements to reflect the initiative's commitment to health. Excerpts from the vision statements include: "enjoy and preserve our environment," "emphasize healthy living," "renew and enjoy our environmental and natural resources," "healthy living through greater self -responsibility (and) more active lifestyles." Stakeholders are now developing plans that will support the vision statements. These plans will emphasize increasing personal civic responsibility in several areas, with a major emphasis on health. The Poudre River Trail will provide many benefits to the region and its. residents including preserving open space, improving and enhancing the environment, recreation, exercise, environmental education and awareness for all citizens, not to mention the relaxation of walking along a peaceful river trail. This is a perfect project to support Weld County's efforts to become a healthy community. I commend you for your efforts. Sincerely, Bob Francella Vision Together Coordinator North Colorado Medical Center Foundation • 1801 16th Street • Greeley, Colorado 80631-5199.303-356-9020 951212 r WELD HEALTHY COMMUNITY PLANNING & ACTION PARTNERSHIP ks NORTH COLORADO MEDICAL CENTER 1801 16th Street Greeley. Colorado 80631-5199 303-352-4121 February 5 r no Fred Otis, Chair Poudre River Trail Corridor Advisory Board ----��a�ZIItn Greeley, CO 80631 Dear Mr. Otis, As staff of the Lifetime Wellness Center at North Colorado Medical Center we would like write a letter of support for the Poudre River Trail Corridor. As educators and health professionals specializing in preventive and rehabilitative medicine, exercise, and wellness the development of the Poudre River Corridor will make it easier for us to facilitate positive lifestyle change for our clients and patients. The proposed trail from Greeley to the Weld County line will allow our clients and patients many opportunities to pursue increased health and quality of life in a safe, fun, and rich environment. This project will provide Greeley and Weld County citizens chances for connection, commitment, and partnership both toward the trail and within our communities. Projects like the Poudre River Trail increase both personal and community wellness . We look forward to future opportunities to support and assist the advisory board with the challenge of designing, building, maintaining, and using this trail system both personally and professionally. Please add our names to your growing list of volunteers. Sincerely, Members of the Lifetime Wellness Staff at North Colorado Medical Center Barbara J. Beck, Ph.D. Staci J. Datteri, M.P.H. Michelle Hart, M.S. Health Education Teri Sieg, R.D., C.D.E. Cathy Frantz, R.N., M.S., CACIII Debora J. Hassett, Business Associate Deb Legel R.N., M.Ed.,-C.E.T. Linda Plasters, R.N., M.A. Ginger Maki, R.N., M.A., C.H.E.S. Priscilla Faulkner, R.N. Mary-Branom, R.D. Darlene Elsea, R.R.T. 951212 Weld County School District 811 Fifteenth Street -Greeley, CO 80631{303) 352-1543 John D. Pacheco, Superintendent February 2, 1995 I am the person in District 6 who is responsible for working with staff in all our schools to support gifted education which includes school wide enrichment. Our goal is to continuously search for ways to challenge and enrich students through real world problem finding and problem solving, involvement in hands-on activities, encouraging creative production, development of leadership abilities, and completion of projects with social significance. I believe that the potential to accomplish many of our goals is present through development of the Poudre River Trail as an educational resource for staff and students in our area. I am committed to working with other agencies to explore ideas and to involve our staff and students in planning and developing this project. Opening up this section of the trail would provide access to the river in ways which have not previously been available. Students in our district are very interested in ecosystems, water quality, recycling, outdoor education and sports. The students who recently went on a trip along the proposed trail were excited at the prospect of being involved from the beginning of this project in all aspects from creating a dream trail to providing physical labor where needed. Our community is fascinated with the history behind the River. We would hope to, in some way, make the history come alive as part of the educational efforts. Some of the ideas we discussed were training for teachers, a center for learning which would involve hands-on activities, water testing, analysis of plant and animal life in the River and along it, photography, writing, study of geologic and geographic formations, biking, hiking, track. We seem to continue to have new ideas and continued excitement at all the possibilities. I believe this project has captured the enthusiasm of our community and that it will be a great asset to all of us. It will also give us a chance to be involved in a meaningful project which will leave a legacy for the future. I hope funding will be forthcoming. � �SJincerely, Thelma J. Bear, Psy. D. District -6 Mission Statement 'Our mission is to educate all students ins nurturing, challenging, and disciplined environment so their performance is a credit to themselves and society.' 951212 PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT 651 10Th ?vEN7E GREELEY, CO 80631 (303)350-9424 February 3, 1995 Richard Quaco, Facilities Manager Island Grove Regional Park 501 N 14th Avenue Greeley, CO 80631 Dear Mr Quaco, Thank you for the excellent completing the first half mile through Island Grove Regional wonderful addition to the many community and the region. job you and your staff did in section of the Poudre River Trail Park. This section of trail is a things the park has to offer to the As the citizen advisory board for park and recreational issues throughout the community, we remain committed to and supportive of continuing efforts to construct additional portions of the trail, not only through Island Grove, but, to complete the link to Windsor and beyond. This corridor will provide the area's citizens with many recreational opportunities for both leisure and fitness. We look forward to continuing to be part of this exciting opportunity. Trudi Manuel, Chair Greeley Parks & Recreation Advisory Board 951212 JUNE ifi-JULY4 GREELEY L\DEPE\DENCE STAMPEDE * * ...A FAMILY AFFAIR February 2, 1995 Mr. Richard Quaco Park Superintendent Island Grove Park Greeley, CO 80631 Dear Dick: As the major user of the Island Grove Park facility, we were excited to hear of Phase II of the Poudre River Trail Project. The continuation of this project will definitely enhance our event and allow us to better serve our public as well as give us an opportunity for continued growth. we are particularly excited about the equestrian. trail and river foot bridge which is part of this program. Our continued growth is .evident in current ticket sales for 1995. The Poudre River Trail Project, including the foot bridge across the river would enable us to double our parking capacity as well as develop new alternative events along the river, utilizing the River Trail. This project continues to havea major positive impact on our event. We are pleased to see this program continued. Lyn Settje Ex- utive Director 600 N. 14th Avenue. Greeley, Colorado 80631 • (303) 356 -SPUR • 800 -982 -BULL • Fax (303) 356-3103 ARTPAi KER Cnofnan flaw Pmea . JVF MWCaRE1D Vio Onina h; k nstarytacmolbnY TwowrorMlphr$hen.y Spaeld A@OcIeN i'044 mein • KEN'.SuucFER JOE VIO(SREW Eaecollve Drrocrer G)05pvn Comivm MC REYNOLDS heat MANUecuay AOS JEARYN KE7 Umft larodes JONE45IN WOW EVANS Poaeos Arena ConYNcllon JOIw ANDER5ON -Ground, • I CKEUEY IAOR•Rnp (0514:Ce€N) YS E 4212 r,ri C'kwi+iit Iii Ntnl ()VatUnity GREELEY/ WELD February 7,1995 Ms. Karen Scopell % Fred Otis, Chairperson Poudre Trail Advisory Committee 2631 52nd Ave. Ct. Greeley, CO 80634 Dear Karen, Please consider this letter oursupport in your groups efforts to get a "Go Colorado" grant which would provide funding for approximately 1/2 mile of the proposed 22 mile Poudre Trail. It's our understanding that the proposed trail will go from Island Grove Park in northeast Greeley, to the Town of Windsor. This proposed trail will enhance the quality of life for all residents in the area, and would be considered an asset and marketing tool in our efforts to attract high quality, primary sector company locations. If fact, a couple of years ago we were working with a company who ultimately located somewhere else partially due to lack of bike/walking trails in Weld County. We applaud and support your groups efforts. Warm Regards, William J. Argo President CREELEY,VELD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTION PARTNERSHIP. INC. Ft O. Box S Grttltv. Colorado 80642 10b 356.4.363 Fax 303/352.2436 951212 TOTAL x'.02 CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER - TRAIL MASTER PLAN bha design CITY OF GREELEY, WELD COUNTY, & TOWN OF WINDSOR APRIL 1995 951212 Pondre River Trail Master Plan Table of Contents I. Executive Summary II. Introduction A. Purpose of the Master Plan B. Goals & Objectives of the Poudre Trail III. A Brief History of the Cache la Poudre River A. Geological History B. Cultural History C. Other Cultural Features D. Historical Timeline IV. Physical Environment A. Wildlife B. Agriculture C. Gravel Mining D. Future Residential E. Flood Plain F. Topography V. Land Use A. Weld County B. Windsor C. Greeley D. Regional Planning E. Transportation F. Fort Collins 4 7 15 20 VI. Educational Opportunities 22 VI. Poudre Trail Master Plan & Cost Estimates (Map Segments) 25 VII. Design Guidelines VIII. Maintenance Guidelines IX. References DG series 27 28 Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 1 951212 PoutIre River Trail Master Plan I. Executive Summary Rushing water, heard through a thick underbrush hiding its source. He moved cautiously upwind, approaching the river's edge. With a surety of step found only through years of error and success he quietly moved to the riverside. A branch moved quietly; revealing without noise; a motion imperceptible, he moved his hand back sighting on the small ermine by the water's edge. With a swift and sure motion his spear unleashed and there is the assurance there will be no hunger this day. This story could be told 1,000, 100 or several years ago. The Cache la Poudre, formed millions of years ago has served man in many ways; as a food source, for shade, for water, for picnicking, or to nourish crops. The Poudre has long filled the needs of both man and animal. With its headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park, the river is a conduit for one of nature's most precious gifts. The Poudre has been used in a myriad of ways for thousands of years. The first known presence of man started more than 11,000 years ago with Folsom Man. These inhabitants been radiocarbon dated back as far as 9,000 BC More recently, the land of the Poudre River Basin was occupied by Native Americans who migrated from the north and east. Ute, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Sioux, and others lived at various times along the river. Through 1870 Native Americans inhabited and fought for the lands upon which they laid claim. Beginning in the early 1800s, French Canadian Fur Trappers began exploring the Poudre River, hunting for beaver furs. Their furs were then quite popular in the East. Starting in Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 1859 a new wave of immigration commenced with the Gold Rush of 1859. Thousands of settlers left the eastern United States and headed west to find gold and free land. In 1861 the Whitney ditch was constructed just south of the current town of Windsor. This was the first ditch to have water appropriated from the Poudre. Water was diverted for cropland and the beginning of the 1st in line, 1st in time was developed to establish water rights. In the 10 years after the forming of Greeley much of the land surrounding the river was under cultivation. Use of the waters of the Cache la Poudre has continued through the years and today much of the water is diverted before it reaches the South Platte River confluence. After diversion, return flows from agricultural fields restore some of the flow levels. Agriculture and gravel mining are the major industries of the river although residential demand is growing. A trip up the Poudre today from Greeley reveals numerous gravel mining operations and extensive agricultural fields. But today a new force is shaping the area adjacent to the river: residential development. Residential development is being planned along much of the river between Greeley and the Weld County Line and will dramatically change the appearance of the area over the next 10 to 20 years. The Cache la Poudre Trail Master Plan is being developed to set aside a location that will serve Weld County, Greeley, and Windsor residents now and into the future. It is expected that this section will connect with the trail through Ft. Collins and Larimer County to the 2 951212 Poudre River Trail Master Plan west and to the Delta of the Platte River to the east. The trail recognizes a variety of important considerations in developing a master plan. The key objectives are to: 1. Promote the river as a recreational resource. 2. Develop a plan that is in harmony with adjacent landowners. 3. Provide a means of non -motorized transportation. 4. Develop an educational framework for the river user that has an interdisciplinary focus on natural and cultural resources. 5. Protect and enhance the natural systems in the river. The Poudre River Trail Master Plan was developed around these goals. By working with landowners, educators, wildlife specialists, historians, and river enthusiasts a plan was developed that balances a variety of desires and blends different elements into a comprehensive trail vision. The Master Plan establishes an alignment and series of recreational stops, educational opportunities, and recreational uses that make each mile of the 18 mile stretch an interesting one. Interpretive signs, rest areas, trailheads, picnic areas, scenic vistas, the Poudre Learning Center, and several fishing ponds are among the key features incorporated into the plan. The alignment weaves through a variety of settings including shady cottonwood groves, the high bluffs south of Windsor, agricultural fields and parks and open space. As part of the Plan, schematic cost estimates and reduced plans divided by section have been prepared. The reduced plans provide a brief description of each individual segment as well as a description of major features to be found within each reach. These estimates will help in budgeting for future construction projects. The Plan will be useful to take on -site to visualize specific given sections. Following the maps, design guidelines have been prepared. The guidelines provide specific recommendations for trail construction and have been based on accepted standards in the industry. They will serve to guide the quality and character of the trail as well as give direction to be used in specific site construction plans. Lastly, a brief statement of maintenance activities, approaches and costs per mile have been included. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 3 951212 Pontlre River Trail Master Plan II. Introduction A. Purpose of the Master Plan On February 9, 1994, the Poudre River Trail Corridor Board was created by the City of Greeley, Weld County, and the Town of Windsor via an intergovernmental agreement. This master plan report is the product of the Trail Corridor Board's initial efforts to plan and site the proposed Poudre River Trail. The following people, with their appointing entity listed, comprise the Poudre River Trail Corridor Board: Fred Otis, Chair Cathy Best, Town of Windsor Nancy Brigden, City of Greeley Bret Hall, City of Greeley Dale Hall, Weld County Tim Katers, Town of Windsor Keith McIntyre, Weld County The Board is supported by these staff members: Steve Bagley, City of Greeley Bruce Barker, Weld County Rick Brady, City of Greeley Peggy Ford, City of Greeley Ed Herring, Weld County Sheriff's Department Terrie McKellar, City of Greeley Monica Mika, Weld County Jeff Rulli, City of Greeley Becky Safarik, City of Greeley Keith Schuett, Weld County Karen Scopel, City of Greeley Frank Stephens, City of Greeley The following individuals and organizations have also contributed significantly to the preparation of this plan: Thomas Auch, CCWCD Bill Hoyt, UNC Bill Ness, UNC Larry Rogestad, Division of Wildlife Carol Schwayder Ray Tschillard, UNC The purpose of the Trail Master Plan is to serve as a project scoping and communication document. The Master Plan establishes a flexible framework that can respond to potential future changes in the current proposed trail location. Statements of probable construction cost and specified design guidelines will create a regionally consistent framework for specific neighborhood dialogue, unified fundraising activities, -consistent final design, and coordinated construction through three different political jurisdictions. Included in the Master Plan are: 1) A preferred trail alignment, with indications of alternative routes and loop trail additions to the main regional trail; 2) Statements of probable construction cost for trail segments; 3) Descriptions of existing conditions and landscape character and statements explaining how the trail will fit into these settings; 4) Guidelines that illustrate design frameworks for the next step of creating detailed designs for the trail and its features; 5) Cost implications of maintenance activities experienced by other Front Range trail management entities; 6) Various assumptions that were made which helped form the basis for the Master Plan. It is expected that this document will serve as an organizational tool for detailed discussion of future community programs and activities Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 4 951212 Poudre River Trail Master Plan related to the river, where and when to implement them, and how to pay for them. B. Goals and Objectives of the Poudre River Trail As the northern Colorado region has experienced rapid economic growth, urbanization, and expansive human population increases, support has recently grown for concepts originally proposed in the 1970's to turn greater public attention to the Cache la Poudre River. As the northern Front Range landscape continues to encounter major changes over very short periods of time, public interest has grown in the significance of the river as something greater culturally and ecologically than an industrial conduit for storm and irrigation water or a warehouse of construction materials. Public preferences today commonly suggest that rivers in general must simultaneously provide diverse services to many segments of our culture. Questions frequently arise about the limits that any natural system holds to serve the public's own extractive needs. As the questions are asked, concern is usually voiced for balancing industrial demands against protection of remaining natural features, and enjoyment of the river's attributes by not only present, but also future generations. It is within this cultural context that the City of Greeley, Weld County, and the Town of Windsor formed a board of representatives from each jurisdiction - The Poudre River Trail Corridor Advisory Board, to prepare a master plan for a regionally significant non -motorized trail along the Poudre River. Although trails along rivers are generally recognized as one more form of development, the committee and its sponsoring governments have proposed the trail Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado corridor as a means to begin providing for the change to recreational and transportation needs of the public. The board has established five major goals for the trail corridor project, all of which have been discussed and carefully framed by the consensus of its members. 1) Recreation - to establish a trail that will accommodate various recreational activities including, walking, jogging, bicycling, and skating. Recreational activities served by the provision of trail access will include fishing, photography, horseback riding, sitting, wildlife observation, and canoeing. 2) Responsiveness to landowners -to work carefully with landowners to propose and discuss ways that public and private interests can be served in a mutually beneficial manner to achieve the other goals. Physical design alternatives and economic incentives are significant topics of discussion required to define that mutual benefit. 3) Transportation - to link Windsor and Greeley to each other with a feature that will permit non- polluting, non -motorized transportation between the two urban areas, and sites between. To establish the Poudre River trail as a regional backbone in a larger system of trails connecting sites of recreation, employment and housing with the intent being to reduce dependency on the automobile. 951212 Pout/re River Trail Master Plan 4) Education - to use the trail as a means to provide the public with a linked series of interpretive sites that explain; a) the processes by which people throughout history have shaped this landscape and, b) the natural forces that made and will continue to form this landscape. 5) Environmental conservation - to establish a trail within a wider corridor that is established by public and private consensus. Such a corridor is needed to protect and restore unique natural and cultural features of the landscape including the conservation of biological diversity and species rarity for appreciation by current and future generations of people in this valued place. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 6 951212 Poudre River Trail Master Plan III. A Brief History of the Cache la Poudre River A. Geological History The story of the Cache la Poudre River starts over 300 million years ago with a mountain range located just west of the present location of the Front Range. These "ancestral Rockies" were completely eroded away over many millions of years, but their erosion and the erosion of other mountains which developed farther to the west produced large quantities of sediment that eventually formed sandstones, shale, and limestone. Most of this sediment was deposited in shallow seas that once covered the area. The marine life which lived in the seas was preserved as fossils that can be found now in these layers of sediment. Fossil Creek which courses through the southern end of Fort Collins gets its name from the many marine fossils that can be found there. Dinosaur remains can also be locally found in deposits laid down along the margins of the shallow seas. About 70 million years ago, another major episode of mountain building, commonly referred to as the Laramide Orogenv, produced mountains which ultimately would become our modem Rocky Mountains. As these Laramide rocky mountains were pushed up, accompanied by intense distortion and rupturing of the layers of sediment they caused the clouds to create rainfall which would form rivers and streams to erode them away. Where the Laramide mountains had previously been, erosion laid bare the ancient crystalline rocks which would ultimately form the core of our modem mountains. Along the flanks of the Laramide mountains, blankets of sediment built up as the mountains were buried in their own erosive Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado remains. By about 40 million years ago, the topography was subdued and the Laramide mountains were no more. The modem Cache la Poudre River got its start around 10 million years ago as all of Colorado, Wyoming, and surrounding areas were uplifted. The Laramide rocky mountains were reborn to form our modem mountains, not by faults , earthquakes, and volcanism, but by the patient erosion of rivers and streams. The uplift steepened the gradient to rejuvenate the streams causing them to cut down through the soft sediments along the flanks of the old Laramide mountains. This exposed the ancient crystalline core of these mountains which now stand in majestic relief. As part of this erosion, the Cache la Poudre established its course, carving steep canyons in the mountains and broad open valleys on the plains. The geologic work of the Cache la Poudre River is not yet done. It continues the never ending erosion and transport of sediment derived from the mountains and plains to its ultimate resting ground in the Gulf of Mexico. The results of that erosion are beautifully displayed along the course of this proposed trail alignment. It is thought that about 3 million years ago the plains of present day Colorado were much like the savannahs of eastern Africa. The landscape was dotted with low scrubby vegetation and animals similar to llama, camel, alpaca, rhinoceros, four tusked elephants, bison, hornless deer and ermine were commonly found. At this time a receding ice age began to unleash large amounts of water and created massive erosion that pushed east and west and formed the sculpted the forms of the rivers and piedmonts today. 7 951212 Poneire River Trail Master Plan Today the Cache la Poudre is comprised of three major forks in the Front Range. The main stem has it headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park at Milner Reservoir near the Continental Divide. The South Fork joins the main stem a few miles east of Rustic, and the North Fork joins the main stem a few miles before it issues from the mountains northwest of Bellevue. The river continues southeast past Fort Collins, Windsor, and Greeley to its confluence with the South Platte just east of Greeley. The terminus of the Poudre is at the confluence of the south fork of the Platte River. From there water drains to the Missouri, the Mississippi and ultimately to the Gulf of Mexico. B. Cultural History Native Americans The Cache la Poudre has a rich cultural history starting as far back as 9000 BC when the first remains of Folsom Man were found in the area. There is little information about this time except for a few fossil remains that have been unearthed. From this point onward there is little additional information until about 100 AD when there is evidence of a large migration of Native Americans into the plains of Colorado from the east and northeast. The migration occurred along the Platte River and then up the Poudre to the mountains. The residents of this time consisted of the Utes, Apaches, and Comanches. Eventually the Apaches were forced south below the Arkansas River and the Comanches dominated the northern plains. In the early 1800's the Utes had moved into the mountains and two new tribes, the Arapaho and Cheyenne, formed a loose alliance. These tribes remained the dominant force until they were forced onto reservations by European settlers. The first people of European descent to venture into the Poudre area are thought to have been French Canadian fur trappers. It was at this time that the Cache la Poudre is reported to have received its name according to historical reports -by William H. Ashley. It was the Gold Rush of 1859 that started the furor to go west and it was then that colonization began -in earnest. Overland Trail One of the main roads for colonization of the Poudre River Basin was the Overland Trail. This was the stage line connecting Denver and Salt Lake City. While the actual beginning of the Trail is not recorded, it -is known that exploration of the area surrounding the South Platte and Poudre Rivers began as early as 1824. During this period, when the West was first being explored by famous pioneers such as Jim Bridger and Major Andrew Henry were venturing out to the new found west. In these early years the pioneers mostly hunted and trapped beaver furs for use in the eastern states where they were the current fashion trend. Traveling from St. Louis up the Missouri and eventually connecting with the North and South Platte these early explorers branched out over vast areas in both Wyoming and Colorado. As they continued their explorations in Wyoming they found the Sioux, Snake and Blackfoot Indians to be formidable foes. Later in the 1800's the Gold Rush mobilized thousands of potential colonists and miners to travel west in search of land and riches. The desire Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 8 951212 Poudre River Trail Master Plat to go west was so strong in 1849 that thousands of gold seekers and opportunists trudged along the Overland Trail. Evidence of this can be seen in the names and dates inscribed in the cliffs along the way. In fact along the Cache la Poudre just west of 83 Avenue there are cliffs such as these with various names scratched into the sandstone bluffs adjacent to the Poudre. For a six week period in the spring and summer of 1849 it was reported that over 1500 wagons left St. Joseph on the Missouri to head west through Nebraska along the Platte River. Towns along this route all reported no less than 27,000 settlers and nearly 40,000 oxen and mules passing through their communities en route to the "promised land. " In the years 1850-1852 traffic is reported to have increased to nearly 100,000 persons yearly. Beginning in 1859 settlers began migrating down the South Platte River towards Denver and Pikes Peak. In 1862 Ben Holliday bought the Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express from Russell Majors and Wadden. He restocked and added stations to the Overland Trail including one "Home Station" at Latham located at the confluence of the South Platte and Cache la Poudre Rivers. Hollidav's intent in purchasing the C.O.C. and P.P. was to upgrade the mail service. Latham was one of a series of way stations established on the Overland Trail. It was an important station because it was the last "Home Station" before Denver and also where wagons crossed the Poudre River. From this point the trail either extended south to Denver or from there turned east toward Nebraska. A separate spur of the trail moved west along the Cache la Poudre and eventually connected to the town of LaPorte where it then turned either north or south along the hogback and continued north to Bonner Pass or south to -Boulder. The distance from Latham to LaPorte is approximately 35 miles. From reported accounts there were no Wav Stations between Latham and LaPorte, although, in 1872 and 1873 a rooming and boarding house called "Halfway House" was built just west of the present town of Windsor. Windsor's downtown main street was built on top of the old Overland Trail. The Poudre River The Cache la Poudre received its name from a cache of gun powder and lead, hidden in the bank of the river by the William H. Ashley party in 1825. It was a very swift river at the time and caused the loss of many wagons and freight when emigrants sought to ford it. Water is the lifeblood of the semi- arid western states. Along the Front Range of Colorado, precipitation averages only 15 inches of rainfall per year. In contrast the average irrigated crop such as corn or sugar beets requires 48 to 60 inches of water per year with standard irrigation practices. The typical bluegrass lawn is similar, averaging 30 to 40 inches per year. This translates to a water demand that is 200 to 400 percent greater than what falls naturally through rain and snow. To make up this deficit farmers and urban consumers must rely on supplemental water available from the Colorado Rockies. This additional water comes through the major rivers that lace the Front Range. Of those rivers, the Cache la Poudre is the largest along the Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 9 951212 Pamir(' River 71•eii i1Ltster Plan northern Front Range. With an average annual flow of 260,000 acre- feet, it represents an invaluable resource for both urban and agricultural consumers. The water conveyed from the Poudre River for agricultural uses has a rich cultural history. In the early gold rush days of Colorado, agriculture got its start. With the pioneer gold miners came a need for food and desire for fresh vegetables. In 1859, David Wall of Indiana dug the first ditch in the South Platte River Basin near Golden. Wall irrigated two acres of garden vegetables and made two thousand dollars in his first year. Soon many pioneers began to realize the potential for agriculture in the surrounding prairie. In 1861 the first irrigation ditch was constructed off the Cache la Poudre River and in 1861 the Colorado Agricultural Society was formed to promote irrigation in the state. These efforts were highly successful and by the end of the 1860's the economic value of agriculture production almost equaled the total value of gold and silver bullion produced. The earliest ditches along Colorado rivers were often crude attempts being formed with a horse and plough and were confined to the river bottom area. Because of frequent spring flooding and erosion, these ditches were often wiped out by flood waters and had to be rebuilt. In Colorado the Union Colony ditches were the first large canals to be constructed through community effort. In 1869 Horace Greeley (publisher of the New York Tribune), sent Nathan Meeker west to investigate the agricultural possibilities near the gold mining camps of Colorado. In December of 1869 Meeker published an enticement for colonists to settle in Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado Colorado. A meeting was held on December 23, 1869 and plans were presented to some 800 people. The colonists would each contribute $150 to be used to buy land once the colony had been located. The first residents of Union Colony which would later become Greeley, arrived on April 18, 1870. By June of 1870 the residents had established a river bottom ditch called the Greeley No. 3. Each member of the colony paid an initiation fee in exchange for a farm plot, water rights, and a town lot. The Greeley Ditch Number 3 still exists today and the diversion off of the Cache la Poudre can be found 1/2 mile west of 71st Avenue. This area is one of the most scenic spots along the river and is an excellent location to visit. Irrigation ditches - The irrigation systems were constructed during the initial agricultural development of the Poudre Valley and have served as the primary system for all of the areas agricultural, and later, urban development. The Whitney Ditch was built in 1861 near Pinkerton's Fort and Trading Post just south of current Windsor. This ditch was the first to have water appropriated from it in the river corridor. In 1858 B.H. Eaton came to Colorado from Ohio. After a few years of unsuccessful attempts at mining he moved to northeastern Colorado and started a farm near the Cache la Poudre River. There he constructed the B.H. Eaton ditch. The ditch diversion structure is located near the Larimer/ Weld County line. An interesting anecdote in the history of water use in northern Colorado occurred in the summer of 1874. A hot and dry year, water was not readily available and upstream users in Fort Collins diverted nearly all of the water from the river. At this time 10 951212 Poudre River Trail Master Plat there was no formal water allocation technique in Colorado so irrigators followed the English Common Law Doctrine of Riparian Water Rights. This doctrine simply stated, if a stream flowed across your property, you were allowed to divert as much water as you wanted from the stream. Greeley irrigators concerned with the lack of flow this year rode upstream and discovered the Fort Collins irrigators were taking almost all of the water. Numerous threats were made and a meeting was called at the neutral Eaton schoolhouse. The following excerpt from Thomas Cech's paper titled "Rivers of Gold - Irrigation in Northeast Colorado" describes what happened at the schoolhouse. The meeting was lively, to say the least. -"General Cameron and B.H. Eaton were there, and tried to keep everyone calm. Their proposition was to appoint some disinterested person for that year to divide water according to the greatest need." The idea was not widely accepted, and the Greeley delegates "hurled defiance in hot and unseemly language...they wanted to settle the conflict with force against the upstream water thieves. In the heat of discussion, they even threatened to dig new ditches upstream of those in Fort Collins to choke off their water supply. Then the meeting got ugly. Someone stood up and called for an immediate end to the discussions. "Every man to his tent!" the embattled irrigator called. "To his rifle and cartridges!" Fortunately, Mr. Eaton .and General Cameron were able to calm everyone down. The delegates left the meeting without a solution, but heavy rains the next few days reduced tensions. Soon after, irrigators along the Cache la Poudre River adopted the principals of the Priority System ("first in time, first in right"). This system had been used in the gold fields of California to reduce bloodshed in water disputes. Since many irrigators in the South Platte Valley were former gold miners, it was natural they would adopt a similar standard in their disputes regarding irrigation water. The water rights along the Cache la Poudre River were soon recorded with the state courts. Later, Weld County irrigators were instrumental in having the "Colorado Doctrine" written into the state constitution in 1876 with these words: The right to divert the unappropriated waters of any natural stream to beneficial uses shall never be denied. Priority of appropriation shall give the better right as between those using water for the same purpose. (Article XVI, Section 6). In the late 1880's irrigation ditches off the Cache la Poudre gained international interest when a British firm in 1879 paid for the development of the Larimer and Weld ditch which was constructed by the Larimer and Weld Irrigation Company (Greeley Ditch No. 2). This huge ditch which starts at Boyd Lake in Larimer County extends for 50 miles through the two counties. Parshall Flume A highly significant invention developed along the Poudre bears a brief story of its founder and his history. At the turn of the century Ralph Leroy Parshall (1881-1959) enrolled in the Colorado Agricultural College (later Colorado A&M College and now Colorado State University) and studied Civil and Irrigation Engineering, graduating in 1904. During the summers of 1906 and 1907 he took postgraduate classes in Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 11 951212 Poudre River Trail Master Plan physics at the University of Chicago and subsequently joined the faculty of the Colorado Agricultural College (CAC) in 1907. Parshall later joined the United States Department of Agriculture but remained at the CAC campus. In 1920 Parshall along with colleague Carl Rohwer designed and built a test structure about 10 miles from Fort Collins at the diversion of the Poudre River to a local irrigation ditch. The test structure was developed as an experimental measuring device in gauging water flows for the purposes of developing accurate methods of allocating water resources. The experimental device was called a "Venturi Flume" and was based on the Venturi Principle which stated that " an increase in flow velocity and therefore kinetic energy, at a given section is accompanied by corresponding decrease in potential energy as reflected by a lowered pressure or water surface." The Venturi Principle was known since Roman times and was formalized in 1797 by G.B. Venturi. As a measuring device for irrigation flows Parshall and Rohwer continued research on the Venturi Flume and made significant revisions. In 1928 Parshall published a revised design called the "Improved Venturi Flume." The "Improved Venturi" was quickly adopted and in 1929 the American Society of Civil Engineers unanimously resolved that the "Improved Venturi Flume" be named the "Parshall Measuring Flume." The Parshall Flume became the standard in the industry and today is the most commonly used system in the world. Parshall continued to refine and calibrate different size flumes and ultimately designed and calibrated flumes varying in size from 1" up to 50' across measuring up to 3,300 CFS. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado An example of Parshall's work can be seen today at the Greeley No. 3 Ditch. This particular Flume was designed by Parshall himself. This invention has been vital to Colorado because of the extensive reliance on water distribution and adjudication of water rights. Through Parshall's development, logical and equitable management can be used without quarrel for the extensive number of water user demands placed on this limited natural resource. C. Other Cultural Features The Cache la Poudre and irrigation history have not been the only interesting features along the Cache la Poudre. There have been other significant elements worths' of mention here. Ben Eaton's Homestead - Benjamin H. Eaton was a Cache la Poudre River Valley pioneer between 1863 and 1887. He was a moving force in building many of the irrigation systems in Weld County and developing Colorado into an agricultural center. Later Mr. Eaton became the fourth governor of Colorado. Sharkstooth Ski Area - The Sharkstooth Ski Area was established in 1970 by Richard Perchlick, a former Greeley mayor, as a beginner ski slope. The ski area was located in the bluffs above the Cache la Poudre southeast of the Kodak plant. Sharkstooth used mostly man-made snow. It subsequently was closed and today is only a series of bare trails on the bluffs. 12 951212 Poudre River Trail Master Plan Greeley, Salt Lake, and Pacific Railroad In 1869 Greeley saw the first ever railroad in Colorado with the completion of the Denver Pacific Railroad, from Cheyenne to Greeley. The tracks cut through the mountains and followed the Cache la Poudre to Tie Siding in Greeley. In December of 1882 a new company, the Greeley, Salt Lake & Pacific Railroad, under the direction of A.A. Egbert (Union Pacific superintendent) completed a line from Greeley to Fort Collins. The line followed the Cache la Poudre River and was 24.5 miles upon completion. The price was estimated at $500,000. After reaching Fort Collins the plan was to continue the line up the Poudre Canyon, eventually reaching Utah. However, the only completed tracks were those between Greeley and Fort Collins. On December 2 the first train was sent on the line consisting of a mail car, a smoke car, and a coach. The trip between the two cities took 65 minutes and was well received. Before the GSL&P was constructed, the major railway handling the traffic from the Front Range was the Colorado Central, which ran north/south through Fort Collins. However, the completion of the Fort Collins to Greeley line rerouted all the traffic from Fort Collins and Loveland off of the Colorado Central to the GSL&P. Although the GSL&P route was much longer than the Colorado Central, it was much more efficient. It was possible for one locomotive to pull twice as many cars as on the CC line due to the poor construction of the old tracks. For this reason, 42 miles of the Colorado Central line north of Fort Collins was abandoned in 1890 and the GSL&P Fort Collins to Greeley line became the major railway network in the area. By 1890 the GSL&P had become the Union Pacific & Denver Railroad, which it stayed until 1848. It then became the Colorado & Southern Railroad up until the mid 1950's. Today it is the Burlington Northern Rail line and is still active. Bracewell and Farmers Beet Dumps - These were the sugar beet dumping and piling grounds for the Great Western Sugar Company from 1913-1985 and 1913-1977, respectively, on the Colorado and Southern Railroad line. The Farmers Beet Dump also had a mercantile store. Espanola - The name means "Spanish woman" and was also known as "Spanish Colony." It is located on the north bank of the Cache la Poudre at 23rd Avenue and O street and was established in 1929, although it was settled much earlier by migrant farm workers. Artesian Farm- This farm, located adjacent to Bracewell is the site of natural artesian wells that bubble from the ground. At one time water at the farm bubbled from a well and provided a source of drinking water for area residents. The area can be seen today from the river and is noticeable because of the lush vegetation around its outlet. Island Grove Park/Centennial Village - The Park had a natural grove of cottonwood trees, which contemporary biologists suggest was probably r. --e for the 19th Century river corriaor, and was used as a burial site by the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Sioux tribes even after the arrival of European settlers. During the 1860's this area was a ranch. During the 1870's new settlers used this area for picnics. The first cowboy tournament, the forerunner of the Greeley Independence Stampede Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 13 951212 PontIre River Trail Master Platt was held there in 1898. In 1912 a trolley line was extended to the Park. In 1976 Centennial Village was established in Island Grove Park to re-create the Greeley/Weld County lifestyle from 1860 to 1920. Boyd's Crossing - This crossing was a main river crossing point between Greeley and Fort Collins and was also the location of a small sod fort which had been built for refuge during the Cheyenne Indian Scare. Wheatland - The Wheatland Post Office was established in 1870 to serve the growing settlement just down river from Boyd's Crossing. United States Army German Prisoner of War Camp - The entry gateposts still exist on the north side of US Highway 34 , 1/4 mile east of State Highway 257. They are noted with a special monument sign placed there by the State Historic District in the 1980's. While virtually no physical evidence remains, the US Army held German prisoners of war at the site until the end of World War II. According to local landowners, some POW's returned to settle m the area after the war. US Air Force Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Silo - Immediately after World War II the Cold War began and the western states became a significant aspect of the United States defense. ICBM missile silos were constructed throughout the west and a number of them were constructed in and around Weld County. One such silo is in existence today and is the site of Missile Park. The silo, built in 1961 is now a county park located on the bluffs overlooking the Poudre River Valley. The park is located directly south of the Kodak plant and has picnic shelters situated to provide stunning panoramic views of northern Colorado. D. Historical Timeline Outlined below is a brief timeline of significant events in the cultural history of the Poudre: The chronology below describes significant historical events and landmarks in the region (ya = years ago). 15,000 ya - ice age glaciers begin the most recent retreat, climate warms. 11,000 ya - Folsom Man archaeological sites located in northern Colorado mark early human use. Pre 1800's - Prevalence of Plains Indian tribes (Cheyenne, Arapaho, Sioux, Ute, Apaches, and Comanches). 1803 - The Louisiana Purchase 1820's - Early exploration by French explorers. 1830's - Prevalence of French trappers and traders from St. Louis and Spaniards from New Mexico. 1851 - Indian Treaty with the Cheyenne and Arapaho 1861 - Colorado Territory organized. Whitney Ditch constructed; first ditch in Poudre corridor to have water appropriated from it. B.H. Eaton Ditch constructed. Boyd's sod fort built for refuge from Indians during Cheyenne Indian scare. 1862 - Overland Stage Route established through area. 1864 - "Fort Collins" constructed to provide army protection. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 14 951212 Poudre River Trail Master Plan 1867 - Last army troops depart. 1870 - Fifty families brought to Union Colony by Nathan Meeker. - Last scheduled Greeley/Fort Collins stagecoach. - Greeley Irrigation Company Ditch No. 3 constructed by Union Colony. - Poudre riverbank settlers title land. - Island Grove Park area used as picnic area. 1876 - Colorado declares statehood. Recommendation of irrigation and water rights law to state legislature. 1878 - Larirner and Weld Ditch built (largest to date in state). 1882 - Railroad completed between Fort Collins and Greelev. 1892 - Timnath Reservoir completed for farm irrigation. 1900 - Box Elder Reservoir completed for the irrigation of sugar beets. 1976 - Centennial Village established in Greeley. 1983 - University of Colorado Denver Center - Greenway Study. 1985 - Council of Governments Land Use Commission dedicated Poudre River concept Plan. 1985 - Federal Wild & Scenic Rivers Act passed in U.S. Congress - Portions. 1988 - Greeley City Council established Poudre trail as a Council goal. 1991 - Greeley, Windsor, Weld Counts, form Poudre GreenwayCommission. 1993 - State Trails money and Eastman Kodak Grant received for construction of trail on Eastman Park site. 1994 - Intergovernmental Agreement signed and Poudre River Trail Board established. 1994 - Go Colorado Grant received for construction of segment of Poudre Trail. 1995 - Go Colorado Grant received for additional segments of Poudre Trail in Windsor and Greeley. 1995 - Go Colorado Grant received for improvements at Missile Park. 1995 - Poudre Trail Master Plan completed. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 15 951.212 Poudre River Trail Master Plan IV. Physical Environment Today the Poudre River is a substantially different place than it was even a relatively short 100 years ago. The land along the perimeter is highly cultivated or is being mined for gravel for almost its entire length. The river has been tamed and the once rushing flows are frequently only a trickle. Residential development is planned or anticipated for most of its length as farms are sold for development and the surrounding countryside is disappearing for homes. As the frail develops it will be important to understand the natural economic forces and the physical influences that affect the river in developing the plan. The preservation and enhancement of the river edge as part of the trail development will help to preserve the habitat of a number of wildlife species as well as continue the natural experience of trail users. Outlined below are some of the significant physical influences that need to be considered in the development of the trail system. A. Wildlife The Poudre River between Greeley and Fort Collins provides a unique and important environment for wildlife species. With the combination of riparian habitat, agricultural crops, a unique bluffs area, and natural prairie, the river and its environs offer an excellent variety of ecosystems. As the Poudre Trail is developed, consideration should be given for the importance of these areas and adequate provision should be provided to protect the most valuable natural areas. Additionally, preservation of the adjacent agricultural setting should also be encouraged. The interplay of the two food sources provided by agricultural production and a natural riparian setting create an important wildlife setting that should be preserved wherever possible. Some of the key aspects of these habitats are outlined below: Riparian Habitat The riparian ecosystem provides the river edge with distinctive and important characteristics. Riparian forest is generally the most visible feature and is characterized by native cottonwoods and willows. These areas are often interspersed with exotic naturalized species such as Russian olive and green ash. The riparian ecosystem also includes native grasses and shrubs such as Indian ricegrass, streambank wheatgrass, saltgrass, cattails, chokecherry, redtwig dogwood and a variety of other native riparian grasses and shrubs that serve as important food sources (See plant list in design guidelines). Warm water sloughs also form an important feature of the riparian system. Sloughs are wet, marshy areas that are formed in river channels where the continuous realignment process of the river has created oxbows or lowlands that are wet but not an active part of the river channel. These sloughs form much of the wetlands where native plants grow and form cover for waterfowl. They also provide important grasses and serve as a necessary food source for many wildlife species. Wildlife Species Riparian areas are extremely important for wildlife. Geographically, they account for only 3% of Colorado's land area and yet they form the essential habitat features for over 50% of Colorado's Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 16 951212 Poudre River Trail Master Plan bird species. The riparian habitat along the Poudre River provides areas for interesting bird species such as the bald eagle, golden eagle, pheasants, great blue heron, mallard, goose, northern harrier, marsh hawk, and the redtail hawk. Of all the bird life in the area, 59% of the species live along the river year round. Forty-one percent of the bird species are migratory and use the river and sloughs for resting places during their annual migrations. The river and sloughs serve as_a source of cover and food and are essential to the success of migrating species. It is important that the integrity of the river corridor be maintained for the health of the wildlife resources. The river and its environs also provide a home for numerous other wildlife species such as the beaver, racoon, coyote, white tailed and mule deer, badger, ermine, muskrat, and fox squirrel. Generally, the wildlife populations can be divided as follows: Reptiles - 21 types inhabiting mostly the riparian and prairie ecosystems. Amphibians - 9 types in the river and slough environment. Birds - 357 types occupying mainly the riparian area. Mammals - 67 types living in the riparian and prairie systems. In preparing the trail alignment, significant natural resource areas -have been protected, in most cases by routing trails around sloughs and other significant areas. For example, one major aspect of the trail alignment is that it generally avoids deep penetration into oxbow areas where slough conditions are prevalent. Agricultural Lands Weld County is the 4th ranked agricultural producing county in the United States. Crops such as corn, sugar beets, alfalfa, and potatoes provide important food sources not only for people but also for many wildlife species. The crops provide an important food source and serve as a significant cover for nesting sites as well as a place to hide from predators and hunters. Ungrazed grasses that will get as high as 18 inches can protect many small species. Some of the wildlife species common to upland non irrigated surfaces include: jack rabbits, cottontails, golden eagle, blacktail prairie dog, redtail hawk, pheasants, fox, and miscellaneous songbirds. As the trail develops, opportunities should be investigated for preserving agricultural uses along the river's edge. With both agriculture and native riparian habitats preserved the possibility to preserve a meaningful habitat that will ensure continuing success of wildlife species. The Bluffs The Bluff's ecosystem is distinctive along the river's edge. Carved by the river over millions of years, the bluffs today rise majestically from the river bottom to over 200 feet above the water's edge. In some cases the bluffs create vertical cliffs 50 to 60 feet high. For example, in several cases the bluffs south of Kodak form -sheer faces rising abruptly from the river 50 feet -before tapering and rising south to their full height. The bluffs also have been carved over the years by continuous erosion due to rain and irrigation runoff. Today they Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 17 951212 Pourlre River Trail Master Plan create a strongly undulating surface with ravines and arroyos that visually dominate the hillside. Soils on the bluffs are quite shallow resulting in sparse vegetation consisting of short grass species such as buffalo grass and blue grama. The grasses are interspersed with low shrubs such as rabbit brush and yucca. This habitat provides forage for deer and small mammals, and songbirds use the seeds as a food source. Hunting and Fishing Hunting for big game is limited due to the scarcity of tree cover and adjacent agricultural development however, hunting for waterfowl is very popular. As the trail gradually is completed, public use will likely increase and the management of hunting will become more important for the safety of the general public. Fishing in the river is limited because of low stream flows, however, in adjacent reclaimed gravel quarry ponds the fishing potential is excellent. As these ponds are excavated and then re -contoured into deep water ponds, fish habitat can be increased. This will provide excellent opportunities for fishing and other recreational uses in the future. The stocking of these ponds will provide the added benefit of creating a food source for other riparian wildlife species. Summary of Wildlife Considerations Sloughs should be avoided by trails, picnic areas, trail heads, and other human uses pertaining to the Poudre Trail. Occasional hunting may be acceptable if it falls within the guidelines of the Colorado Division of Wildlife, although some areas may be best preserved as wildlife refuges. Natural areas occurring in the floodplain should be preserved where possible. Agricultural uses can enhance both wildlife habitat and provide an interesting experience for trail users. These uses should be encouraged where possible. Trails should be kept outside of the floodway where possible because the river's edge typically has the highest concentration of plant materials. High impact uses should be kept back from the riparian edge. A transition zone should be considered that permits only low impact uses such as trails, rest stops and small picnic areas. For structural features, this limit should be established in conformance with local municipal and county regulations with a preferred minimum setback in trail areas of 100' to 200' from the river edge. For other recreational uses, the setback should be established as 100' to 200' from the river embankment. Within the setback area planting should be native or appropriate naturalized species that are typical of the area. B. Agriculture The Poudre River provides approximately 260,000 acre feet of water per year. Much of the water is diverted before it gets to the South Platte River. The majority of water is used for agriculture and urban areas. During the irrigation season which extends from May 1 through September 30, water is conveyed to agricultural fields through irrigation ditches which in turn release water for flood and furrow irrigation to numerous crops . A portion of the water is then recycled back to the river through return flows. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 18 951212 Poudre River Trail Master Plan In the winter months runoff from the mountains is stored in numerous reservoirs and is then released in the spring and throughout the summer for crop irrigation and municipal uses. The water use pattern affects the river by creating more consistent but substantially lower flows than peak historic runoff. C. Gravel Mining The river today is lined with gravel quarries from Greeley to Fort Collins. The extraction of gravel is a highly important activity and provides gravel for roadways, concrete foundations, trails and road beds. It is a critical ingredient in the structural qualities of concrete and is essential for most modem construction. Once quarried the gravel pits are recharged by groundwater. With sensitive reclamation practices there is an excellent opportunity for creating additional riparian and vegetation areas that will result in increased wildlife habitat and also enhance the trail users experience. The trail alignment strategy in areas being mined is to avoid the operations as much as possible. In some cases gravel mining is being planned but has not commenced. In those instances the trail alignment has been established to circumnavigate the future operations. In other instances a future alignment has been illustrated with the intent of realigning the trail or providing a loop through a gravel area after it has been quarried and restored. D. Future Residential Many of the property owners along the Poudre River are currently planning or intend to sell their property for future residential development. The trail alignment has, where possible, been aligned to meet the needs of future development. In some cases the trail has been aligned through the middle of future development in order to address the desires of property owners. However, where possible, the trail has been kept on the river's edge. E. Floodplain The River offers both opportunities and constraints for development of a trail system. Perhaps the most limiting of the constraints is the extensive floodplain. Much of the surrounding area is relatively flat, leaving it subject to flooding. The 100 year floodplain in many places is as much as 3,000 feet wide. The limitations imposed by flooding are that structures generally are not permitted within floodplain areas. This attribute is both a negative and a saving grace. Because of the dangers inherent in flooding, the river protects itself to some extent from encroachment by development. This, in turn provides a buffer through which wildlife can be preserved and habitats retained. As the trail develops care should be given to the placement of facilities within this restrictive zone. County and municipal ordinances typically govern the permitted elements within a floodplain and these should be followed as the trail is constructed. The trail has been aligned to run in and out of the floodplain area in order to take advantage of views, natural areas, access parking and to avoid potentially hazardous areas. F. Topography The Poudre River corridor is blessed with gentle topography that averages less than 1% slope, falling a gentle 250 feet in the 22 river miles from the Weld/Larimer County line Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 19 951212 Poudre River Trail Master Plan to the City of Greeley. This broad, relatively flat floodplain provides few constraints to recreational trail development. The few areas along the river that exceed 15°i0 slope are known as "the bluffs." The bluffs backdrop the Poudre River to the south, running parallel to it from just west of Windsor to Greeley and rising as high as 200 feet above it. For a trail alignment the bluffs offer a bit of a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge is to get a trail up the slopes, but the reward for doing so is a broad panorama of the Rockies, the Colorado Piedmont (an erosional surface left over after the Laramide uplift), the Poudre River, and the plains to the east and north. Because of the potential for an outstanding experience, the trail has been aligned to take advantage of these opportunities by scaling the bluffs at each end. At the top, users will enjoy magnificent views and have the opportunity to stop at the Missile Park site and picnic while they enjoy the surrounding scenery. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 20 951212 Poudre River Trail Master Plan V. Land Use Governmental land use development plans and policies are critical factors in the development of a recreational trail system. Fortunately, the land use plans of the involved communities and Weld County provide excellent support for the creation of the Poudre River trail system. Critical goals common to all of the governmental jurisdictions, such as the preservation of agricultural land, the development of sound land use in floodplain, and the creation of open space, support the development of recreational and interpretive uses along the river. A. Weld County Weld County provides encouragement toward the preservation of important natural areas, open spaces and agricultural areas through its Comprehensive Plan. It also encourages the development of open space and greenbelts within new communities. Much of the area of the trail is within Weld County and is zoned agriculture. The County encourages preservation of agriculture through its zoning policies. B. Windsor The Town of Windsor, in its Comprehensive Plan, recognizes the need for recreation and open space. The future land use map indicates a greenbelt and floodplain between the town and the Poudre River. Recently, the Town has established a policy of encouraging cluster development with preservation of privately owned common areas. These areas have the potential of creating an overall linkage system that, it applied near the river, has the potential of preserving the river corridor. C. Greeley The Comprehensive Plan for the City of Greeley supports recreational trail development in its policies. The City of Greeley Parks and Recreation Master Plan has identified several projects which would compliment the river. These improvements include major recreational development at Island Grove Regional Park, proposed river walkways (one phase is constructed) in conjunction with flood control projects, a community park adjacent to the river, and a regional park along the bluffs overlooking the Cache la Poudre River. In addition, all development in Greeley and Weld County is encouraged to use -environmentally sensitive areas for open space and recreational uses. D. Regional Planning A number of communities, along with Weld and Larimer Counties, have joined together to begin planning jointly the future of northern Colorado. The organization, called the Northern Triangle Coalition, entails elected officials and City Managers of each of the participating government bodies meeting on a regular basis to discuss issues common to the individual communities. They completed a study in 1995 of the Larimer and Weld County areas and developed the beginnings of a common vision for the preservation of open space and community separators that would preserve open lands between communities. The plan calls for the development of Regional Resource Areas that would involve joint planning for the preservation of important open space qualities. As part of the plan development, important natural resource areas have been identified that should be preserved to protect important wildlife corridors. The Poudre River is listed as a critical linkage and Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 21 951212 Poudre River Trail Master Plan regional corridor. As planning progresses, the Poudre River will take on more significance as an important linkage between communities. E. Transportation The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)-is an entity consisting of cities and counties in northern Colorado that has developed to plan transportation on a regional basis. The plan is called the Northern Front Range Transportation and Air Quality (NFRT/AQ) plan. It recognizes the importance of alternative means of transportation and encourages uses other than single occupancy vehicles. As part of the plan pedestrian and bicycle modes are encouraged. The Poudre River Corridor is identified as a significant possiblity for development of a transportation route for bicycles. In light of this finding, the Poudre Trail Master Plan takes on added importance for its potential to enhance the future air quality. Additionally, an analysis of the Weld County region reveals that the Poudre River corridor is intersected 17 times by various transportation routes. Many of these intersecting routes provide ready access to possible locations for recreational activities and historical sites in the river corridor, as well as providing access to the river itself. F. Other Communities Fort Collins The City of Fort Collins has been working for a number of years on a bicycle trail along the Poudre River. They have currently constructed a trail from the west side of Fort Collins to the Environmental Learning Center on the east side of the city near I-25. Joint discussions have occurred between the county and communities regarding the interconnection of these trail systems at a future point in time. The Poudre Trail Master Plan will bring the two trail systems within several miles of connecting. Evans The City of Evans has begun construction of a trail along the South Platte River. The South Platte Corridor is identified as part of the American Discovery Trail System which links different parts of the United States via a trail network. Opportunities -exist to extend the Poudre River Trail to the confluence with the South Platte, east of Greeley. Fort Lupton Fort Lupton is currently planning a trail along the South Platte which, hopefully, could eventually connect with the Poudre Trail. Larimer County Larimer County has adopted the Larimer County Parks Comprehensive Master Plan which envisions a trail along the Poudre River extending from the top of Cameron Pass all the way to the Weld County line. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 22 951212 Poudre River Trail Master Plan VI. Educational Opportunities The Cache la Poudre River in Weld County between the South Platte River and the Weld County Line offers a wealth of outstanding opportunities for learning various aspects of the environment including, geology, river dynamics, natural systems, the wild west days of early colonization, and the American Indian Wars. As a learning environment the Poudre is an outstanding resource. A central feature of the Poudre River Master Plan is the Poudre Learning Center. The planned location for this center is just south of the Poudre River at 83rd Avenue. This location would offer easy access from Highway 34 to the south and State Highway 257 from the west. Students from Windsor, Eaton, Greeley, Johnstown and other areas could reach the Center with just a short bus ride. This point along the Poudre also offers many of the best learning opportunities within a mile up or downstream of the Center. The Center would anchor the trail and provide a central focal point for the rest of the interpretive stops along the trail. The Center would also conceptually bind the entire length of the trail into a single entity, and would offer an excellent chance to provide an interdisciplinary approach to education on the banks of the Cache la Poudre River. It would further serve as a keystone to the future development of the Poudre River Trail and help in fund raising efforts. The Center could serve as a focal point for the interdisciplinary study of the history, science, and aesthetics of this region and its wetlands. Other opportunities for education upstream of the Center would include: Missile Park- This park is the site of a former ICBM missile silo used during the Cold War era. Today it is a County park and offers superb vistas as well as a place to picnic and enjoy the countryside. Front Range Geologic & Historic Overlook - Located on a hilltop south of the Kodak plant this overlook provides a majestic panoramic view of the Rockies, a view of the escarpment created by the Poudre River at the Fox Hills Formation, a view of the Colorado Piedmont carved over millions of years, an outstanding view of the oxbows of the Poudre River, and an expansive view of the historically significant Kodak facilities. Artesian Farm- Located adjacent to Bracewell this area is a location for a natural aquifer that seeps from the ground. The farm once contained a natural artesian well that flowed freely and was used as a water source for nearby residents. The seepage can today still be clearly delineated by a richer growth of plant material. German Prisoner of War Camp - This is an important cultural area. It provides an important stopping point to gain a different historical perspective on the difficult conditions of World War II. Fox Hill Formation Outcrop - An interesting geological phenomena, the Fox Hills Formation provides a snapshot of geological time that can be seen from the trail either from atop the bluffs or along the river. Windsor Water Treatment Facility Tour - This area is located immediately south of the Kodak plant. These facilities help the average person understand the water cycle and the significance of water Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 23 951212 Pamirs River Trail Master Plan treatment on the quality of wildlife habitat, the costs and implications to the ecosystem of wastewater treatment, and current methods of mechanical and natural means that are in use for treatment of sewage. Tour Stop Kodak Watchable Wildlife Park - This spot will feature prime wildlife habitat in an established area. The area can be used to educate the public on the benefits of restoration and preservation as well as provide information on wildlife species and the role private enterprise and the Colorado Division of Wildlife can provide in protection of wildlife resources. B.H. Eaton & Whitney Headgates - Found here are Weld Counties earliest ditches. They are significant in educating the public on the importance and rich natural heritage of irrigation in the semi -arid west. Possible opportunities for education _downstream of the Center would include: Ed Orr Property - This land is valuable as a cultural and natural environmental resource. On this property are valuable etchings on a sandstone rock outcrop.Also located here are the diversion structure for the Greeley Number 3 Ditch; the Jones Ditch; valuable habitat for white tailed deer; interesting arroyos carrying drainage and magnificent groves of mature native Cottonwood. Overland Trail - This trail or system of trails once connected La Porte with Greeley and served as a major commerce route between the two cities. Research & Educational Preservation Site for the Kersey and Louriers stream terrace, wildlife and riparian zones. These stream terraces, slightly above the floodplain, provide gently sloping, well drained land that extends up to several miles beyond the river. These areas form some of the best agricultural land in the county. Future site of Greeley's Water Treatment Facility north of F Street - This site will provide an opportunity to stop at a picnic area. This location can be used for education on a future wastewater treatment plant , a location for discussion of the importance of prairie dogs, gravel mining operations along the Poudre, and to discuss a prime riparian habitat. Wetlands - Wildlife and Riparian Zones - These areas can be used to describe the nature and composition of wetlands areas, to discuss the growing loss of wetlands, identify mitigation measures being undertaken and the implications of loss of habitat on the overall ecosystem. Near 35th Avenue - This stop will include information on the Old Wild West, Boyd's Crossing and describe the early history of the frontier. Island Grove Regional Park - Island Grove has a rich history relating back to the founding of Greeley. The history of the founding of the community and its early settlers will be covered; the history of the Greeley Stampede can also be examined. Low Level Challenge Course - This course will foster leadership and encourage skills that will teach individuals trust in one another. The challenge course -will provide physical challenges in a controlled setting that encourage individuals to Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 24 951212 Poudre River Trail Master Plan step outside their comfort zone and take risks. Natural History of Poudre River Migration - The linkage of the Poudre River with the South Platte and ultimately with the Missouri River will give insight into the River as a means of migration. It will also be used to describe the Poudre River as a place for cover and nourishment for north south migrations for various bird species. Storm Watershed of Greeley - This stop will be used to describe the flooding concepts associated with the Colorado plains. The 100 year storm and the impacts of periodic flooding can be described. The floodplain and the potentials for damage that arise from ignoring these hazards- of the River can also be described. Confluence Park - Confluence Park can be used to describe the tributaries of the west including the Poudre River. At this location settlement patterns of northern Colorado can be reviewed and the impacts of future development can be discussed. The history of Latham and the Overland Trail can be reviewed and the geological history of the rivers of Colorado can be described. Educational Canoe Trips- Canoe trips can offer an in vivo opportunity to experience the river Starting at the PLC canoe trips can be scheduled to either go up or downstream and experience the rich natural environment while providing the opportunity to visit important cultural and geological sites The Center could develop and offer low cost/no cost interdisciplinary environmental education programs at the Poudre Learning Center to help introduce and reinforce concepts presented in local school curricula. It would serve as a convergence for the interdisciplinary study of the Poudre River through the use of labs, activities, canoe trips, and of course the Poudre Trail. The Center could he the beginning of a barrier free, wheelchair access, Oxbow Nature Trail that would loop around the immediate river area. A portion of the trail at the Center is planned to be a boardwalk over a natural wetlands that has been restored from a former gravel mining operation. The Center might offer stream -side teacher training programs and student discovery programs. High school students would be trained as river guides for school and community group tours. The students would give guided excursions of the Poudre by boat and on streamside trails or even the water treatment plant. Through these workshops, teachers can see creative ways to use the Poudre Learning Center and the Poudre Trail. The structure of the Center might consist of a Great Hall that would host groups of 30-40 students. Smaller rooms on the perimeter of the Great Hall would house a computer work station that would link the Center to other groups such as Well Watch and DOW's River Watch. A galley kitchen could help feed participants of all -day workshops. A few smaller rooms would be needed for conference meetings, small work groups or break-out sessions. A laboratory at the Center could offer students an opportunity to work with water chemistry kits, microscopes and basic lab apparatus. Outside the building, students could complete projects and experiments on an artificial stream or be involved in group activities on the surrounding grass -covered meadow. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 25 951212 Pondre River Trail Master Plan VII. Trail Master Plan & Cost Estimate The following maps break the trail route into 19 segments of approximately 1/2 to 1 mile in length. The maps cover an area extending from Island Grove Regional Park on the east to -a point on State Highway 392 that is 1/2 mile west of the Larimer/Weld County line on the west. The first map segment starts at this westerly point on State Highway 392 in Windsor, and continues sequentially downstream to Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley. All trail length dimensions called out have been rounded to the nearest 100 feet. Where specific improvements are noted -in these descriptions, readers are advised to refer also to the design guidelines section for more detailed facilities descriptions. During detailed design for trail improvements, the exact type, amount, and location of facilities such as those described in the guidelines section will be determined. This is intended to be a removable section. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 26 951212 ndercrossing t Trail Segment 1 Location Segment 1 of the trail is 4300 feet long and begins on the south side of State SH 392 just west of where it crosses the Cache la Poudre River. This site is situated in the Town of Windsor, in Larimer County. Because traffic speeds are high here, no major trailhead is planned. Bicyclists and others using SH 392 for regional destinations, however, would be able to gain access to the trail at this point. Significant Features Sr Landscape Character This segment features areas that have been used for aggregate mining, and will soon be converted both to open space and to new housing for the Town of Windsor. Along this segment, there are cottonwood groves located north of the trail. The first 2000 feet of the river channel appear to be man-made, but then the channel breaks into its characteristic natural forms with small bars, islands, and channel braids. The bluffs visible to travellers proceeding east represent the former character of much of the front range region, as they are too steep to be suitable for agriculture. Grasses, yucca, and arroyo drainage incisions characterize these bluffs. In the future, additional conversion to housing is likely to occur. This segment joins Segment 2 at a proposed underpass of County Line Road, on the Larimer and Weld County line. Proposed Improvements Other than the trail itself, no improvements are proposed for this segment. The planting of additional trees during construction of the open space would be of value for shading the trail. Open space designs yet to be completed by the housing developer should be discussed with the developer by the Town of Windsor to determine if developer participation would be available. The trail will pass under the County Line Road bridge that crosses the Cache la Poudre River. The bridge will be reconstructed during the proposed widening and straightening of this road that will take place during the construction of the housing development. It would be appropriate to make accommodations for the trail undercrossing during construction of the road and bridge. FEET 150 500 7000 NORTH 951212 Trail Segment 1 Key Map Photo Fishing Riding Phone Segment 1 Cost Estimate Description Concrete Trail (10') Landscape (50' Easement) Fencing Signs Benches Grading Allowance Map Symbol Key Quantity Unit Unit Price Total 4,300.00 4.300.00 4,300.00 4.30 1.00 4.30 LF LF LF /1000LF EA. 1000 LF S25.00 $10.00 S6.00 S350.00 S700.00 S903.00 S107,500.00 S43,000.00 S25,800.00 $1,505.00 S700.00 $3,870.00 SUB -TOTAL S 1 82, 375.00 CONTINGENCY 30% S54.712.50 TOTAL THIS SHEET S237,087.50 P Picnic Parking slid Restmom Path 951.212 ountyLine railhead Undercrossng' Trail Segment 2 Location Segment 2, which is approximately 6800 feet in length, begins at the County Line Road underpass. It will travel south parallel to the east side of the road before turning east to a bank above an old oxbow channel. The trail then descends to the river bottom. It joins Segment 3 at the line between the development project and lands owned by Simpson, near a former aggregate pit, now a pond. Depending on the preferences of landowners, the trail may be routed around the west side of the pond, swapping 2100 feet of length to the development open space, with an equivalent length in the Simpson ownership. Significant Features & Landscape Character Segment 2 is characterized by large cottonwood groves. The groves provide attractive views -along the trail because of their savannah -like appearance with trees above, grasses below, and little understory vegetation to impede visual or physical access throughout. This entire bottomland area is occupied by a Colorado Division of Wildlife easement. After development, some smaller natural areas will remain along the river. This segment also is one of the most historic along the entire trail route. It has several features that will be interpreted. First, it is near the site of Pinkerton's sod fort, occupied in the 1800's. Second, there are two irrigation dam diversions located near the middle of this segment. Whitney Ditch departs from the north bank of the river, and just downstream, B. H. Eaton Ditch departs from the south bank. A former gravel pond lies on the south bank just below the B. H. Eaton Ditch. Proposed Improvements At County Line Road and the river, a minor trailhead is planned with a few public parking spaces, a telephone or emergency call box, and a small picnic area. It is expected that this will become a key access point for trail users originating in the new neighborhood proposed nearby. The irrigation diversions and the significance of Pinkerton's fort will be commemorated with interpretive stops along the trail at convenient viewing locations. The ponds will provide good fishing locations. 0 FEET 250 500 1000 NORTH 951212 Trail Segment 2 Key Map Photo a R R Segment 2 Cost Estimate DescrlpHon ,..,] VISIT unri rnce iota! Concrete Trail (10') 6,800.00 LF $25.00 $170,000.00 Landscape (50' Easement) 6,800.00 LF $10.00 $68,000.00 Fencing 6,800.00 LF $6.00 $40,800.00 Signs 6.80 ALLOW $700.00 $4,760.00 Benches 3.00 EA. $700.00 $2,100.00 Grading Allowance 6.80 1000 LF $900.00 $6,120.00 Parking Area 1.00 EA. 5i0,000.00 sio,000.co Solar call box 1.00 EA. sitooacio $4,000.00 Picnic facilities 1.00 EA. $5,000,00 $5,000.00 Culvert 1.00 EA. $2,000.00 $2,000.00 Misc. Trailhead improvements 1.00 ALLOW $10,000.00 $10,000.00 Small bridge 1.00 LS $5,000.00 $5.000.00 Undercrossing (part of roadway improvements) SUB -TOTAL CONTINGENCY 30% TOTAL THIS SHEET Map Symbol Key $327,780.00 $98,334.00 $426,114.00 '1 Fishing Riding Phone Picnic P Parking fit Ratrootn Path 951212 Trail Segment 3 Location This segment of the trail enters the Simpson property just northeast of the previously mentioned aggregate pond. This portion of the trail is about 4800 feet in length. It will travel south along the east side of the Simpson line, turn east, and follow the south Simpson boundary. It will cross the B. H. Eaton Ditch, and follow along its south side. It will depart the B. H. Eaton Ditch along the north boundary of the King property and cross the B. H. Eaton Ditch once again beforejoining Segment 3 at a proposed new trail bridge crossing of the Poudre River. Significant Features & Landscape Character The landscape of the Simpson property is visually very attractive with large cottonwoods growing over a grassy flood plain area. This cottonwood savannah is continuous with those in Segment 2, and the broad riparian (river -related) zone is likely to be -a significant habitat area for wildlife. According to property owners, cattle grazing has been active in the area for many years. Agricultural and natural lands along the river in this location may experience future development pressures, and the design of the interface area between future housing, gravel pits, and the trail will be important. As mentioned previously, the significant features of this segment are the B. H. Eaton Ditch and a proposed crossing of the Cache la Poudre River. Proposed Improvements Major improvements in Segment 3 include two box culvert crossings of the B. H. Eaton Ditch, and a major bridge crossing of the Poudre River. 0 FEET 250 500 1000 NORTH 951212 Trail Segment 3 Key Map SRW2 U554 Segment 3 Cost Estimate Unit Unit Price Total Description ���""' Concrete Trail (10') 4,800.00 LF $25.00 S120,000.00 Landscape (50' Easement) 4,800.00 IS S10.00 $48,000.00 Fencing 9,600.00 LF $6.00 S57,600.00 Signs 4.80 ALLOW $700.00 S3,360.00 Benches 2.00 EA. S700.00 $1,400.00 Grading Allowance 4.80 1000 LF S900.00 $4,320.00 Box culverts 2.00 EA. $2,000.00 $4,000.00 Bridge over the Poudre 1.00 LS $70,000.00 S70,000.00 e, m _Tr T A I $308.680.00 Map Symbol Key Photo Fishing CONTINGENCY 30% TOTAL THIS SHEET $92,604.00 $401,284.00 Riding Phone P sit Picnic Parking Ratroom Path 951.212 Trail Segment 4 Location Segment 4 begins at the Poudre bridge that concluded Segment 3. It crosses east on an oxbow river peninsula for about 1300 feet before joining an existing 1300 foot segment of trail already constructed by the Town of Windsor in Eastman Park. It then crosses under Weld County Road 17 and enters the Water Valley aggregate mining and housing development project. The total portion to be constructed in this segment is approximately 1500 feet. Significant Features & Landscape Character Eastman Park is the most significant feature in this segment, in addition to the river crossing. There are presently no improvements other than the quarter -mile long concrete segment of the trail already constructed in the Park. The park landscape consists of cottonwoods located in a thin band along the north side of the river, and a large field for the remainder of the land. The existing length of trail (approximately 1300 feet) is beautifully situated under the cottonwoods for a pleasant travel experience. Proposed Improvements Proposed improvements to this segment will include a major trailhead at Eastman Park and an undercrossing of WCR 17 (Seventh Avenue extension in Windsor). The trailhead will include a modest parking area for 12 to 15 cars, restrooms, a telephone or emergency call box, and picnic facilities. Trailhead improvements should be carefully coordinated with the Town of Windsor's Park Facilities Master Plan for Eastman Park. Improvements to the trail through the Water Valley development should be carefully coordinated with that project's developers. FEET 250 500 1000 NORTH 951212 Trail Segment 4 Key Map Photo SR 302 tea4 Y3 5 Segment 4 Cost Estimate escrlpSon Concrete Troll (10') 1,500.00 LF 525.00 $37,500.00 Landscape (50' Easement) 1,500.00 LF $10.00 $15,000.00 Fencing 1,300.00 LF $6.00 $7,803.00 Signs 3.00 ALLOW $700.00 $2,100.00 Benches 2.03 EA $700.00 $1,400.00 Grading Allowance 3.00 1000 LF $900.00 $2,700.00 Trailhead restrooms 1.00 LS $30,000.00 $30,000.00 Solar call box I. 0 LS $4,000.03 $4,030.00 picnic 1.00 LS $10,000.00 $10,000.00 Parking 1.00 LS $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Misc. Trailhead Improvements 1.00 ALLOW S10,000.00 -$10,000.00 Undercrossing Improvements 1.00 ALLOW $15.000.00 $15,000.00 SUB•TOTAL CONTINGENCY TOTAL THIS SHEET Map Symbol Key 30% $155,500.03 546,650.00 $202,150.00 'I Fishing Riding Phone fig Picnic P kcp Parking Restroom Path 951212 Trail Segment 5 Location Segment 5 joins Segment 4 in the Water Valley project and proceeds through open spaces and on - street routes that will be constructed as part of the project. The final trail location in Water Valley will need to be refined in collaboration between the Water Valley developers and the Town of Windsor. Segment 5 is approximately 6000 feet long, and ends at its junction with State SH 257 and the former Great Western Railroad tracks that lie parallel to the highway. Significant Features & Landscape Character There are currently no permanent features, other than the flat terrain in this segment, that will remain after the project is developed. The future character will be suburban in nature with man- made lakes, green grass lawns, concrete curbs, sidewalks and driveways, board fences, a mixture of planted ornamental tree and shrub species, and, especially where the trail proceeds along streets, there will be a significant presence of the automobile. Proposed Improvements Improvements to this segment will be coordinated with the Water Valley project developers. Public improvements beyond the trail itself are not proposed at this time. 0 FEET 030 500 1000 NORTH 951.212 Trail Segment 5 Key Map Photo Segment 5 Cost Estimate Description U ---.....� v,.,, nn rl, .e IVKII Concrete Trail (10') 6,000.00 LF $25.00 S150,000.00 Landscape (50' Easement) 6,000.00 LF S40.00 5240,000.00 Fencing None S6.00 Signs 6.00 ALLOW $700.00 $4,200.00 Benches 4.00 EA. 5700.00 S2,800.00 Grading Allowance 6.00 1000 LF S900.00 $5.400.00 Note: Landscape is higher/SF cost on this Estimate because of irigated turf Map Symbol Key JVD IVIML CONTINGENCY 30% TOTAL THIS SHEET $402,400.00 $120,720.00 $523,120.00 S 'I Fishing Riding Phone Picnic P Parlang tit Resenom Path 951212 Water Valley Undercrossing Trail Segment 6 Location Once it has passed through the Water Valley project, the trail will turn south along the former Great Western Railroad tracks that lie south of Windsor along SH 257. Segment 6 proceeds approximately 2100 feet due south and joins Segment 7 at a proposed major undercrossing beneath the railroad tracks and SH 257. Significant Features & Landscape Character Major features along this part of the route include the railroad tracks and some cottonwood groves located along riparian zone in the last quarter mile before the underpass of SH 257. The future will bring a golf course along both sides of the river throughout the Water Valley project, which will be mostly secluded from trail users. Holes 12, 13, and 14 of the golf course will be located along the west edge of the railroad tracks, and will provide a highly manicured environment for trail users. Proposed Improvements Segment 6 has no improvements other than the trail itself. 0 FEET 250 500 1000 NORM 951212 Trail Segment 6 Key Map W W2 US34 Segment 6 Cost Estimate Description Unit ---••••v vnu I -M.0 IVIQI Concrete Trail (10') 2,100.00 LF $25.00 S52,500.00 Landscape (50' Easement) 2,100.00 LF $40.00 S84,000.00 Fencing 4,203.00 LF $6.00 S25,200.00 Signs 3.00 ALLOW S700.00 $2,100.00 Benches NONE Grading Allowance 2.10 1000 LF S900.00 $1,890.00 Undercrossing 1.00 ALLOW S75,000.00 575,000.00 SUB -TOTAL CONTINGENCY 30% TOTAL THIS SHEET Map Symbol Key S240,690.00 $72,207.00 $312,897.00 951212 Spur Trail to atchable ildlife ?railhead Undercrossing Trail Segment 7 Location Segment 7 joins 6 at the undercrossing of the former Great Western Railroad and SH 257. From there it proceeds downstream along the north bank of the Poudre for approximately 6200 feet on .lands owned by Kodak. It joins Segment S where the Windsor Treatment Plant access road crosses the river. An important spur trail (3900 feet) is also proposed that connects back from this endpoint to the Kodak and Colorado Division of Wildlife "Watchable Wildlife" Area, which gains access from SH 257. The spur trail is also proposed to be located on Kodak land. Significant Features & Landscape Character This segment runs close to the riverbank and near agricultural fields leased to farmers by Kodak. An overflow channel constructed between the Town of Windsor's sewage treatment plant and Kodak's treatment plant to protect the plants during flooding is a flood control feature. A breakaway dam at the channel's upstream is designed to fail in the event of a major flood, allowing floodwaters to bypass the plants. The trail crosses over this dam and will be subject to failure, along with the dam, in times of flooding. The character of this segment is one of agricultural fields near the river mixed with cottonwood and willow communities along the river. The trail is located very close to the river for about 1/2 mile to avoid Kodak roads and fields. Natural riverbank erosion and rip rap construction also characterize this stretch. Proposed Improvements There is an opportunity to provide interpretation of modem engineering practices in the control of rivers at the breakaway dam, and an opportunity to view channelization and bank stabilization artifacts, such as rip rap. The spur trail to the Watchable Wildlife Area requires the construction of a bridge across the Poudre, or, alternatively, widening of the present Windsor Treatment Plant access road culvert over the river. The spur crosses an irrigation return flow ditch and since it is somewhat deep and located near or in the river floodway, a significant structure may be required to cross it. A minor trailhead is recommended at the Kodak/DOW site. 0 FEET 250 500 1000 NORTH 951212 Trail Segment 7 Key Map 8391 a s te Segment 7 Cost Estimate Dose Hon inviiiii V1111 unnrnce Total Concrete Trail 00') 6.200.00 LF $25.00 $155,000.00 Landscape (50' Easement) 6,200.00 LF $10.00 S62.000.00 Fencing 620000 LF 56.00 537,200.00 Signs 7.00 ALLOW $700.00 $4,900.00 Benches 3.00 EA. $700.00 $2,100.00 Grading Allowance 6.20 1000 LF 5900,00 $5,580.00 Bridge Crossing of Poudre 1.00 LS S70.003.00 $70,000.00 Stub Trail 3.900.00 LF $25.00 S97,500.00 Culvert 1.00 EA. $7,500.0Q. $7,500.00 Solar Call Box 1.00 EA. $4.000.00 54,000.00 Parking improvements 1.00 LS $15,000.00 S15,000.00 Misc. Trailhead Improvements' 1.00 ALLOW $5,000.00 $5,000.00 • Existing parking area is proposed to be improved Picnic Facilities 1.03 LS $10,000.00 sio,000.00 Map Symbol Key O JVY-IVllyl CONTINGENCY 30% TOTAL THIS SHEET $475,780.03 $142,734.00 $618,514.00 Photo Fishing '1 Phone P sit Picnic Parking Restroom [4:1:16 Path 1.212 • • • reatment Plan ',Interpretation Trail Segment 8 Location Segment 8 begins at the intersection of the Poudre River and the Windsor Treatment Plant access road. The trail proceeds along the north side of the north dike of the treatment plant before crossing the river to reach the foot of a bluff. The trail climbs the bluffs and proceeds along their crest to Weld County's Missile Park. This segment is really better conceived as being part of one long segment located between the beginning point of Segment 8 and the intersection of 95th Avenue and Weld County Road 62, about 3 miles to the east. However, Segment 8 ends (arbitrarily) one quarter mile west of Missile Park, 5700 feet beyond its starting point. Segment 8 leaves the Kodak ownership about halfway along its climb up the bluffs, then crosses lands presently owned by Knox and leads into the ownership of Hertzke. Significant Features & Landscape Character The features include the Windsor Treatment Plant, although operations are not readily visible because of the ten foot dike. Beyond the Poudre crossing is a small grove of old cottonwood trees, located on Kodak lands, that offer an opportunity for picnicking. While there is some influence on this area from the treatment plant, this part of the river is remote and may best characterize historic landscape conditions. The bluffs offer a dramatic experience where the trail rises above the river bottom to provide panoramic views of the northern Front Range and the agricultural and manufacturing landscape that lies to the north of the bluffs. The change in vegetation between the river, the bluffs, and the agricultural fields provide many opportunities for ecological and aesthetic appreciation within a short distance. Proposed Improvements Improvements include a bridge crossing of the Poudre River and an interpretive station near the bridge within view of the treatment plant to explain water cycles and use. There is a picnic area at the river's edge. As the trail proceeds up the bluffs, significant grading and drainage will be required. The top of the bluffs provides a good location for an overlook and interpretive area about the bluffs, and also a rest stop. 0 FEET 250 9•p "°hsi" Lt2 Trail Segment 8 Key Map Photo a c 9 Segment 8 Cost Estimate Dosed lion Concrete Trail 10' Landsca.e 50' Easement Fencin Benches Gradin. Allowance Picnic Site Small restroom Bride crossin. of Poudre Culverts Retaininwalls w/railin.s Map Symbol Key Cuanl Unit LF LF ALLOW EA. ALLOW ALLOW LS ALLOW ALLOW SUB -TOTAL CONTINGENCY 30% TOTAL THIS SHEET Unit Price Total $25.00 $10.00 S6.00 S1,000.00 S700.00 $4,000.00 S10,000.00 $10,000.00 $70,000.00 $2,000.00 $30,000.00 $142,500.00 $57,000.00 $15,000.00 56,000.00 $1 400 00 $24,000.00 $10,000.00 $10,000.00 $70.000.00 $12,000.00 $30,000.00 $377,900.00 $113,370.00 S491,270.00 Fishing '1 Riding Phone Picnic P tit Parking Restroom P® 951212 • Missile Park Interpretation •ice• Missile Park Trailhead & Front Range Panoramas fit Ems Trail Segment 9 Location Segment 9 starts 1/4 mile west of Missile Park. It hugs the northerly limit of the bluffs crest for 5500 feet beforearriving at a farm house surrounded by lands owned by the Hertzkes. Depending on the willingness and possible participation by the landowner, the trail should be setback from the crest to lengthen the time available before natural erosion processes would threaten the trail. Significant Features & Landscape Character The significant features of Segment 9 include the bluffs geological formation, the -aridity of Colorado, shortgrass prairie vegetation, agricultural uses, and the former missile (ICBM) silo. The character is one of dryness, openness, the presence of the sun and sky and frequently, cooler and windier conditions than those of the river bottom. Proposed Improvements Missile Park offers interpretive opportunities about the expressions of the Cold War in this landscape. The park will serve as a major trailhead with parking, restrooms, emergency phone, and picnicking. The views from within Missile Park to the west are dramatic, offering unimpeded panoramas of the northern Front Range mountains. Proceeding east from Missile Park, the trail will pass along the perimeter of center pivot irrigated agricultural fields, which are somewhat unusual for the river corridor because of the more prevalent use of ditch irrigation for cropland. To the northwest is a view of the landforms that characterize the Colorado Piedmont, the rolling topography created over millions of years by the downcutting of the high plains by Front Range rivers. This view offers an opportunity to see the juxtaposition of many parts of this unique landscape: the distant mountains, the plains, the Poudre Valley, and the bluffs. This point offers an opportunity to explain the development of water resources for agriculture. With the Kodak complex located in the view the connection between water development, manufacturing, and urbanization may also be made. 0 FEET 250 500 1000 NORTH 951212 Trail Segment 9 Key Map Photo W]Vt US 34 a Segment 9 Cost Estimate Desert Son U •...I nM unit nice 1010 Concrete Trail (10') 5,500.00 LF S25.00 $137,500.00 Landscape (50' Easement) 5,500.00 LF -$10.03 $55.000.00 Fencing 10,000.00 LF $6.00 S60.000.00 Signs 6.00 1000LF $2,000.00 S12,000.00 Benches 3.00 EA. $700.00 $2,100.00 Grading Allowance 600 1000 LF S2 00000 S12,000,00 Trailheaa Solar call box 1.00 LS 54,000.00 54,000.00 Picnic (Part of Park) Restrooms (Part of Park) Parking (Part of Park) Misc. trailhead improvements 1.00 LS $10,000.00 • sm.00acc Retaining walls 1.00 ALLOW S15,000.00 $15.000.00 ago-ivtrt� CONTINGENCY 30% TOTAL THIS SHEET Map Symbol Key S307,600.00 $92,280.00 $399,880.00 Fishing Riding Phone fin Picnic P fit Parking Restroom Path 951212 Trail Segment 10 Location Segment 10 begins just west of the Getz home and proceeds eastward 5600 feet, still running along the crest of the bluffs and along the north perimeter of center pivot irrigated agricultural fields of Hertzke. It ends at an oil and gas well site located on lands owned by Rothe, about 800 feet west of 95th Avenue. Significant Features & Landscape Character The features and character of this segment are very similar to Segment 9. It is open and exposed, and trees naturally do not grow here. Agriculture and range land are the predominant foreground views, with frequent distant views to the north of higher plains beyond the Poudre Valley and the Poudre River. Westbound travellers will be able to enjoy frequent vistas to the Rocky Mountains. Proposed Improvements As the trail passes to the north of the Getz house, it will need to descend into the dissected topography to avoid the buildings and the house located at the bluffs crest. Retaining walls and culverts will be required to permit trail construction on this difficult terrain and to avoid impacting the people who live there. Detailed design of this short stretch below the house will need to consider buffering of the residents and activities that take place at the residential site. By locating the trail below the elevation of the house, significant buffering may be achieved by this elevational difference, and additional screening may not be necessary. After leaving the house site, the trail continues along the bluff crest. Future erosion will be a detailed design concern as in Segment 9. A former US Army German prisoner of war camp was located to the south of the trail on Hertzke land during World War II. Although all camp buildings and landscape features, such as fences, roads, and trees, have been removed for agriculture through the years, the uniqueness of the former land use warrants an interpretive stop there. 0 FEET 250 500 1000 NORTH 951212 Trail Segment 10 Key Map Photo Segment 10 Cost Estimate Description Concrete Trail (10') Landscape (50' Easement) Fencing Signs Benches Grading Allowance Retaining walls Culverts Guantl 5,600.00 5,600.00 11,200.00 ty 1.00 2.00 6.00 1.00 6.00 Unit Unit Price Total LF LF LF ALLOW EA. $25.00 $10.00 56.00 $5,000.00 1000 LF ALLOW EA. 5700.00 $2.000.00 330,000.00 S2,000.00 $140,000.00 $56,000.00 $67,200.00 S5.000.00 $1,400.00 $12.000.00 $30,000.00 $12,000.00 SUB -TOTAL CONTINGENCY 30% TOTAL THIS SHEET Map Symbol Key S323,600.00 $97,080.00 $420,680.00 ® FPhone Riding e 'I Picnic P sit Parking Restroom Path 951212 Grade Crossing 5harkstooth Ski Area 'Interpretation soil & Gas Well `Interpretation Trail Segment 11 Location Segment 11 begins at the oil and gas wellhead on lands of Rothe and proceeds to cross 95th Avenue just before that road descends the bluffs. On the east side of 95th it descends below the east shoulder of the road in a road right of way widened to accommodate the trail width and the slope lengths required to construct the trail. Segment 11 ends at the intersection of 95th Avenue and Weld County Road 62 and is 3700 feet long. Significant Features & Landscape Character Segment 11 is characterized by rangeland bluffs and agricultural crop production on the valley floor. There is a significant amount of degraded bluffs land near 95th Avenue as a result of illegal four wheel drive veWcle and dirt bike activity by trespassers on the lands of Rothe. Many deep ruts and disturbed landscape features characterize this area. The bald views of the oil and gas wellhead and its industrial character also generate a negative, or at least highly degraded image of this area. The former Sharkstooth ski area occupies the north face of the bluffs along the west side of the trail and 95th Avenue. Several vegetative windbreaks that were evidently planted for snow harvesting at the ski hill appear visually prominent because of their inconsistency with the shortgrass prairie vegetation of the bluffs. Proposed Improvements The oil and gas wellhead offers an opportunity to explain one of the main economic forces of Northern Colorado. An interpretive station is planned here to permit the explanation of oil and gas geological processes and extraction practices. Farther east and north along the trail an interpretive station to explain the ski area is also proposed. Additional improvements will be required to construct the trail along the county road. Fences will need to be moved away from the road to provide adequate trail width and the grade will need to be constructed down the hill adjacent to 95th Avenue. Construction of the grade is likely to require extraordinary frail easement or right of way width. An interpretive sign may also be added in this area to explain natural erosion processes 0 FEET 250 500 1000 NORTH 951212 Trail Segment 11 Key Map A Segment 11 Cost Estimate Descri • tion Landsca.e 50' Easement Fencin./ Fence relocation Sins S350/1,000 L Benches Gradin. Allowance Retainin. walls Map Symbol Key Quart Unit Unit Price Total ALLOW ALLOW SUB -TOTAL CONTINGENCY 30% TOTAL THIS SHEET S25.00 $10.00 $6.00 $2,500..00 $700.00 $4,000.00 $10.000.00 $92,500.00 $37,000.00 $22,200.00 $2,500.00 $1,400.00 $16,000.00 $10,000.00 $181,600.00 554,480.00 $236,080.00 951212 Trail Segment 12 Location This segment runs a "country mile" between 95th Avenue and 83rd Avenue along Weld County Road 62, from intersection to intersection, a distance actually greater than a mile, or 5700 feet. The trail will be located on the north side of WCR 62, with the final design to be coordinated with the aggregate mine reclamation of the Hall -Irwin pits located between WCR 62 and the Poudre River. Significant Features & Landscape Character Along this segment, the most significant feature at present is the Hall -Irwin aggregate mine on the north side of the trail. On the south side is a bottomland agricultural ownership and homestead through which passes the Jones Ditch. The current owners of the aggregate operation have been willing to avail portions of their land to future uses by the trail and environmental education facilities described in the Educational Opportunities Section of the Master Plan report. The landscape character is largely agricultural, although travellers would recognize several uniquely butte -like bluffs landscape features to the south as these rise prominently above the fields and the Jones Ditch. Proposed Improvements The segment begins with a grade crossing of WCR 62 before turning east. As the trail proceeds along the north side of the road additional right of way will be required north of the roadside ditch to accommodate the trail width. Depending on the timing of trail construction, fencing may be required to control public access to the mining operation. At the corner of 83rd Avenue and WCR 62 will be the proposed Poudre Learning Center, a structure housing classrooms and offices used for environmental education activities. A number of loop trails are proposed that will link the PLC to reclaimed mine areas and the river itself. The Poudre Learning Center will also serve as a major trailhead with parking, restrooms, emergency phone, picnicking, and many interpretive opportunities. 0 FEET 750 500 1000 NORM 951212 Trail Segment 12 Key Map r. r. Segment 12 Cost Estimate Descri•lion Concrete Trail 10' Landsca.e 50' Easement Fencin./fence relocation Sins $350/1,000 L Benches Gradin. Allowance Grade crossin Map Symbol Key SUB -TOTAL CONTINGENCY TOTAL THIS SHEET Quanti Unit 5, 700.00 5,700,00 5,700.00 LF LF ALLOW NONE 1000 LF n Y Unit Price Total 525.00 $10.00 S6.00 $5,O00.O0 $700.00 $4,000.00 $2,000.00 30% $142,500.00 557,000.00 $34,200.00 $5.000.00 $24,000.00 $2,000.00 5264,700.00 579,410.00 $344,110.00 Photo c Fishing Riding Phone P tlt Picnic Parking Ratroom Path i 951212 er i Greeley Ditch No. 3 y %Interpretation iGeological :Interpretation �• a Historic Artifact Interpretation Grade =Crossing Poudre Learning Center Trailhead Trail Segment 13 Location The intersection of 83rd Avenue and WCR 62 is the beginning point of Segment 13. Here, the trail turns north for 600 feet before completing a 4000 foot run to a point just past its crossing of Greeley No. 3 Ditch on property currently owned by Orr. Significant Features & Landscape Character Eastbound, after it crosses 83rd Avenue, the frail passes a remnant river oxbow channel and cattail marsh to the north(on map under symbols) before continuing along the south bank of the river. After crossing the return flow end of Jones Ditch, travellers will encounter the north face of a river terrace. Along this sharp face are historic carved names. Just beyond the rock face is the large diversion structure for Greeley No. 3 Ditch and the ditch itself, which nearly equals the width of the river. To continue along the river through additional lands owned by Orr, the trail must cross the ditch. A bridge is recommended here. The character of this portion of the landscape is currently agricultural but is likely to change very shortly to suburban housing and aggregate mining. The river and trail just east of No. 3 Ditch are characterized by mature cottonwood groves standing above grassy floodplain lands. Along the river between 83rd Avenue and 71st Avenue the cottonwood stands provide cover for white tail deer. Proposed Improvements Because the terrace formation and the river are so close together, special techniques will be required to construct the frail. Design and construction techniques that avoid river channel filling and that minimize disturbance to the wall face will be necessary, especially during periods of flooding. Although a detailed study of this area is beyond the scope of the master plan, improvements are likely to take the form of a boardwalk, a bank fill and revetment, or a bulkhead wall, in increasing magnitude of cost. Another concern is the provision of new public access to a site formerly difficult to reach and relatively unknown, which may threaten the valued historic artifacts that are located here. The detailed design of this segment and Segment 14 will require careful coordination with the landowner, who is presently in the process of proposing a housing project on this site. 0 FEET 250 500 1000 NORTH 4511 94 o Trail Segment 13 Key Map SR 392 F V A A Segment 13 Cost Estimate Snot! Hon Total Concrete Trail (10') 4.600.00 LE S25.00 5115,000.00 Landscape (50' Easement) 4,600.00 LF $10.00 $46.000.00 Fencing 4,600.00 LF $6.00 S27,600.00 Signs 1.00 ALLOW S10,000.00 S10,000.00 Benches 6.00 EA $700.00 $4,200.00 Grading Allowance 5.00 1000 LF $3.000.00 S15.000.00 Special Grading Requirements 1.00 ALLOW $50.000.00 $50,000.00W Boardwalk/ Special trail section 800.00 LF 5150.00 $120,0.00 Grade Crossing 1.00 EA $2000.00 S2000.00 Trailhead Solar Call Box 1.00 LS 54.000.00 $4,000.00 Restrooms 1.00 LS $30,000.00 $30,000.00 Picnic facilities 1.00 LS $10,000.00 $10.000.00 Misc. troiinead improvements 1.00 LS $10.000.00 $10,000.0000. Parking 1.00 LS 515,000 $15.000.00 SUB -TOTAL CONTINGENCY 30% TOTAL THIS SHEET Map Symbol Key $458,800.00 $137.640.00 $596,40.00 lini)erb Photo Fishing Riding '1 Phone fin Picnic P sit Parking Restroom Path 951212 Trail Segment 14 Location Segment 14 begins just east of the trail's crossing of Greeley No. 3 Ditch. It proceeds east along the south bank of the river and skirts the edge of cottonwood groves on its way to 71st Avenue. Upon reaching 71st, it turns south running parallel to the road, crosses the No. 3 Ditch once again before proceeding over a surface grade crossing of 71st. Once across 71st Avenue the trail will be located on an unimproved county road right of way. The right of way connects 71st Avenue with a dead end termination of C Street about 2000 feet west of its intersection with 59th Avenue. The total length of Segment 14 is 7800 feet. Significant Features & Landscape Character The main features of this segment are the proximity of the trail to the river, cottonwood groves along the river, Greeley No. 3 Ditch, a grade crossing of 71st Avenue, and another constrained clearance route along the north side of a steep terrace wall, between the wall and Ditch No. 3. The cultural landscape character of this stretch has a mixed rural and suburban nature. Views throughout this segment are not distant, but contained by bluffs on the south and river vegetation on the north. Looking west from under cottonwoods on the Orr property, one can view the peaks of the Front Range, however. The river is lined with cottonwood groves that support an observed deer herd. Proposed Improvements Trail improvements to the Orr property will require coordination with its proposed development project. A box culvert over Ditch No. 3 will be required to cross the ditch, unless the 71st Avenue bridge over the ditch is widened in the future to accommodate the trail. A grade crossing of 71st Avenue will be located at the point where the road makes a sharp turn. The trail proceeds through an unimproved county road right of way which reverts to a single dirt track as it hugs a steep terrace wall on its way to the dead end of C Street. Improvements will include culvert crossings where drainages feed under the trail from the bluff, guard rails, and possibly, retaining walls at the terrace wall. 0 FEET 250 500 7000 NORTH 951212 Trail Segment 14 Key Map Rave ($31 4 Segment 14 Cost Estimate Descrlption UnR Concrete Trail (10') —.---I 7,800.00 LF ...w $25.00 ....... S195,000.00 Landscape (50' Easement) 7,800.00 LF $10.00 $78.000.00 Fencing 7,800.00 LF $6.00 $46,800.00 Signs 1.00 ALLOW $7,500.00 $7,500.00 Benches 3.00 EA. $700.00 $2,100.00 Grading Allowance 8.00 1000 LF $1,000.00 S8,000.00 Box culvert (No. 3 ditch) 1,00 LS S20,000.00 S20,000.00 Culvert 2.00 EA. S3,000.00 S0.000.00 Retaining walls 1.00 ALLOW S10,000.00 510,000.00 Grade Crossing 1.00 EA. szooacio S2.000.00 SUB -TOTAL CONTINGENCY 30% TOTAL THIS SHEET Map Symbol Key 5375,400.00 S112,620.00 $488,020.00 a Photo Fishing Riding '1 Phone Picnic P sit Parking Resttoom Path 951212 Grade Crossing 59thAvenU Trail Segment 15 Location Segment 15 begins at the dead end of C Street and proceeds east 1750 feet to 59th Avenue. Beyond this grade crossing, the trail follows the north side of F Street to a third crossing of Greeley No. 3 Ditch, a point 4400 feet beyond the beginning of this segment. Significant Features & Landscape Character This segment of the trail features views of agricultural landscapes with a distant view to the river and its characteristic cottonwood groves, all located about a half mile north of the trail. F Street is characterized as an embankment roadway with several areas of significant drop-offs from its north edge. While this route may not be the best from a construction standpoint, it avoids sensitive lands along several major bows in the river channel that are remote and attractive habitat for wildlife. Proposed Improvements There is plenty of horizontal space for constructing the trail along the north sides of C and F Streets but there are likely to be some difficulties encountered for siting the trail on steep embankment slopes along both streets. A culvert crossing of Sheep Draw Creek is required about 400 feet west of 59th Street. Sheep Draw is a large urbanizing basin and is likely to carry large amounts of runoff in future storm events. The grade crossing of 59th Avenue should be carefully designed since this road is widely paved, carries downhill traffic, and is visually very open, all factors that contribute to high speed use by vehicles. Several utility poles support power and possibly telephone lines north of F Street. To avoid contributing to major right of way purchases these poles, and possibly underground services through the same corridor, will need to be relocated or adjusted to accommodate the trail. Several driveways will also need to be crossed by the trail through here and the grade relationships between the current road surface, the driveway surfaces, and the trail surface will make design and construction difficult in this area. The third crossing of Ditch No. 3 will be a box culvert. 0 FEET 250 500 _o 1000 NORTH 951212 Trail Segment 15 Key Map 117372 US 31 Segment 15 Cost Estimate Description ��..I IIIII11 unn unit nice Total Concrete Trail (10) 4,400.00 LF 525.00 S110,000.00 Landscape (50' Easement) 4,400.00 LF 510.00 S44,000.00 Fencing/ Fence relocation 4,400.00 LF S6.00 S26,400.00 Signs 1.00 ALLOW 510,000.00 $10,000.00 Benches NONE 5700.00 Grading Allowance 5.00 1000 LF S2,000.00 S10,000.03 Utility relocation 1.00 ALLOW S50,000.00 ssa000.00 Borrow ditch relocation 4,400.00 LF $5.00 $22,000.00 Grade crossing 1.00 EA. S2,000.00 52.000.00 Culvert crossings 3.00 EA. S3,000.00 S9.000.00 Driveway crossings 6.00 EA. S1,500.03 59.000.00 No. 3 Ditch crossing 1.00 EA. 520,000.00 szacoono iYp-1VI/lL CONTINGENCY 30% TOTAL THIS SHEET Map Symbol Key S312,400.00 S93,720.00 $406.120.00 'I Photo Fishing Riding Phone Picnic P Parking tit Reshoom Path 951.212 Mining Interpretive, Ste Picnicking ite Trailhead at Future Greeley Treatment 'Plant Site Culvert Trail Segment 16 Location Segment 16 continues along the north side of FStreet to a point about 1700 feet beyond the Ditch No. 3 crossing. Here it turns north to run through City of Greeley property scheduled for use as a new treatment plant site. About 400 feet north of F Street the trail crosses a small irrigation ditch before proceeding north along the west side of a crop field, over a railroad grade crossing to an oil and gas wellhead 5700 feet east of its start point. Significant Features & Landscape Character As the trail continues along the F Street right of way, the landscape closes in on the trail. Several houses and clumps of trees contribute to this character. At the City of Greeley's future plant site, it travels through a small pasture with views north to the river and cottonwood groves. A prairie dog colony thrives to the west, and a crop field grows to the east. Closer to the river there are attractive views of cottonwood groves sitting in a very natural appearing river bottom landscape. After turning east, the landscape has a transitional character expressed by the power poles located along the railroad right of way, distant views of gravel stockpiles, and an oil and gas wellhead adjacent to the trail where this segment concludes. Proposed Improvements After the culvert crossing of Ditch No. 3, the trail will continue to encounter fences, utilities, driveways, and large trees along the F Street right of way. At the entrance to the City's property a minor trailhead is proposed with a half dozen parking spaces, a restroom, and a telephone. The prairie dog habitat offers interpretive opportunities and the view into the river channel and the cottonwood grove is attractive, warranting a picnic and interpretive stop. The grade crossing of the tracks will require some regrading for better visibility of train traffic and better bicycle control surfaces. Beyond the crossing the trail is routed through a narrow strip of Western Mobile -Northern lands. Fencing will be required to keep trail traffic from interfering with mining operations or trespassing on the site. Just near the oil and gas wellhead is an ideal location for a mining and oil/gas interpretive station. 0 FEET 250 500 1000 NORTH 951212 Trail Segment 16 Key Map Stave 'S34 a A Segment 16 Cost Estimate Descep8on Concrete Trail (10') 5700 LC S25.00 $142500.00 Landscape (50' Easement) 5700 LF $10.00 $57,000.00 Fencing 9000 LF $6.00 $54.000.00 Signs 1 ALLOW $7,500.00 S7.500.00 Benches 2 EA. 5700.00 $1,40200 Grading Allowance 5.7 1000LF 1.000.00 $5,700.00 Trailnead Restrooms 1.00 EA. $30.000.00 530.000.00 Picnic facilities 1.00 ALLOW $10,000.00 S10.000.00 Solar call cox 1.00 EA. 54.000.00 $4,000.00 Parking area 1.00 ALLOW $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Misc. trallhead improvements 1.00 ALLOW $5.000.00 S5,000.00 Driverway crossings 4.00 EA. $1,500.00 $6,000.00 Utility relocation 1.00 ALLOW $25.000.00 525.000.00 Train crossing 1.00 ALLOW $5.000.00 $5.000.00 SUB -TOTAL CONTINGENCY TOTAL THIS SHEET Map Symbol Key 30% $373,100.00 $111,930.00 5485,030.00 lei Photo Fishing Riding p. '1 Phone • Picnic P Parking sit Restmom Path 951212 rade Crossing r Trail Segment 17 Location This segment travels exclusively on Western Mobile -Northern landholdings along the railroad tracks. It is 5000 feet from the oil and gas wellhead to the grade crossing at 35th Avenue where this segment ends. Significant Features & Landscape Character The main features of this segment -are the presence of railroad tracks to the south and some moderately distant views to low bluffs and housing developments on the south. To the north are initial mining operations that will soon expand to 'include all of the land between the railroad tracks and the river. The Burlington Northern rial line here dates back to 1882 with the Greeley, Salt Lake and Pacific Railroad. The rail once was used for transport between Greeley and Fort Collins. During World War II it was used to carry POW's to the Army's prison camp. Boyd's Crossing is also located near the 35th Avenue crossing of the river. Proposed Improvements The frail itself will be the only improvement. A grade crossing of 35th Avenue will be required. Since it is a wide and paved street, care will need to be taken in the final design to safely convey trail users across the street. 0 FEET 250 500 1000 NORTH 951212 Trail Segment 17 Key Map .4.834 S Segment 17 Cost Estimate Description 'man illy unrr unit rnce Total Concrete Trail (10') 5,000.00 LF $25.00 $125.000.00 Landscape (50' Easement) 5.000.00 LF S10.00 S50,000.00 Fencing/ fence relocation 5,000.00 LF $6.00 s30,000.00 Signs 1.00 ALLOW $5 S5,000.00 Benches NONE S700.00 Grading Allowance 5.00 1000 LF S900.00 $4,500.00 Grade crossing 1.00 EA. $2,00000 $2,000.00 Map Symbol Key ( (I Photo Fishing Riding Phone cm - Picnic P Park c JHp-1 V IXL CONTINGENCY 30% TOTAL THIS SHEET tit Restroom Path S216,500.00 S64,950.00 $281,450.00 951212 Grade Crossing '`= Trail Segment 18 Location Segment 18 continues from a grade crossing at 35th Avenue along the railroad tracks on lands owned by Flatiron, Inc. to return to the right of way of F Street. At the intersection of F Street and 23rd Avenue the trail follows the west right of way of 23rd Avenue to the north to a point on the south line of the Flatiron ownership east of 23rd Avenue. At its point of departure from a grade crossing of 23rd Avenue, Segment 18 ends 5300 feet from its beginning point. Significant Features & Landscape Character Aggregate extraction operations, small, older homes, emerging strip commercial development, small pastures, utility poles, the railroad, and narrow rural standard roads characterize this segment. The F Street right of way is likely to need widening to accommodate the trail in this segment. There may be some impact to the homes located on the north side of F Street just west of the 23rd Avenue intersection, as additional land will be needed for the trail and its constructed grades. Proposed Improvements Roadside fencing, mail boxes, and some vegetation will be relocated during construction through this segment. As the trail turns north along 23rd Avenue additional right of way lands may be required, although, depending on -required grading and the clearance between the trail and street traffic, the width of this road may permit trail development without additional land acquisition. The grade crossing will require attention to a safe crossing design. Detailed design issues will include the heavy truck traffic originating in the aggregate operations and emerging onto 23rd Avenue, along with ordinary safety measures required to convey trail traffic across 23rd Avenue. 0 FEET 250 500 1000 NORTH 951212 Trail Segment 18 Key Map Photo SR 372 US34 Segment 18 Cost Estimate Dosed Dfion Quanti Concrete Trail (105 5,300.00 LF $25.00 S132,500.00 Landscape (50' Easement) 5.300.00 LF $10.00 553,000.00 Fencing 10.600.00 LF 56.00 563,600.00 Signs 1.00 ALLOW S5,000.00 $5,000.00 Benches NONE $700.00 Grading Allowance 6.00 1000 LF $900.00 55,400.00 Grade Crossing 2.00 EA. $3,000.00 S6,000.00 Driveway crossings 8O3 EA. $1,500.00 S12,000.00 Misc. improvements 1.03 ALLOW $5,000.00 $5,000.00 SUB -TOTAL CONTINGENCY 30% TOTAL THIS SHEET Map Symbol Key $282,500.00 $84,750.00 $367,250.00 '1 Fishing Riding Phone Picnic r P sit Parking Rattoom Path 951212 Culvert Flatiron Companies&. rade Crossing Trail Segment 19 Location Segment 19 departs from 23rd Avenue and follows the south line of the Flatiron ownership to once again join the river at the north limit of the Buciden Equipment Company ownership. From this point it travels along the south bank of the river, which turns south and crosses an aggregate pit outfall ditch. Beyond the ditch the frail continues along the river and turns east before making a slight diversion from the riverbank into a former aggregate mine surrounded by cottonwoods and willows. The segment ends at the terminus of a trail segment constructed by the City of Greeley along the south riverbank in Island Grove Park. This segment is 6000 feet long. Significant Features & Landscape Character The features of this segment are less attractive than most of the other segments. They offer views of current aggregate extraction practices, river channelization effects, outdoor equipment storage areas, an oil and gas wellhead, and riverbank reinforcement. The character of this stretch is chaotic. Proposed Improvements Besides the frail itself, the improvements will be limited to a culvert or bridge crossing of the aggregate pit outfall ditch. Island Grove Park will serve as a major trailhead with parking, restrooms, and a telephone already present. Fishing in aggregate extraction pits is possible, but will not directly affect frail construction. Equestrian use of Island Grove Park and the aggregate mine sites, as they become completed, will be encouraged. Horse loading areas already exist in Island Grove Park. Future trail extensions to the north of the river included in the Island Grove Regional Park Master Plan. The ponds along this reach provide excellent local fishing. 0 FEET 250 S00 1000 NORTH 951.212 Trail Segment 19 Key Map SQ 372 LIS34 V Segment 19 Cost Estimate Description w VYIIIIIT unn unn rinse Total Concrete Troll (10') 6.000.00 LF S25.00 $150.000.00 Landscape (50 Easement) 6.000.00 LF S10.00 $60,000,00 Fencing 600000 IF $6.00 536.000.00 Signs 1.00 ALLOW $7.500.00 $7,500,00 Benches 3.00 EA. 5700.00 52.100.00 Grading Allowance 6.00 1000 LF 51,000.00 $6.000.00 Solar Call Box 1.00 EA. 54.000.00 S4,000.00 Trallhead Improvements Restrooms (Available at park) Picnic facilities (Available at park) Culvert 1.00 ALLOW 510.000.00 S 10,000.00 Equestrian Trail 1.00 ALLOW 515.000.00 513,000.00 Grade Crossing 1.00 EA $3.000.00 S3.000.00 uVV'I VIAL CONTINGENCY 30% TOTAL THIS SHEET Map Symbol Key S293,600.00 $88.080.00 $381,680.00 Photo kif 1I Fishing Riding Phone Picnic P Parking Restroom Path 951212 Poudre Trail Master Plan Cost Estimate Summary Description Segment 1 Segment 2 Segment 3 Segment 4 Segment 5 Segment 6 Segment 7 Segment 8 Segment 9 Segment 10 Segment 11 Segment 12 Segment 13 Segment 14 Segment 15 Segment 16 Segment 17 Segment 18 Segment 19 Totals Total miles of frail Trail length/LF Total 4,300 $237,087.50 6,800 S426,114.00 4,800 $401,284.00 1,500 $202,150.00 6,000 $523,120.00 2,100 S312,897.00 10,100 $618,514.00 5,700 $491,270.00 5,500 $399,880.03 5,600 $420,680.00 3.700 $236,080.00 5,700 S344,110.00 4,600 $596,440.00 7,800 $488,020.00 4,400 $406,120.00 5,700 $485,030.00 5,000 5281,450.00 5,300 $367,250.03 6,000 $381,680.03 100,600 57,619,176.50 19 951212 Pondre River Trail Master Plan VIII. Design Guidelines Design guidelines are prepared in a removable section with page numbers DG -xx. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 951212 DESIGN GUIDELINES Multiple Use Pedestrian/ Bicycle/Equestrian/Jogging Trail Trails at County Roads Railroad Crossings Trail Underpass Trailheads General Trail layout Drainage Drainage Features Superelevation Grades Cut/Fill Construction Full Bench Construction Sightlines/Curve Radii/Vertical Clearance Stopping Sight Distances Minimum Vertical Curve Fences Railings Bridges Boardwalks Retaining Walls Site Furnishings Features for the Physically Challenged Landscaping Signage DG1 DG3 DG4 DG5 DG7 DG10 DG 12 DG14 DG15 DG16 DG17 DG18 DG19 DG20 DG21 DG22 DG23 DG25 DG27 DG29 DG31 DG33 DG34 DG39 951212 Pondre River Trail Master Plan Multiple Use Pedestrian/Bicycle/Equestrianfjogging Trail Combined Trails Bicycle, jogging and horse trails can be combined where narrow access is a problem. Combined trails should have a minimum 10' width hard surface bicycle trail, and an 8' wide jogging and horse trail. Equestrian trail clearance The minimum desirable width for a combined horse and jogging trail should be eight feet. Vertical trail clearance for horse and bicycle trails should be ten feet. Equestrian and Jogging Trail Surface Equestrians and joggers prefer a non - paved surface, although paved surfaces can be used. Where separate surfacing is used, crusher fines may be used if there is a matrix of larger particles to resist the grinding and kicking motion of horse's hooves. Crusher fines should meet the following characteristics: 1. Irregular and angular. 2. Fines should be laid to a depth of 4 to 5 inches. 3. Stones for crusher fines should be as hard as possible. Sandstone is generally not acceptable, while granite is excellent. Stones bound with limestone provide an even stronger surface. A 3/8" minus screen provides the best composition of material. This is approximately: • 65% passes 1/4" screen • 50% passes 3/16" screen • 35% passes 1/W' screen • 25% passes 1/16" screen Horses should be kept off of trails with crusher fines where the trail surface slope exceeds 6%. Have horses use the hard surface paving for steep sections. Horses should be kept off of all boardwalks and from using box culverts. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DC1 951212 Pnndre River Trail Master Plan 5N0/IGpeg/ t/fcg zone 6eo oeivic 1L ewe/metes gant/n aVLNT/LW 5 ma -r/Pie LifS T/P/f/L SWALG Awl If PeaH/seo ** wiLe,C, TYP. epe.finie SHB6RAOE PEic item eiNeed ew6/AaEef5 RELOAMrCNOATiONS APT P4 vep 5N/eefiCe (c ekS,Nee-fiAles) PGA- ✓O ,e5 An/p E4l fE5TiC/.4N W5e e5 ✓/oKLLe..e/ aeq g 204/E CONL.CCTE TRA/L, 6" Trn4e M/A/ JAM!). 5200M r/uKN flRpeNo/LaMR To D/RCGT/ay OP 7FA/L, 9AW-cHT✓e/A/TS AT do' o.c. ALONb TRAIL, 9'Wipt Carr/Naoas ymeat& S7R?PE detemesc, /A/ 7.eA/L S AMK. coNcAsTe 7RA/G -caoriotw/ Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DG2 951212 Panda' River Trail Master Plan RoADWAV .1,56taitaR NW FW ct LtOCAr/ON /o' riredv 7Rr!/L• x ADD/T/ONAL- A¢4/5/r/oM AREA Trails at County Roads Trails should be separated horizontally from roadways wherever possible for safety. With existing county roads, the trail should be separated from the roadway by the borrow ditch and an additional minimum 12' of right of way acquired. Fences should be setback from the edge of the trail surface by a minimum of 2 feet. Borrow ditch cross pitches should be a maximum of 4 horizontal feet to 1 vertical foot to prevent dangerous slopes. Where the private driveway crossings occur two situations area possible: 1) trail users yield to driveway or 2) driveway users yield to trail users. The Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado first should be used at busy driveway intersections or where sight lines or site features decrease trail user's safety. Where driveways are seldom used, the second can be used. Signage and pavement markings should be provided to control traffic in each scenario. DG3 951212 Pandre River Trail Master Plan IVAAN/N6 5/Gt i AMP pAVEMONT MA/WA/65 SHAGS 8E PROVIDED /N ACEOP-001?WITH m.K.Tc.D. STANDARL6 .-\ TiA/L 5NRFAGE </a fo 5Lapg rieAA/SIr/eN MAX. fa 7, score to' Leve/_ RG9T/Nb A�Eq /\--ite577iVb AAge/4nrPRESs /c4/L.e0A0 77414e477414e4 Pfo Woe CO /Bice FLAA/601 /Ay Fluegs Ta EMHANCe Sicq, e 5fap 7, Railroad Crossings Crossings should be adequately designed for safety and ease of crossing. A minimum 20 foot level area should be provided on each side of the tracks so that trail users have an adequate place to stand while waiting for trains to pass. A gradual slope should be provided as an approach to the level resting area. Grades should be a maximum of 10 percent on the approaches. Track crossings should use a compressible flangeway filler to provide a safe and easy crossing. Filler material should be approved by the affected railroad. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado Crossings should be designed so that they approach all crossings at a 90 degree angle if possible. A minimum cross angle of 45 degrees is permitted. All crossings should be signed with appropriate Railroad crossing signs. Additional signs should be provided indicating bicyclists should dismount. All signing should meet the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) Standards. N 'Je*ANSLE 0,774140.1. 4r AN&LE M/N/MMoi, if LEST 4 STOP *SW 30004440 BE PL/LEO. RA/LROAz 7J[Ac.,s POOV/DE A44/.N/A& 5460/5 ANO PAveMAVr MAR.4N6S PER M.N.T 40. STANDARDS D/KE PATH DG4 951212 Paid re River Trail Master Plan 4/bAn EVCRy U 7YANOAL $e5/"J7ANT) neer ay "w/De sw77ee. Foe- PAM/1146e lorT/oNAL) fYRfP WALL /P 1454U /,f6P To Acer N/6N iimmer ring cep aF o/no 41.- APJALFit s° f SNRIAIE PATH hircA7 P a(TS/DE aLCt7D WALL_ Trail Underpasses Wherever possible, frail underpasses should be used to cross busy highways and roads. Underpasses can either be under an existing bridge or m a specially constructed box culvert. Sight lines Adequate sight lines to the entrance of an underpass are critical for user safety. Users approaching an underpass should have an unobstructed view of the center of the entrance from at least 140 away and preferably farther. From a point 60' away from the entrance to the underpass users should be able to see the center of the path at least 40' into the underpass. Underpass width and height The minimum width of the path in a box culvert should be 10'. Paths beneath bridges should be considered a hazard zone and widened by 2' to 4'. The minimum vertical clearance in the underpass is 8' with 10' being preferred. Lighting Underpasses in urban areas or where night use is likely should be lighted. Where lights are used lights at the ends of underpasses should be no more than 30' from entrances. Interior lights should be no more than 25' apart. Vandal resistant fixtures should be used. Electrical service can be either solar powered or conventional. Electrical supply wires should be underground or be placed in conduit painted to match the underside of the bridge. Bridge slope approaches and drainage Where separated crossing occur, access to cross -streets should be provides if possible. High headwalls should also be provided in these locations to minimize snow overshoot and debris from snow plows. Culvert drains may be required for sloped -approaches at drainages. Drain pans adjacent to trail surfaces may also be required. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DG5 951212 Poudre River Trail Master Plan TR-All UHCt ePA55 Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DG6 951212 1 Poudre River Trail Master Plan uc /NA, AReA AT TRAus.p_ /NfDRMAG pARA,A6 CAyON% 7RA[ti-lb4D REM PARK/A16. Trailheads Seiwt.B.v&7N Op rattE AMP T et5 C+egrE A 6A7i:-s&4 j 4CC855/545 ,274/%9p MA/O,e 7X4/Lf'E4P 9/bN PXTO'P/,l& PAk,/N6 -GOT SIGEwAL - v RCAO AGGDUIS u ec 7b gcFj 7xly /G oiReCn y 7eo� POND Trailheads are some of the most important facilities in the trail system. As the user's first impression of the trail system, the trailhead should be a highly visible point. It should provide necessary trail information and should function adequately for a variety of users. It should be physically inviting and attractive. Trailheads are each place where a user enters the trail system. There are three basic forms: Trailhead with parking This facility would include parking, handicap spaces, a trail map, a bulletin board, specific user information, call box, and possibly other amenities such as restrooms and picnic facilities. Trailhead without parking This could be a simple access to the trail from a spur or at a bridge crossing. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado Grade crossing This crossing type is a simple crossing such as at a street or trail intersection. -Each trailhead should be designed specifically for its own unique site. Consistency in the trail image will come from the trail sign system, the bulletin boards, landscaping and site furnishings such as benches and trash enclosures. Transfer points The term transfer point refers to the transition from road to trail in the travel process. The transfer point should be designed cohesively to tie the site together visually and functionally. The first step is to provide a gradual transition from the parking/transfer area to the trail. A concrete ramp meeting ADA guidelines should be -incorporated in at least one entry point per trailhead. DG7 S51.212 Poudre River Trail Master Plan /NCfASeD LAQOSCAPiu enVG5 Y/5NAL WAMN/,tG 4fl aACH To T,eA/LHA4P Mcrae /NPa ARCA w/ Sao! avo5rAP,N6 /war P,eoy/pt or-nOP Fvf7RA/N-1e4P wH/re Peiapex/ .5tau6r/ 7� / K" S/6MT6/A/ES TO XQAD ewp' eR t1 o sox/ Lac/ snieree5,,soa4oala AND PENCE ElfPNAS/Ze .54r$WA WA1uI 4p LUr gouT PAKkaN&• Landscaping A high level of landscaping should be provided at each transfer point. The landscaping will emphasize the area as a special place and tend to provide a visual reference for users. Some of the key aspects of the landscaping will be to provide indigenous trees, shrubs and grasses, and to incorporate special rail fencing, and stone walls. Use of indigenous plant materials is preferred to exotic plants. The character of the trail should enhance its natural features and reflect the river's natural heritage. Landscaping should be protected after installation from damage by beavers and other wildlife that can eat the bark or kill trees. A wire fabric such as chicken wire should be placed around the trunks of all newly planted trees. It should extend a minimum distance of 24" above the bases of trees and be securely tied to prevent unraveling. Wherever possible in the layout of trailheads mature plants and trees shall be preserved and protected. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado Plants should be irrigated temporarily where possible. Temporary irrigation should remain until plants are firmly established. It should then be withdrawn gradually. Where temporary irrigation is not available, plantings should start with smaller sizes and a water well should be created at the base of each tree. The tree well should then be backfilled with wood chip mulch and thoroughly watered in. All plants materials should be approved by the appropriate -government prior to installation. All area disturbed during construction should be reseeded with a native seed mixture of grasses. Grass should be seeded if possible in the early spring where it will have the greatest opportunity to receive natural rainfall. Parking Trailheads should provide a minimum of 14 spaces if possible. At least one space shall be provided per trailhead for handicap accessibility. Parking can DGB 951212 Panda' River Trail Master Plan fOw PLAA/Til16S P/5[APPAOe Sm,2.T ca7≥.-• •51AnPAP-0 7PA/L C,6N Pare ALTS AC Ad AACAP4 tbf rMe 7Ls/HIPAP APP Paov,ees atraa'a Ifrarr n+w/L Cmss/U6 51441 r5TPNPMCP caoll rILA o/ ,. ARsaws 5er At 'fret, s/AN Fn P. ream. AS Aram/COP GW LLCAT/PN Fri ,aat /NPaers. rrov AREA /r AT sccar/PN CA5/LAy ACLeff/Lgc ,57 Teue/STS AND OTNC,C. MSC= Mar,C PIAAr7/AAi4- eNNANCE GMrawA% PRC56NL6 ODE CPO Ner be either gravel or paved depending on the -intensity of use. Generally parking areas should not have curb and gutter since this takes away from the natural quality of the space and creates additional drainage detention requirements. Lighting Lighting should generally not be needed for trailheads since most use will occur during the daylight hours. In more urban areas lighting can be added if needed. Winter use If the trailhead is to be used in the winter a place should be provided where snow can be stored out of the -way of parking and the trailhead. The snow storage area should be located near a drainage outlet which releases the water into a grassed area. Trailheads without parking Trailheads without parking should follow a similar program as trailheads with parking. Generally the level of the trailhead should fit with the topography and appropriateness of the Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado site. At each of these locations, additional plantings, and fencing should be incorporated, and signage, bulletin boards and a special identification area should be included. In addition short sections of fence and/or low stone retaining walls can serve to further enhance the overall quality of the site. Grade Crossings Grade crossings should be adequately signed for automobiles and for trail users. Specifically a stop or yield sign should be located on both sides of a grade crossing for trail users, and warning signs should be placed well ahead of the grade crossing for vehicular users. These signs should be placed far enough in advance to provide adequate warning for oncoming motorists. Roadways at grade crossings should be striped with standard pedestrian crosswalk striping. Adequate sight distance triangles should be provided at all grade crossings. DG9 951212 Poudre River Trail Master Plan 0C -516K /NTE�25G.=140X5 50 7NAT MAiN PATH 60E5 57P4/COir 7NROa6H 7F{1= IN7a ec7raN. ANp 7NB stag PAIN GIf1ERS Al" A ANet 72, THE m. VN PA71 SIG+r PATH 5#, gw Neer 7715711A/N PATH AT Ve' 1 e wets Ar COCNt, WAIL INTF sec71aJ - Yt-s General Trail Layout Cultural and physical history The river has a rich cultural and natural history and retains much of its heritage today. Natural areas, wildlife, farming, and gravel mining are interwoven with a geologically old river that has formed oxbows and bluffs, wetlands, and prairie to create a visually interesting and vaned landscape. The trail layout and character should reflect these qualities and focus the user's attention on the rich experiences available by traveling along the river banks. Appearance The trail should be simple in execution, with natural appearing features. Trailheads, planting, fencing, site furnishings, bridges and other site features should be designed to create a sense of place that is in keeping with the qualities of the place. Landscaping should be natural and site furnishings should blend with their environment. Signs Signs represent an opportunity to provide a unique quality to the river. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado AV0/O annettx /K7 -R CTiCN5. Lb NoT CRFA7r '.N " /Ss W?k AN m5,..4NO WNF.C- N SiMP.-c. 'r' 4nrnzacec770N mu_ WORK As weer . Gb NOT cAe t 771 /5 Tyre .r ntrires T4Onl Wicit I TIOtV - NO Signs convey character, quality, and give a sense of continuity to the trail system. Alignment The frail should be aligned in a way that fits the site. Generally, the trail should follow the contour of the land. Steep vertical climbs and extensive cuts and fill should be minimized. Wherever possible loops in the trail system can create interest and provide users with a round trip opportunity over new ground. Stub trails should also be provided. Stubs can be off- shoots that extend to interesting physical site features, educational or historically significant areas. The trail should also pass near or through a variety of ecosystems. Wetlands, agriculture, prairie, bluffs, and lowlands represent the basic trail qualifies. A complete inventory of all site features should be completed prior to defining the final trail alignment. Extremely sensitive areas along the trail route should be preserved and protected. Human incursions into these areas should be minimized. DG10 951212 Pondre River Trail Master Plan Gbfli PATHS Afia WfGt5V .97 ,n7 CS H 51PS PA77 5sftRLf5_ f1 [ln(GL�F-PA55 U�f/!ED 5/6N7L/NE5 NregsecTION Gf/mrN tiuiTED S1GTNT PISTANCI=S Buffering & Corridor Width The trail should also be aligned to minimize intrusions into the privacy of landowners. Buffering, fences, and other mitigation measures should be included to preserve the privacy of nearby residents. An adequate trail corridor width is imperative. A minimum width of 30' will provide sufficient room to provide a frail, equestrian path and a small measure of landscaping. For steeper sites and areas with sharp turns, bridge crossings, rest areas, and site amenities, a larger easement should be acquired. One of the most important criteria to consider in obtaining adequate trail width is grading and drainage. The trail corridor width will likely vary along its course to respond to specific site conditions. A varied width will provide the opportunity for off trail equestrian paths, secluded seating areas, and dog runs. The wider areas also provide a broader visual perspective creating a greater sense of openness. Safety Trails should be safe for the user. The aty PevEA,7AG ,' Z/R-l4N /K,",., seT/oN5 INTO 72JO 5E?A,,vflb 7ea/sN /N7 ,TOn5 roe. `4 1, MA/NTA/N eap 5/ ✓.tfFS °AM 5'es T/On! 6en)E ' TO einme./A/6- RAMS /5 W/cJ✓a. 1-1-61 , 5 Kit y nfo,4E tv/TH N/6H AVO/D FOUR- WAY /NT SE-CTI0AS trail alignment should avoid dangerous sites. It should provide long sight lines and avoid blind curves. The width should be adequate for the intended use. The trail should be wider at tight turns where bridge crossings occur, and at trailheads. At intersections with roadways, the trail should ideally cross under the roadway. For grade crossings, adequate safety precautions should be provided. For example, crosswalk painting and warning signs for vehicles and trail users should be provided. Safety should also be provided by providing solar powered call boxes at trailheads and in remote trail sections. In areas with steep side slopes, railings should be provided. All areas should be signed with appropriate warning signs in conformance with MUTCD standards. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DG11 951212 Powlrr Riper Trail Al alter Plan PATH 4M.YAe ' /N nA- Sle/ALE NATMAAL PCNW4ae ORA/.V /N7aece/rpr- SM'A aS /AMP NA Titta L DA -444/46a INSTALL /t!" P14*. c44Lveer at LwAect(c reNp,Nb oN P4/J) fArMecarrski &a- CULr Ve AT NArvg,q G AS IN & - RhoRA /r NeeDSD /NrERMEP MITe ANx(EP Drainage Drainage should be carefully considered during the design process. Drainage patterns and flows vary greatly from location to location, so the design of drainage systems will be on a case -by -case basis. Surface pitch and superelevation For drainage, the surface of the path must always have a pitch to one side. The preferred pitch is 1/4" per foot (2%) for hard surfaces and 3% for gravel surfaces. If the superelevation is away from the natural fall of the slope it may be necessary to install a culvert pipe to redirect surface flows under the trail surface. Sheet Drainage If the pitch is toward the downhill side of the path it is best to provide a sheet flow off of the trail that retains original drainage patterns. If the pitch of the trail is uphill, a collection ditch with periodic culverts may be required. Handling Runoff Interceptor swales may be required on path sections with cross slopes greater than 10% and path sections where the Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado TR4/L SaAsce rs' cwcveeC 4e saaA (pePSWD, t ow now) - /P ,W 't'ATKA-44 Herr. Oes cram- W/TN/N 24e) g49/N Pie WITH AN 'p GXLYi ser /NTP,e rele. Swag CULVeer water will drain onto the path from uphill. The interceptor swale can be immediately adjacent to the hard surface or preferably outside a 24" shoulder on the uphill side of the trail. The swale should be drained at approximately 250' intervals by emptying into natural drainages crossing the path or through intermediate culverts under the path. Headwalls Headwalls should ideally be small stone or timber walls and be treated as natural features along the trail. Stone walls can be either dry laid or be " wet laid" with a mortared back. If walls are wet laid mortar joints should be raked so that no mortar is visible on the surface. Where trails cross natural drainages, culverts should be designed to carry the average 5 year storm under the surface of the path. Crossings should protect natural wetlands. DG12 951212 I'omiri' Riper Trail Ala:frr Plan • USE TO GR055 N47Z1L4L paA/NA605 ,w9/ '/fP/64NT R/PAR/AN 5M1 a' mtht E— //z 70 SGOPt, M/N• /N5TALL LARde aTONe Eeveerx O TLEr TO PReyavr scou,e/Nb FOR H/bNtf Flom) E*TP.VP NOW fgan OUTLer THREE rims m p/AM. OF GNLI/ERT DR9/N.4b& GLtL ei r- 95-677mV TRAIL 5r0NE 61 4pwALL R•a+ctc PIPE 8' neoM /A/ er/ a'7ier Q°ENiN6 p)A/NA6e cutbeRT Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DG13 951212 POrnfrr Ri,Pe'r 71'riil Ilia Sin. HIM Bike path drainage spec►flcadom by trail grade Use this tabie to determine the use of side swain and grade breaks based on trail grade. Grade Swale on uphill side Swale on both sides Minimum grade break spacing Comments 0-1% If concentrated water Mint site with No grade breaks required likely from above minimal goes slope 2% If concentrated water If sass slope 5 5% 1200' if aces possible from above slopes 5%, otherwise none required Washouts along trail length nary impassible More frequent grade breaks preferred 3% Ifconpossible from above aintrared water M aces slope s 7% 1200' (700' in wetter areas) More frequent grade breaks preferred 4% Requred ff aces Popes 8% 800' (500' in wetter areas) Maximum grade for fines' natural erosion resistance 5% Requred If aces slopes 8% 500' (300' in wetter areas) Maximum preferred grade 8% Requred If aces slopes 8% 300' (200' in wetter areas) passible erosion of swabs 7% Requred If cross dope 5 8% 150' (100' in wetter areas) Consider hard surface 8% Requred If aces dope s 8% 100' (60' r wetter areas) " _ Suggest hard surface a Drainage Features In order to safely accommodate bicycle traffic, the only permissible drainage features on bike paths are: Trail surface outslope/ superelevation Side swales and culverts Swale crossings Outslope and superelevation Every part of the trail surface should pitch water at a 2% slope. Typically, the surface is pitched toward the downhill side (outslope). Where superelevation (curve banking) is required, this takes precedence over outslope (see " Superelevation," following). Side swales and culverts Side swales and culverts prevent water from reaching the trail surface and give water on the trail surface a lower place to drain. Usage of these depends on the trail grade and width. See the Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado Hard surface required table above for swale usage. Swale crossings Swale crossings let surface water on the site flow across the trail surface. For minimal flows, the swale crossing can be made of crusher fines. For concentrated flows, concrete should be used in the crossing. Culverts or -other drainage crossing methods should be used to cross drainages which carry more than occasional storm runoff or which continue to flow after rainfall has ceased. DG14 951012 1'nutlrt' Riper -trail Allister Plan Superelevation Curve Radii High speed, uncongested mite Moderate speed, mainline peth Slow or congested zone > 300' none none none 200300' 5,16' per ft. 1/4" per tit none 120-200' T8' per ft. W16' per ft. none 60-120' 7/16' perk. 3/8' per ft. none <60' 1/2' per fl. 3/8' per ft. none t White Months same amount as normal surface pitot* apetefanaon grad a oincton to ere pitch. Superelevation Curves with a radius of 300' or less will be banked, or superelevated, in high to moderate speed travel zones. In the above table, "High speed, uncongested zone" refers to sections of path which are not commonly busy and where bicycle users are likely to be traveling fast. This zone does not include any intersections. "Moderate speed, mainline path" refers to path sections which are in somewhat busy areas. This zone also includes mainline path sections with a straightforward low -use spur path which connects to a nearby open space access point -the mainline path should be banked through the intersection. "Slow or congested zone' includes all busy path sections, marked by slow zones, busy intersections, and sections with heavy pedestrian traffic. The superelevations given in the table are to be the final pitch of the hard surface from side to side. The table entry 'none' means that only the minimum surface pitch for drainage is to be used and that the direction of pitch does not have to be related to the direction of the curve. Whenever practical, however, the surface should pitch toward the inside of the curve. S+l1NnLNes Arca ISCIPAINtA& OF Wanif coosc •e rave '7W Aleut The c a+z. ON19 mevx mart? Q a° INAS lave ,s r•-rrN� rr orN CASside Zest (eo'am') erre rtrranw 6 Wye AS aeywtaan arse oravnrlav CmAmosse sarYe,Tjr envn, CANNY rave (Mmev) Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DG15 951212 l'nullre Riper Trail Alasher Plan Grades Path length limits on grades Grades up to 5% can be used on standard trail sections (intersections should have grades below 3%). Grades above 5%, however, will not be considered accessible to wheelchair users. Grades above 5% can be used for limited lengths of path (see table). An 8% grade is a practical maximum, and every effort must be made to avoid grades above 8%. Grades must not exceed 10% at any point. Avoid steep grades on sharp curves Avoid grades exceeding 50/0 on curves with a radius less than or equal to 35'. A hill combined with a curve is fun to ride downhill, but the speed combined with the curve may lead to accidents between fast and slow users. Where a path must curve -on a grade, provide long sight lines and a transition zone at the top and bottom grade. Signs for steep grades At the tops of 7% or more where the length of the grade is 100' or more (or where the end of the grade is not visible), path signs must warn users of the steep downgrade ahead. Provide a transition zone at the top of the grade. Grade Limit on length at that grade c5% None 5+ to 8% 700' 6.10 7% 400' 7+ to 8% 200' 8+to9% 100' 9+ to 10% 50' 10+% 0' Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DG16 951212 Pouch' RiperTrailAlas!rr Plan HARD 5URFIt. 7RAf.. BGf//,T M05rLt7 ON car sated? b" 5llatacerc MAX. 2 1 P/u. XA°L Nor 73 A5 ',al ar/ vtI_ CON9TRUCTWN Cut/Fill Construction Cut and fill construction can be used on cross -slopes up to 30°%o in areas -where all three of the following conditions are met: • Soils are stable enough to use as fill. • The prospects of revegetation are good. Vegetation disturbed by the cut and fill is easily replaced. Cut and fill sections can be alternated with full bench sections where trailside vegetation needs to be preserved (see "Full Bench Construction" following). Cut and fill slopes should mimic natural landforms along the trail and should vary whenever it makes sense to vary. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado cut sZettcr Nor 73 exCeeD 2 : itcpo lima; veto y RorAti 1 2- MAX uPH/GL SA4Ga A5 ge4w D Where the soft surface trail is adjacent to the hard surface, provide an 6" shoulder at the outside edge of the soft surface. Where superelevation pitches the trail surface inward or moderate runoff is expected from above, provide a side swale on the inside edge. DG17 951212 Pamir(' River Trail i%la:Mr flan COk5TRUGr SIDNE &RAV/Ty wAGL foie Rarapinav Of PRDPIGa AN IS" MOM SHo1lLLe-R AT ours/Pe frasic /'1e mw piny gefew can5veucrioN Full Bench Construction Full bench construction is to be used on any cross slope with one or more of the following conditions: Cross slope exceeds 30%u. Soils are not stable enough to use as fill. The prospects of revegetation are poor. Vegetation which would be disturbed by cut and fill is difficult to replace (ie., mature trees, fragile and/or rare plant species). Remove and stockpile at least the top 6" of topsoil before excavating. Where soft surface trail -is adjacent to the hard surface trail provide a 6" shoulder at the outside edge of the soft surface. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado Tao OP wAw 5�vcr.ca mt5r THE qC/6/NAL Gt417t UPH/4L SWALE R5 R 'UAR,lD Where superelevation pitches the trail surface inward or moderate runoff is expected from above, provide a side swale on the inside edge. DG18 951212 Putnlre Riper Trail Ala,le'r Plan Minimum curve radii User type Traveling Switchback Tuning Brcyde 35' (6 15 mph)t 35' (co 15 mph) Equestrian 12' 10' B' t The s a swactwayr laths. Normal awn should haw a mew radius. Sigbtline distances In general, use the 20 mph figures. Sped Sight distance 20 mph 130-203' 15 mph BS130' 10 mph 35-60' Sight lines Bicyclists are likely to be the users traveling at the highest speeds on multiple use paths. To help prevent accidents with high speed users, design the longest possible sight lines into hard surface paths (see sight line distance table above). Signs for exceptions Where these sight line guidelines cannot be followed, path signs must warn users of the curve ahead. A "Slow" sign may also be needed for particularly blind curves. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado Curve Radii Sharp curves, especially sharp curves at the ends of long straight sections, should be avoided on high speed paths. The following gives minimum turning radii for various users. (See minimum curve radii table above) Vertical Clearance Hard surface paths require 10' vertical clearance, and more may be necessary or desirable to accommodate construction or maintenance vehicles. Paths used for Nordic skiing may require additional clearance (up to 16' depending on expected snow depth). DG19 951212 Poulin' Rhin-:'I'nrii Aluct 'r 1'lcut V O L CJ 20 15 IC 5 0 _ 0 50 100 ISO 200 250 300 350 400 minis -7.m Stooping Distance - Ft. y2 S a }0If.W `3.67 v whore: 5 = minimum Slgnt Dlsta,ce. Ft. v• = velocity, mpn f r Coefficient of Friction (use 015) C • Grace Ft -/F Wise/run) INetrlc Conversl one i Ft. • 0.3 M. I mon • I. km/h) Decend (-C) Ascent (+G) %1EI 7 iN1& JIKR I ✓srArt L7 Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DG20 951212 Pollan' Riper Trail Master Man L • zs- 200(/R . T)2 When S)L A 500 1L ▪ 400 k 300 15 L • 200 e E C 100 L = 152 l00 l . ffri2)2 Lri• • 2v when SCL t Distance (ft.) A • Algebraic a Difference In Grade tit: Eye Height of Bicyclist (4.5 Feet) h2• height of Object 10 Feet) L _ Uinimum Vertical Curve Length (ft.) a F. 0 :V Veto min. 5 10 iS 20 25 Algebraic Difference in Grade (A) H/A/IMUM LitheTiCRL GURVe Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DG21 951212 I'offrlre RiperTrailMasterPlen Standard privacy fence Solid dog-eared she fence, 6 high or more, C wide Jan High -tensile stock fence Smooth high -tensile was tightly lining create a mock -proof fence wttha,t hubs. The wire as strong and tight enwgh to be pushed by wale to stepped on by humans) without peldmg. Heavy wood posts placed am placed less often than standard fence pons and iueamadiate lightweight spacers mains proper distance between wuee. Became fewer holes and pow are needed, high -tensile fends is a lower -coat alternative to cwventwod tenant if the fence has long weight seasons. Fences Fence designs for open space boundaries should suit the neighborhood context, either by matching existing attractive fences or by enhancing the neighborhood through a complimentary design. Fences can also be used to control user circulation on trails and within open space properties. Privacy Fencing Where a trail introduces public traffic adjacent to the formerly -private area of a residence, the program should offer to construct and pay for a privacy fence. The landowner should be consulted for input of the fence design, but the program will only pay for the amount of the fence cost equivalent to the cost of the program's standard privacy fence. The formally finished face, if any, should face the private landowner's side. Stock end ®alkr animal fence Were mesh on wood puts. mesh can vary three wands of barbed wire on top necessary for cattle Spilt nil or tenoned poetend-rad fence A two- or three -rail split rag fence v a two- or thaw. tenoned post -and -rail fence makes a naghbtenod- friendly Open Space boundary fence which works to many MULL Fencing for livestock and animals Livestock fences must be designed primarily to retain livestock. Within the proven methods of livestock fencing, choose the most aesthetic design. Typically, this will use wooden posts with some combination of barbed wire and wire mesh, or a high - tensile smooth wire fence. If a trailsidelandowner has animals which could molest trail users, the open space boundary with that property should be fenced to keep those animals from reaching the trail. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DG22 951212 Pitman, Iapa'rTrail Amster I'Ltn 4' De7YC,n/e APPROPIZei97 .44164e ac PCAA/C AV A CAS -s -CAse a,s/S by P/F-r-0 e, Tr/CAL fLANGe W/LL HAW A mhaintaM 7700 fCSJ,. /CA/L6 at7 VP E' aseyavD Pns7t. Laatt 4 2' 64P eenGeau MA/N ,CA/L ANO f 4H,l5er tic) AND Car RA/L wits SertMice itcre a<Pecs/tar at /79124R0 fly PGANcE ' ENo SECT/ON FOR RA/uNbs Railings The mounting detail shown on the following page is to be used for railings which do not curve, or which have a curve so slight that shiplap joints can be used. For curved railing a metal plate assembly is used to bolt the rail sections to the post. The metal plate can then be bent as needed to create the curve in the rail. Butt joints are required at all posts for curved railings. In locations where the ground is to rocky or a post cannot be set in the ground conventionally, other methods can be used including: Bolting the post onto the face of a retaining wall, screwing the post onto a large threaded rod which is mortared or epoxied into a hole in solid rock, or bolting the post to a framing anchor -set in concrete (use a 'Ii' shaped anchor). Flanged End Sections for Railings A flanged section (as shown above) at the exposed end of a railing serves to help prevent users from going behind the railing and to visually tie the railing to the site. The flange section can be omitted where the end of a railing abuts another solid structure or object, such as a bridge, retaining wall, or a boulder. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DG23 951212 Pourlre Rip'''. Trail ,hosier Plow Fie 151Ceat RA/L.- (61,ta PATHS ONLY,) 42" rernnZAW RA/L- a '4 N N N Ater? M/h/N& Cif -seoTAWS Sr, ED GSxr f'77E,¢N zxe.OA ,c./L5• lee!/L, 7VP/CAL (sue 2,1344 BELOW Fore - 5/2/A45 RA/Ls) e' G46 A747S, 2 Perfz. ✓O/aT. soGT He.4a l41/T ' GuA5H6e5 5#44/./.. ee Counrie6UNC PLAini1 10/774 /CA/Ls bx6 ,t5% rROVice roNG. Pe0774& roc. 7 47th fv575 o/e WVL/CO.t. /►7/X7UllC rlrit av77zrav 89514 P657- /vl/L 5PAO/N& 5/ZB 2X13 8' 3XS /0' 'S x B see 7APJ.e 4/30Va I( II II I I I l 1l 5r1/P-4r JO/NT LeTA/L it/oo.D /eA/L/A/& ELEVATiot/ "5TA6(Fp 5H/f2AP daVN7S /N RAILS (see cer.vt) To M/N/M/Zi aomas LUML sHGL(L2 BC A5 LON6 AS f>Y-r-'Cit Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DG24 951212 Ptuiirr 1liner Trail Alai: l 'r Platt Bridges Culverts Where possible culverts should be used in place of bridges since they are normally less expensive to install. Culverts can be disguised to look like bridges through the careful placement and detailing of railings and headwalls. Lou' trestle bridges Low wooden trestle type bridges can be constructed and installed in place for short water crossings or over wetlands areas. Low trestle bridges can be designed to look like boardwalks but must be designed to withstand the weight of light service vehicles. Trestle bridges should be engineered by a Professional Engineer. Bridges Bridges provide an outstanding opportunity to create a unique river corridor. Bridges can be custom designed to reflect a memorable view or panorama. They can be constructed entirely of wood, steel ,concrete or a combination of materials. Many of the more photogenic rivers across the United States are remembered partially because of the attractiveness of their bridges. This opportunity should be considered where bridge crossings occur across the Poudre River. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado At a minimum, bridges should be designed to be safe and bear the load of a light service vehicle. Bridges should also be designed to swing or be tethered in case of a major flood. A bridge that can float off of its foundation or turn under large flood pressures will prevent debris from becoming trapped on the upstream side, thereby decreasing the potential for larger flood damage to the bridge structure or surrounding area. Bridge abutments should be professionally designed and be constructed to present a minimum visual profile. All wood used on bridges and other structures should be pressure treated with CCA-and be in conformance with EPA standards for treated lumber. DG25 951212 Puudrr Uiper Traii MO titer 1'Irm 5TANOMRO 57rEL 774055 OR/Pee Or,0NAL ACC, RHB RA/L5 seer! RF/LS P/c?lUPtP Ae-5,g4e.4 TRUSS MeeIn PePSf,e6N GV/ril ALL orr/aNfi- r2A/l./N/G PEA7LIREE. • 57Ee- Tfichts BgiOGe5 A/e m,vNancC7zteet 5 selegg4L con1PAN,E5 (TN/5 /5 ,V07 AN eNGas eme.Nr Fog. AN comPRN7> • etvo6 5 Ace cgI5/DeRED a/AZAR-D ZONES, m'ennpoAa 2'-3. s'rnaU 55 AOOec' w Win c►° e/e/OCEC , • ceca./N6 5{i0141.47 6E Pa270 14/14/0,9 /5 F71G7vf`5 TAP u//77i NA2'1'> PRESE,CVATD✓ES cfceti,eABU, cC4) • OFRetC. THE FeZWL /N6 cYT/ONAL RA/UA/6 Fr`A7L/,QES • ^a4rc ry fa/u5 oN Tie c2Clr/CO Cr 7P -445S • N,C00 , t4a5 frAit.5 - ?are • ex, NOT otcPS,e rizotgozV RA/UN6S. APPRpgc/ leA/L/A(6S Sltx(LO ovcrcN 5'TANO.4r20 ,cML/Nb GES/6•A/ Pole ferocinee ?RA/L Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DG26 951212 Pnuilre Kipper Trail Master Phut Boardwalks Visitor interest Boardwalks can represent a significant amenity. They enhance the visitor's experience visually , through the audible sound of deck boards and by focusing attention on a specific features along the trail. Boardwalks can provide an interesting break from the standard concrete trail section. Wetlands preservation Decks work well for crossing wetlands since they can be raised above the wetland areas and they can allow natural water movement to continue unimpeded. Decks can generally be approved by the Corps of Engineers through a nationwide General permit which takes little time and can be used to avoid delays. Decks can be divided into two basic categories. Pier Supported Decking The deck structure is supported on piers which are driven into the supporting sub base material such as bedrock. They can be installed through standing water and /or damp areas and can be supported above the water or ground surface. This type of decking is common in educational centers where access to wetlands areas is desired. This type of decking can be used as part of the main trail if deck boards are screwed in place and planking has a minimum cross section Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado of 2 nominal inches. Decking on sleepers This type of decking consists of decking constructed on dry or damp surfaces. For these types of decks the soil load bearing capacity should be adequate for the desired load to be carried on the deck surface. For these types of decks a wheel guard bar should be installed to prevent the wheels of wheelchairs slipping off of the deck edge. Typically Sleeper Decks should be used for side trips off of the main trail surface and not as a surfacing for the main trail. Typically boardwalks should be for pedestrians and wheelchairs only. Bicyclists should dismount. Bypass routes can be provided for horse and bicycle traffic. DG27 951212 Pawky River Trail Master Plan So4R-D!✓.%Grl 5HOKC0 5t DCS/6A/tD To EJHANCt Wit V/s/fieS EXFee1eYc5 as we.Y t,cow 9eor 7WPS(oK 4G/6NnftNrcF GirT/oNAL oecarsvATioA/ ptcg, m go,9AcwgL,r 5,4iolato AGT To ntg5 7WF l/(5/7bt5 Afi Wr?oA/ ON S4 ', tr 5/Tr' FEA7lkPe5. ScAROWAL.X5 CAN 55 W5ep A5 A mb.9NS ofr ACCL55 TO 5hoReale.5 AND u/erzAio F49TGfn..e5 AND To 02056 occRs/oRALLy rtwcc ACAS W/T!! M/NrnIAL DL57Ll,CLS4NGE Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 130,4A&( 4 DG28 951212 Paudrt' Rifler Trail il1aslrr Plan Retaining Walls Stone Retaining walls serve the dual purpose of providing functional benefit and visual character. Retaining walls should be constructed to complement the natural environment. Stone walls appear more like an indigenous material and impart a natural quality in keeping with the overall character of the site. They can be constructed without elaborate and expensive foundation walls and they provide the flexibility necessary to allow for natural earth movement. In certain cases where there is a large surcharge on walls or if they are to be over 4 feet in height, they should have a foundation with a structural design from a Professional Engineer. Typically stones for walls should be small enough that they can be hand placed with one or two stone masons. Larger stones become expensive and cost prohibitive. Stone should be either Loveland Buff or Lyons Pink. Both stone types are native to the foothills of northern Colorado and visually would blend well with the landscape. Where possible stone walls should be laid -in courses. Both Lyons pink and Loveland Buff sandstone are ledgstones and visually are best if laid in courses. Larger courses should be at the bottom of the wall with smaller stones at the top. Timber Timber walls can be used as an alternative to stone if the site context or site conditions are inappropriate for stone. Timber walls should be CCA treated, brown in color. Timber walls should be tied back into the slope using deadmen at a minimum of 8' intervals, placed every other course starting with the second course below the top. Tie walls should be used only after it has been demonstrated that a stone wall will not work for the proposed design. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DC29 951212 Pnudrr River Trail Alu.ter Man HAND- 4,49 %VALES teSec, PO,e tALLE,2 ca. Silaar ,e_ PALLS /,V H/GNL1 ✓/SUAL LOCRT/ONS, EAKT/a C 4CZt L *.ciao covEa we ISAce. PO,eTtak G� THE 04? 5WNe5 54T7Pe APPROX. /'/2 Ot 2./2 — Tie STONES Gar6Esr stivES show -a ere Apnea. 3'Acease. oRAve4 eirmay . /eecoMnGA4teO 722 /MPROVe DRA/NAEE Foe IA/ALLs ovate 3' H/6N, mae,Qse2 wALLs /fk57 HAVE east adbcF/u- AND /NCLLeoe wear as". POUNPATI94 CAN ea SHAL1oNl /F puAGL ft pay-LA/D, OTNbenl/ce A reo9T-PRLcr FC77T/N6 /'S feeeitateD BouWeR VENa WAt,L USES, FOR- LoMe ANO/O,r. H/&N WALLS Ll/H/CH acTA//l/ tdisio"s7WASe.0 eo/L.. /Nash, To Pte ,em 'a',e4tC7b/R,444q 57bNE5 ~Sr -- ,eaAf7YeLN LAR6C (Z r AC.,to5S). TyP/GALLry Lase exn.vs/Ve AND Lb -f Rrnenc, /ve 771RA/ (4070 1-40 WAU v1=T/ffR LE aNS A69/Ncr 5iLOPG. /N!AP-45D &4771-2 Eesciw,eto r S7A6/L/Ty. so,L avieureo 594r-do/Lt (vo ✓oics) w AP:SEANCE . goflt ractee. WALL cAN fte /*P oVe.2 /f SONGS of W/OELe, V4C /Ner, Sires A� cesea. STONE JeaTA/N>NG IU 9LLS Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DG30 951212 PoutIrte Riper Trail Master Plan Site Furnishings Site furnishings are an important element of the trail design which can provide visual continuity along the trail system. They include items such as benches, trash receptacles, picnic tables, and bicycle racks. Furnishings can be used to direct vistors to scenic areas and to provide stopping points along the trail for picnicing, resting, fishing or to support adjacent facilities and activities. Design The furnishings should reflect the overall character of the Poudre River Corridor. Accordingly, the specified furnishings are informal in character and constructed out of a combination of wood and metal. The furnishings could also be customized to include the poudre trail logo. All exposed metal and related hardware should be painted flat black. Wood members should be treated with CCA to increase their resistance to weathering. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado Model No.'s / Manufacturer 6' Bench Manf: TimberForm Model No: 2016-6 Color: Black (metal only) Mounting: Embedment Trash Receptacle Manf: TimberForm Model No: 2086 -HT Color: Black (metal only, including hamper top) Mounting: Permanent surface mount Picnic Table Manf: TimberForm Model No: 2164-6 Color: Black (metal only) Mounting: Permanent surface mount Bicycle Rack Manf: TimberForm Model No: 2170 -3 -C -M -E Color: Black Mounting: Embedment 13G31 951212 Poii lre Riper Trail Allister flan 7511 ReCeenThaa ale Vat PACM. PGN!G m 2 - Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DG32 951�a Pall !Ire River Trail Master Plan Features for the Physically Challenged Trails should be accessible to the physically challenged wherever possible. Due to steep grades not all sites may be accessible at all points, but strong consideration should be given to providing accessible trails except in the most challenging conditions. Considerations Some of the considerations that should be given include: Adequate consideration to those with mobility impairments should be given from the start of the design process. A design that provides for the needs of the user without drawing attention to the user is preferred. Accessible features should be subtle and understated. Physically challenged trail users want to be able to take some of the risks that other users take. Therefore a measure of adventure should be provided challenged users as well. For example railings may be judiciously not provided in certain locations and wheelguards may not be required at all sites. Consideration should be given during the site specific design of trail segments to including physically challenged users to review and provide comments during the design process. Design features Features that will make the trail more usable and enjoyable for users include: Trails with gradients under 4% for extended distances. Break up long up and downhill runs with flat rest areas. • Design railings so that the average wheelchair user has adequate visibility through the rails. • Minimize sharp dips at drainages • Provide areas to get off the trail for rest stops. Provide bench areas with wheelchair sitting spaces at the ends of the benches Provide picnic tables, benches and restrooms that are accessible for wheelchairs. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DG33 rj5 2 c�..'l.h'i'FGi Pntul re River Trail Master Plan Landscaping Landscaping should consist of indigenous materials. The landscape of the river is highly attractive in its native state and new landscaping should be designed to reflect the already existing character. Most landscaping will likely be non irrigated and should be able to withstand the normal growing conditions associated with life on the plains. The landscape of the trail area can be divided into two basic character types: Riparian, and Upland. The riparian can be characterized as more lush and with more vigorous growth. It occurs in wetter areas such as the river edge and in slough areas. Drier landscape occurs as you move farther away from the river. It consists of Buffalo and Blue Grarna grasses mixed with other grass types and forbes. Landscape design for specific areas should be appropriate for the landscape character type. Trees and shrubs Planting of trees and shrubs should be accomplished whenever possible in the spring in the months of March, April , and May. Shrubs that have been grown in an indoor environment should be gradually acclimated to the outdoor sunlight and should not be planted until after May 15. Planting standards for all plants should follow the accepted practices established by the Colorado Chapter of the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC). Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado For trees and shrubs planted in non irrigated areas, a water ring should be provided around the base of the plant to trap natural precipitation and keep it at the root base. Additionally, plants should be mulched within the ring with wood chip mulch placed on top of a non woven polypropylene weed barrier such as Mirafi or Typar. During the initial establishment years, landscaping should receive supplemental watering from a watering truck or a temporary irrigation system. All landscaped areas should have the soil amended where possible with organic amendment. Organic amendment can consist of well rotted manure or any other total organic source that has been thoroughly composted. Turf areas should be amended at the rate of 3 CY/ 1,000 SF of compost. The compost should be thoroughly roto-tilled into the soil surface to a depth of 4"-6 " depth. Landscaping should be protected after installation from damage by beavers and other wildlife that can eat the bark or kill trees. A wire fabric such as chicken wire should be placed around the trunks of all newly planted trees and around all shrub beds. It should extend a minimum distance of 24" above finished grade and be securely tied to prevent unraveling. Protective fencing around shrub beds should remain in place for two to three years. Seeding Seeding should be accomplished -in the OG34 951212 Panilw River Trail Master flan spring whenever possible. Natural rainfall is at its greatest in the spring and gives tender new shoots the greatest chance for success. If possible a temporary sprinkler system is advisable for the quickest germination with the least weed competition. The temporary system may consist of simply putting temporary sprinkler lines above grade and positioning a long throw sprinkler such that they can efficiently -cover a broad area. Areas that are to receive seeding should be treated with Roundup prior to seeding if there is a local weed infestation. Apply according to manufacturer's instructions. Avoid overspray onto desirable plant material. Landscape slopes should be at a maximum slope of 4 horizontal feet to 1 vertical foot. Slopes s steeper than 4:1 are difficult to mow and can be hazardous. Slopes steeper than 6:1 should be hydroseeded with a slurry mulch. An erosion control material should also be applied to each of these surfaces. The erosion material can be an erosion control blanket or a hvdromulch applied along with the seed. Slopes that are 4:1 should have an erosion control blanket pinned in place at 4 foot centers. Seeding on slopes less steep than 6:1 should be accomplished with a drill seed with a chain drag. Seeding should be in two passes at right angles to each other where space permits. Seeded areas may be lightly rolled after Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado installation to promote firm seed/soil surface contact. Seeding in areas flatter than 6: 1 should have either a hyrdromulch applied or straw crimped into the soil surface to minimize soil erosion from blowing winds. Prior to formulating a specific seed mix a botanist or grass specialist should inventory existing plant material types and formulate a specific mix for any given area. Plant materials Plants can be attained either through the Colorado State University Tree Farm or from a commercial nursery. Plants acquired from the CSU nursery must be used as revegetation or wind break plants and may not be used for ornamental landscaping. The following plant list represent typical trees shrubs and groundcovers found in the area. This list is not exhaustive but suggests some of the more commonly found plant material. DG35 951212 Paittlrr PiperTrailAlas ter Plan Typical Plant List Grasses for Upland Areas Buffalo Grass Buchloe dactyloides Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis Western Wheatgrass Agropyron smithii Slender Wheatgrass Agropyron trachyaulum Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardu Sideoats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula Prairie Sandreed Calamovilfa longifolia Indian Ricegrass Oryzopsis hymenoides Bottlebrush /Squirreltail Sitanion hystrix Grasses for wetland and riparian areas Inland Saltgrass Distichlis spicata sticta Common Spikerush Eleocharis palustris Great Basin Wild Rve Elymus canadensis Hardstem Bulrush Scirpus acutus Switchgrass Panicum virgatum Big Bluegrass Poa ampia Canby Bluegrass Poa canbyi Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium American Bulrush Scirpus americanus Common Cattail Typha latifolia Trees for Wetland and Riparian areas Narrowleaf Cottonwood Populus angustifolia Plains Cottonwood Populus deltoides Lanceleaf Cottonwood Populus acuminata Common Chokecherry Prunus virgiana melanocarpa Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DG36 951212 Paudre River Trail Master flan Peachleaf Willow Salix amygdaloides Thinleaf Alder Alnus tenufolia Water Birch Betula occidentalis Shrubs for Riparian Areas Indigo Bush amorpha Amporpha fruticosa Red Twig Dogwood Comus sericea (stolonifera) American Plum Prunus americana Common Chokecherry Prunus virginiana melanocarpa Three Leaf Sumac (Skunkbush) Rhus trilobata Golden Currant Ribies aureum Woods Rose Rosa woodsi Coyote Willow Salix exigua Western Snowbeny Svmphoricarpos occidentalis Shrubs for Upland Areas Silver Sagebrush Artemisia cana Sand Sagebrush Artemisia fflifolia Rubber Rabbit Brush Chrvsothamnus nauseosus Broom Snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrea Western Sandcherry Prunus besseyi Great Plains Yucca Yucca glauca Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DG37 951212 Pouglrr Ri 'L'r Trail A1a.trr I'!a❑ GENERAL NOTES GUAR, W4MW S wrrKY TREE STAKING 7ETAI. g4.4R.A !".AWING DETAIL • ST.MT. Ali CROOLI n6W lr TO MO C ORO 2 I/2' CAL. CO NOT STAKE cam. . In WOOED AIEAW Or *co N Mr p<CD4E. r,O • N nos-IRIESATED WED AREAS. NOLO WEED SACK 1RT TREE Rua W'. Lae TMIN PICOTEALL, Poll A a ww warm MNa AND M+ -O 3 TREE WTRO M IS! TREE CAST Rae SO THAT TOP N LEO& IYTN. OR AIWr EEou MMr ERA•O436. lEDMGE Oat a MIRK TO PRIME? SEAM!: DAMAa! TTY OW` nAO LL MATERIAL coacr 'wren* RING MONO YOKO AT EDa! O• RANTNY PIT TO COCAIN RATER TO A OEPTN O. 2'. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado DG38 951212 rattan' River Trait Master Phut General Regulatory Sign Standards All informational and directional signs shall conform with the sign codes of the appropriate district. Regulatory signs shall be as follows: 1. Signposts shall be 6" X 6" cedar or CCA pressure treated wood. 2. The top of the signpost -is to be cut square. The top edge of the sign should be 1" below the top of the post. 3. Stain all signposts with Olympic Semi transparent stain, color: sandstone. Trailside Placement Standards Unless otherwise specified signs shall be setback from the trail edge a minimum of three horizontal feet, and a maximum of six honzontal feet. Unless otherwise specified trail signs should be a minimum of 4 vertical feet and a maximum of 5 vertical feet above the trail surface. Regulatory Signs on Trails All regulatory signs shall conform with the proposed standards for bicycle signs in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) standards. MUTCD recommends highway style signs that are smaller in scale. For example STOP signs measure 18" X 18", triangular YIELD signs have 24" sides. Diamond shaped warning signs shall be 18" X 18". Sign colors should conform with standard colors and shapes established by MUTCD. Warning signs should be placed a minimum of 50' from any hazard or sharp turn. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado Consult MUTCD Part IX, Traffic Controls for Bicycle facilities, for bike lanes and pavement markings as well as for full details on all aspects of regulatory signs for bicycle facilities. The signs depicted on the following pages are some of the sign types that will be required as part of the trail development. They are not intended to be exhaustive but do represent the general character, style, and format. Signs should be used based on the following general characteristics, and be in compliance with specific standards established in MUTCD standards: 1. STOP: Place at locations where users are required to stop. These must be placed at all intersections with vehicular traffic. Locate appropriately so signs are not visible to motorists but are clearly visible to traffic. 2. YIELD: Use this sign type where users can see approaching traffic and users must yield to avoid traffic. Yield signs should be used only where visibility of approaching traffic is adequate for users to take other measures to avoid that traffic. STOP AHEAD, and YIELD AHEAD signs shall be used where an intersection cannot be seen on approach. They may also be used to emphasize the right of way at busy or dangerous intersections. WARNING SIGNS: Use only when necessary to warn of unexpected or potential hazardous conditions. The signs should be placed at least 50' before the hazard. TURN AND CURVE WARNINGS: If the trail changes direction unexpectedly signs should be placed at least 50' in advance of the turn. DG39 951212 l'undrr River "/rail Blaster I'lnn RI -I 18.518" R1.2 W3.1 Cunom W12 - Custom 18x18" WSJ WIIA-2 lA-2 WI -I WI -2 18118" W2.2 W2J W2-3 9a5 18118" WILT WAI I-2 3030 3030" 2/525x24" I41t" 18518" Carom 3 3o - 18x18" 18x18" BIKE ROUTE DI I-1 INTERSECTION SIGNS: Use these signs as warning signs for intersections with other trails or routes. CAUTION AND SLOW: Caution and Slow signs should be used where situations require extra attention. If overused these signs may lose their effectiveness. INTERPRETIVE, INFORMATIONAL AND DIRECTIONAL SIGNS These sign types provide much of the character of the Poudre Trail. Through a carefully conceived sign system that is graphically unique and attractive a sign system can create a sense of perceptual unity to the trail system. Identification and directional signs Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 18x18" 18x18" WI -4 I8x18" 1851!' I8s18" WI -3 1Bs18" SLIPPERY aMIN Sr W8 -lo I8xI8" 12x9" should be designed for graphic clarity and should be legible from a distance for information requiring legibility while in motion. As a general rule of the thumb, sign letters that require reading while moving should be 1" in height for every fifty horizontal foot from the sign face. The sketches on the following page illustrate a conceptual sign system that would be unique to the Poudre. The specific sign details should be developed in greater detail prior to installation of a specific trail sign program. DG40 )51.212 Poudrr River Trail A1asMr Plau flo * uMcdtisfree C3 'Wei` Pa a itiefrt f207 Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado moo. 51frtinM itcypeaffrave DG41 951.212 Poadre River Trail Master Plan IX. Maintenance Guidelines Maintenance of the trail system will include: 1. Repairing trail surfaces 2. Repairing Site facilities such as benches, trash receptacles, picnic tables, restrooms, telephones, parking areas, signage, railings, fences etc. 3. Replacement of vegetation 4. Pruning of vegetation for plant health and safety 5. Maintenance of protection devices and tree staking 6. Snow clearing 7. Trash pick up 8. Weed Control 9. Mowing of high use areas 10. Culvert and Bridge maintenance 11. Disease and Insect control 12. Animal control 13. Temporary irrigation system maintenance and operation. Maintenance can be accomplished either by the individual government agencies or through a Special Maintenance District. Both methods are common forms for maintaining trail systems and models can be found elsewhere along the Front Range. For example, in the Denver area there are a number of maintenance districts that span several jurisdictions including: South Suburban Parks and Recreation District, Foothills Recreation District, and Arapaho Parks and Recreation District. Elsewhere there are various municipalities and Counties that maintain their parks individually including Jefferson County and Douglas County. Representative costs in 1993-1994 dollars are: Douglas County: 52,300/Mile Includes: Snow clearing, trash removal, sweeping, fence repair, clean up. City of Fort Collins: $12,920/ Mile Includes: Snow clearing, walk repair/replacement, trash removal, drinking fountain maintenance, sweeping, fence repair. Greeley, Windsor, and Weld County, Colorado 28 1.1212 Poudre River Trail Master Plan X. References The following individuals, organizations, and publications were consulted in the preparation of the Cache la Poudre River Trail Master Plan Guidelines. The authors are grateful for their contributions. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), 1991. Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities. 444 North Capitol Street, NW , Suite 225, Washington, DC 20001. Cech, Thomas V., "Rivers of Gold - Irrigation in Northeast Colorado." Unpublished manuscript. City of Fort Collins, Cultural Library and Recreational Services 1993. Fossil Creek Trail Concept Booklet. City of Fort Collins, 281 N. College Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521. Dugan, John, 1986. Cre ley and Weld County - a pictonal history. Donning Publishers, Norfolk, Virginia. Easely, Jill. Colorado Department of Transporation. District VI - Environmental Unit, 2000 South Holly Street, Denver, Co. 80222. Evans, Howard, and Mary Alice Evans, 1991. Cache la Poudre River: the natural history of a Roc y Mountain River. University Press of Colorado, Niwot, CO. Foreman, Craig. Parks Planner, City of Fort Collins, Colorado. 281 N. College Avenue, Fort Collins, Co. 80521. Greeley, Windsor,.and Weld County, Colorado Gray, John, S., Editor, 1976. The Poudre River. Gro-Pub Group, Denver, Colorado Golden, Peggy. South Suburban Parks and Recreation District, Littleton, Colorado. Kruse, Gordon E., and Willis, Wayne 0., 1985. "The Role of the Parshall Measuring Flume." Colorado Fngineerinv. August,1985. MacDonald, Stuart H., State Trails Coordinator, Colorado State Parks. 1313 Sherman Street, Room 618, Denver, Co. 80203. Parker, Troy Scott, Cimarron Design, 1994. Trails Design and jvirtazenent Handbook: Open Spare and Trails Program Pitkin County. Colorado. Pitkin County, 1102 Pitkin Avenue #1, Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81601. Rockne, Douglas G. Douglas G. Roclme and Associates, Littleton, Colorado. Schwarz, Loring LaB., Editor, Charles A. Plink, and Robert M. Seams, authors, 1993. Greenways: A Guide to Planning Design and Development. Island Press, Washington D.C. 20009. Sundberg, Wayne. SunDay Associates, Ft. Collins, CO. Tschillard, Ray, University of Northern Colorado Lab School and Central Colorado Water Conservancy District, 3209 West 28th Street, Greeley, Colorado 80631. 29 ti "ly Hello