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Home My WebLink About20162914.tiffRESOLUTION RE: APPROVE GREAT OUTDOORS COLORADO GRANT APPLICATION FOR ERADICATION OF RUSSIAN OLIVE AND TAMARISK ALONG BIG THOMPSON RIVER AND AUTHORIZE CHAIR TO SIGN 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 a Great Outdoors Colorado Grant Application for Eradication of Russian Olive and Tamarisk along the Big Thompson River, from the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and through the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the Department of Public Works, to Great Outdoors Colorado, commencing upon full execution of signatures and ending with further terms and conditions being as stated in said application, and WHEREAS, after review, the Board deems it advisable to approve said application, 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 Great Outdoors Colorado Grant Application for Eradication of Russian Olive and Tamarisk along the Big Thompson River from the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and through the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the Department of Public Works, to Great Outdoors Colorado be, and hereby is, approved. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Board that the Chair be, and hereby is, authorized to sign said application. The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by the following vote on the 19th day of September, A.D., 2016. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WELD COUNTY, COLORADO ATTEST:dQt• Weld County Clerk to the Board BY: a, eeputy Clerk to the Board APPROD AS TO Mike Freeman, Chair Sean P. Conway, Pro -Teem` ,--„,71 Julie A. Cozad 1161 Kirkmeyer ouhty Attorney Date of signature: to/l3/I .,.} Steve Moreno CC: Put) L Y( Td) to (a©/ICo 2016-2914 EG0073 1 MEMORANDUM TO: Clerk to the Board DA. t E: September 13, 2016 FROM: Tina Booton, Public Work t..ti Jay McDonald, Director of Public Works SUBJECT: Agenda Item This request is for applying for a Great Outdoors Colorado grant to hire the Weld County Youth Conservation Corps to treat Russian Olive and Tamarisk along the Big Thompson River. We are asking for $35,850.00 to cover 5 weeks of work. Weld County's in -kind match is $19,450.00 which is mostly equipment and the WCYCC donating 2 weeks of additional work, partners match is $500. The total in -kind match is $19,950.00. Please add this item to the agenda for Monday, September 19, 2016. 2016-2914 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PASS -AROUND REVIEW/ WORK SESSION REQUEST RE: 2017 GOCO Grant a uest for the Weld Co y _Youth Cons. Corp along the Big Thompson River DEPARTMENT: Public Works DATE: September 6, 2016 PERSON REQUESTING: Tina Booton Brief description of the problem/issue: GOCO recently received $250,000 for grant applications for local governments to hire local Youth Conservation Corps to perform environmental work. Weld County Weed Division is proposing to partner with the Weld County Youth Conservation Corp on a grant proposal. The work would be conducted along the Big Thompson River. The grant application is for six weeks of Russian Olive and Tamarisk removal and one week of restoration activities (planting grasses, flowers and trees). The grant request is for $35,580. This would be in addition to the work that is already being carried out under the CWCB grant that Weld County received for 2016 and 2017. The in -kind match has already been secured and follows: Chipper Weld County Gov 6 weeks of chipper @ $500/week f $3000 Grass seed Weld County Gov 50 pounds @ $9/pound $450 Wildflowers CWMA 2 acres ® $ 200/acre $400 Trees and shrubs WGCD , a 4 bundles @ $25/bundle $100 Chemical ,',Weld County ,Weed 8 gallons Rodeo @ $25/gallon $200 Labor WCYCC 2 weeks r x $7500/week $15,000 coordination and Training Weld County Weed 16 hours , $50/hour $800 TOTAL $19,950 What options exist for the Board? (Include consequences, impacts, costs, etc. of options) 1. Allow the grant proposal to be submitted. 2. Deny the grant proposal from being submitted. Recommendation: I. Allow the grant proposal to be submitted. Approve Recommeada Lon Mike Freeman, Chair Sean P. Conway, Pro -Tern Julie Cozad Barbara Kirkmeyer Steve Moreno W \1•ORMW%VI rkScssos.pcssnsr and?9 tie $uv Schedule Work Session Qter/comments 2017 Request for Proposals (RFP) Great Outdoors Colorado -Funded Youth Corps Crews for Local Government & Open Space Projects COVER SHEET 1. Name of organization applying: Weld County Weed Division 2. Name of Project: Big Thompson River Enhancement 3. Provide a 75 -word summary of the project: The Weld County Weed Division in partnership with the Weld County Youth Conservation Corps will work along the Big Thompson River banks and flood plain to eradicate Tamarisk and Russian Olive trees while re-establishing wildlife habitat in Weld County. The WCYCC chainsaw crew will perform cut -stump treatments on the Tamarisk and Russian Olive trees while identifying up to four acres for wildlife enhancement practices including seeding grasses, native trees and wildflowers. 4. Name of partnering youth corps (go to www.CYCA.or/join for map and list of accredited corps): Weld County Youth Conservation Corps 5. Proposal contact info (name, title, organization, address, phone, email): Tina Booton, Weed Division Supervisor, Weld County Public Works, PO Box 758 Greeley, CO 80632; 970-400-3770, tbooton@weldgov.com 6. Contact person for coordination of technical aspects of project (name, title, organization, address, phone, email): Tina Booton, Weed Division Supervisor, Weld County Public Works, PO Box 758 Greeley, CO 80632; 970-400-3770, tbooton@weldgov.com 7. Budget: Type of youth corps crew requested and number of weeks per crew type: Crew Type Weeks Requested by Crew Type Crew Week Rate Total Cost Day Crew 1 week $5,850 $5,850 Canwinj Crew $6,300 Chainsaw Crew $7,500 Pesticide Application Crew $7,500 Chainsaw Application and Pesticide 4 weeks $7,500 $30,000 Crew TOTAL 5 weeks $35,850 Note: Funds from this grant can only be used for youth corps labor. Do not include a request for materials, equipment, staff time, or any other costs in the budget. 8. Matching finds (cash or in -kind): Item Source Calculation Cost Chipper Weld County Gov 6 weeks of chipper @ $500/week $3000 Grass seed Weld County Gov 50 pounds @ $9/pound $450 7 Wildflowers CWMA 2 acres ® $ 200/acre $400 Trees and shrubs WGCD 4 bundles @ $25/bundle $100 Chemical Weld County Weed 8 gallons Rodeo @ $25/jallon $200 Labor WCYCC 2 weeks @$7500/week $15.000 Coordination & Training Weld County Weed 16 hours @ $50/hour $800 TOTAL $19,950 8 9. Applicant organization is a: Municipality XX County Parks/Recreation Special District Land Trust (Open Space funds only) Other Political Subdivision of the State (Open Space funds only) (The applying organization must be one of these.) 10. Name of landowner: Multiple Landowners 11. Name of property: Property along and in the Big Thompson River and floodplain 12. Property is: Private, protected by a conservation easement Publicly owned park Publicly owned open space NX Other Private Lands Is the property protected by a conservation easement or other use restriction? No Maybe Yes. If yes, the holder of the conservation easement or enforcer of the use restriction must submit a letter that the work contemplated does not violate the easement/use restriction. 13. This is an application for: XX Local Government Purpose Funds Open Space Purpose Funds Consider in either category (Note that the final purpose allocation is at GOCO's discretion.) 14. County/counties the project is in: Weld County 15. Name of nearest town or landmark: Milliken 9 2017 Request for Proposals (R.FP) Great Outdoors Colorado -Funded Youth Corps Crews for Local Government & Open Space Projects PROPOSAL NARRATIVE Three (3) pages maximum, 12 -point type, Times New Roman, 1 -inch margins. Please re -state the original question title (not the entire question) and answer each question. Answer each of the following Selection Criteria questions: 1. Project Description - This project will directly affect the river corridor for the Big Thompson River as well as the draws leading down to the river. Areas along the Little Thompson River have dense populations of Russian Olive and Tamarisk trees. The September 2013 flood caused a considerable amount of erosion along the banks of the river that have allowed other noxious weeds to fill in. These species include Teasel, a variety of non-native thistles as well as hoary cress and perennial pepperweed. The Weld County Weed Division will work with the landowners to have these species treated in a timely and effective manner. The Weld County Youth Conservation Corps (WCYCC) will be utilized to cut, treat and chip the trees on 120 acres. Given the current density of the infestation this accounts for approximately 2500 trees controlled in the six week project. Glyphosate at 50% concentrate will be used on the cut surface. The trees will be chipped with the chips spread on the ground in a thin layer for decomposition. Some branches maybe piled up to create small wildlife habitat. While the WCYCC is working on the trees they will be evaluating the project site that is in need of restoration. Working with the Weed Division Supervisor and the landowners one to two sites will be identified that need native grass restoration, up to a total of five acres. These sites will have the invasive species treated with a glyphosate mix at 2% solution. Then the area will be seeded with native grasses at ten pounds/acre. Another two acres will be identified for wildflower restoration for native pollinators. These sites will be seeded at two pounds/acre of a native wildflower mix. While other sites closer to the bank edge will be targeted for shrub and tree plantings to help stabilize the river bank. The four bundles of trees and shrubs will cover approximately two acres. The WCYCC will do the work to broadcast and rake in the plant seeds while planting the trees and shrubs. After this project there will be less Russian Olive and tamarisk trees. There will be a reduction in other noxious weeds. There will also be increased wildlife and pollinator habitat with decreased erosion. This will improve water quality as well as aid in the travel corridor for wildlife. 2. Educations In addition to the normal training provided by the Weld County Weed Division and the WCYCC at the beginning of the project on chemical safety, reading a chemical label, MSDS review, storage, disposal and handling there will be additional training on noxious weeds. The WCYCC members will be exposed to a half day training and field ID about noxious weeds. The Weld County Weed Division will share with the corps members future job opportunities in the industry, as well as provide thorough training in proper plant ID so that the corps members can provide assistance in identifying areas in the project that need attention. 1 After the first few trees are cut down a wildlife biologist will be brought in to talk about wildlife that utilize the river corridor and how to help build better habitat for them. Together the WCYCC and wildlife biologist will build a habitat area with the trees that have been cut down. An additional half day training will be provided before the seeding and planting projects begin on ecological practices. These include the benefits of grasses and grass ID, tree and shrub planting techniques, other erosion control practices, pollinator identification and the benefits of wildflowers/forbs in an ecosystem. 3. Need & Benefits - This grant proposal targets Russian Olive and Tamarisk tree eradication. These Eurasian ornamental trees were brought into this region for their hardy nature and ease of establishment. Since then these plants have become known for quickly colonizing a watershed; out -competing native plant communities; displacing wildlife and wastefully using groundwater. Once established, control and restoration of sites colonized by these noxious weed trees becomes very expensive and uncertain. Eradication of these trees prior to colonization is preferable and cost effective. The Big Thompson River currently sits at this point and is driving the grant request. The removal of Russian Olive and Tamarisk trees helps sustain agricultural practices. It also ensures greater water availability for other environmental and recreational needs. Without efforts to control density and spread of noxious weeds, water shortages will be exacerbated as farmers, industry and municipalities compete for this limited resource. Other benefiters of the project include the landowners directly, future generations, wildlife and the environment as a whole. The impact this project will have is on the WCYCC and the environment. The WCYCC members will have a profound understanding of the pros and cons of the choices and decisions that people make. How these choices can and do impact generations decades later. The need to weigh choices based on the best knowledge available before something as long term as a tree is planted or other practices are implemented. The environment and local ecosystem will also be impacted in a beneficial way. Noxious weed trees and other forbs will be removed on a large scale while several small areas will be returned to native habitat and wildlife refuge areas. This project is important for all of the reasons previously stated; it will remove noxious weeds that are mandated to be controlled by state law and county code; and it will improve the local ecosystem by establishing native vegetation, help with strearnbank stabilization and create wildlife habitat. Additionally, this project will provide education to the general public through FaceBook posts and other news releases informing the public about the noxious weed tree removal, the benefits as well as the wildlife habitat enhancement goals. There will be at least three FaceBook posts on the County's page. Two press releases will be drafted and submitted to local newspapers during the project. This project will provide several benefits including improved wildlife habitat, noxious weed eradication and control, and a reduction in nonessential water consumption from the excessive vegetation. Controlling the spread and reducing the impact of noxious weeds is critical to maintaining the natural ecology of the Big Thompson River. If the work is not performed, the Big Thompson River will lose more native vegetation; will have increased erosion of sediment into the water course; more wildlife habitat will be lost; and the cost 1 to recover the area will increase exponentially. 4. Planning & Readiness - Over the past seven years, the Weld County Weed Division and the WCYCC have partnered on three other Russian Olive and Tamarisk projects in Weld County along river corridors. This past experience has provided the working relationship with the foundational knowledge that the WCYCC can remove Russian Olive and Tamarisk trees on ten to twenty acres in a week's time depending on the infestation size. Therefore, properties along the Big Thompson River have been scouted to narrow down the ones that will be addressed in this project. The Weld County Weed Division has completed the preliminary mapping to have an idea for the infestation size to estimate the acres that can be addressed in this project timeframe. Outreach has been to the landowners involved in the project area explaining the project. The perspective landowners have all agreed to the project and have asked for the assistance. The landowners are very excited for this work to begin. It will provide some greatly needed assistance with the noxious weed trees, other herbaceous noxious weeds as well as some reclamation and wildlife habitat establishment. No permits are needed. There are no foreseen bathers to completing the project by December 31, 20174 5. Funding Need and Match - Without the majority of the funding from GOCO, in -kind time from the WCYCC and the small contributions faun the other partners it is unlikely that this work would be completed. There are very few opportunities available to address Russian Olive and Tamarisk trees on a large scale. Using the WCYCC is a cost effective way to treat these trees, help the environment, and stay in compliance with the Colorado State Noxious Weed Act. With the GOCO funds, the WCYCC and the Weld County Weed Division will be able to reduce the amount of Russian Olive and Tamarisk trees along the Big Thompson River; as well as reduce the spread of the invasive species downstream. The Weld County Weed Division staff will supply a good portion of the training and coordinate with other professionals for any areas that need covered. The Weed Division will also provide grass seed and chemical for use on the project. The Weed Division has secured funding for the wildflower seeds from Colorado for Healthy Landscapes and partner with Colorado Weed Management Association (CWMA). West Greeley Conservation District has agreed to supply the tree and shrub seedling bundles. While the WCYCC has agreed to donate two weeks' worth of labor to the project and secured the use of the chipper for the entire project. In -Kind Match: Chipper Weld County Gov b weeks of chipper @ $500/week $3000 Grass seed Weld County Gov 50 pounds @ $9/pound $450 Wildflowers CWMA 2 acres @ $ 200/acre $400 Trees and shrubs WGCD 4 bundles @$25/bundle i $100 Chemical Weld County Weed 8 gallons Rodeo @ $25/gallon $200 Labor WCYCC 2 weeks @$7500/week $15,000 Coordination and Training Weld County Weed 16 hours @ $50/hour $800 TOTAL $19,950 1 2017 Request for Proposals (RFP) Great Outdoors Colorado -Funded Youth Corps Crews for Local Government & Open Space Projects ASSURANCE, AUTHORIZATION, & SIGNATURE PAGE ASSURANCE Did your organization collaborate on this proposal with the youth corps and is the youth corps fully aware of the scope of the project and budget? XX Yes Name & title of youth corps staff person Holly J Bernhardt - Program Coordinator AUTHORIZATION TO RELEASE FUNDS Applicant recognizes that it will not receive payment from GOCO. By its signature below, applicant hereby authorizes GOCO to make payment on its behalf directly to CYCA in the event this project is chosen for funding. SIGNATURE (electronic and pdf signatures are accepted) Name Mike Freeman Chair, Board of Weld Title County Commissioners Organization Board of Weld County Commissioners Signature /irut-c Date SEP 1 9 2016 10 02o 0) I itt s1S IL • • • • • C8£8 • • • j• {r P • ■ • • • 4 a ♦ L s•a♦ isP� ▪ 1 • •••• a • a a • • ♦ • d • ZL • iiy'iii•Y�.. new sassents .i•a\i•••.• ■ • 93 • • • • • • • • • a• t, t • • • • • • • • • • • • Csi U.) 4 r • • • I I • • • • ♦' I • • • • I • a • • • s a a • • • I • • CI int a ,ir 3Et..di..iS.,a_$ tha ra h • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • I • • i• • • a e a • a I s• •• • • • s • •• • • • •• • •• • • •F\Y.• i teem 4 I I • I • • • • • e I • I I le•see •u O) CZ er e• •Ta I I • • s I(/�■ • • 1 /• • • or M �/ • it it ♦ I r • 9 Y '-ae•w•ee rapask*Alp •I••O.i••a• Median VI 1V —' • • • • • • a • i • • a r • 1 r M ea • • Y•i 93 •e• 4 e e e 1 0• 5 • e• e e• a t n CZ w•1•••••*ae 2 Cs PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT 1111 Fl STREET PO BOX 758 GREELEY, Co 80632 PHONE (970)304-6496, Ext. 3750 FAX: (970)304-6497 WEBSITE: www.co.weld.co.us September 6, 2016 Nancy Weil, Administrative Assistant Colorado Youth Corps Association 1640 Grant Street, Suite 210 Denver, CO 80203 To Whom It May Concern; The work proposed in this grant application is part of the work that is being done in Weld County to remove the state designated noxious weeds: Russian olive and tamarisk trees; This work does not violate any easements or use restrictions in the County. All work will be done on properties that the landowners voluntarily agree to and sign permission slips. Backing from the State Law to garner volunteers will be used as a last option, if pressure is needed to encourage volunteers. This small project is part of a larger project working to address the entire stretch of the Little and Big Thompson Rivers along with the South Platte River up to the confluence with the Cache La Poudre River. As such all landowners will be participating along these stretches of rivers within the next couple of years. If there are any questions, please contact me at 970-304-6496 ext. 3770. Sincerely, 12 Tina Booton Weed Division Supervisor Hello