Additional $1.2M for Resilient St. Vrain Project from CO Department of Local Affairs
Additional $1.2M for Resilient St. Vrain Project from CO Department of Local Affairs
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) will fund an additional $1.2M toward a section of Longmont’s Resilient St. Vrain Project, bringing DOLA’s total disaster recovery contribution to the project to $13.1M.
The Resilient St. Vrain Project (RSVP) has received the largest combined portion of the $320M Colorado Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) for standalone infrastructure projects.
At 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, the City of Longmont will recognize the DOLA grant awards and celebrate progress on the Resilient St. Vrain Project. Gov. Jared Polis is expected to speak at the event, which will be open to the public and also will be attended by state and local officials and City project staff. It will take place at the sundial located adjacent to the St. Vrain Greenway trail east of the South Pratt Parkway Bridge. Limited parking will be available along Boston Avenue east of South Pratt Parkway.
“This cooperative effort between state and local government represents how resiliency practices bolstered by the Department of Local Affairs can provide long-term protection of life, property and the environment, in the face of significant disruptions,” said Rick Garcia, executive director for DOLA.
RSVP was developed after Longmont experienced catastrophic flooding in September 2013. In addition to repairing flood damage, the estimated $140 million project is increasing the St. Vrain Creek channel flood conveyance to contain up to a 100-year flood event; improving public safety and health protection during future flood events; and protecting infrastructure. Once completed the project will remove 818 acres and 526 homes and businesses from the current 100-year floodplain.
Construction is being conducted in an environmentally sensitive manner that maintains or enhances the natural habitat for wildlife and fish and creates wetland areas to help clean water coming into the creek after storms or by runoff. Restoring and improving recreation opportunities are another focus of RSVP. The city-spanning 18-mile St. Vrain Greenway corridor and multimodal trail is being restored, and a 1.5-mile float course—that also improves fish passage—has been created.
“The residents of Longmont made it clear after the 2013 flood that they wanted a more resilient community, that was better prepared against future flooding. DOLA’s contribution helps us achieve those goals of protecting people, property and infrastructure,” said Dale Rademacher, deputy city manager for Longmont.
The project follows the St. Vrain Creek through Longmont, from Airport Road at the upstream end to the confluence with Boulder Creek at the downstream end.
DOLA funds have been allocated for the City Reach 2B section of RSVP, which runs through the most developed portions of Longmont. City Reach 2B extends from just west of the South Pratt Parkway Bridge to the BNSF Railroad Bridge, located near Price Road.
For more information on RSVP, visit LongmontColorado.gov/ResilientStVrain or call 303-651-8416.
The Resilient St. Vrain Project (RSVP) has received the largest combined portion of the $320M Colorado Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) for standalone infrastructure projects.
At 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, the City of Longmont will recognize the DOLA grant awards and celebrate progress on the Resilient St. Vrain Project. Gov. Jared Polis is expected to speak at the event, which will be open to the public and also will be attended by state and local officials and City project staff. It will take place at the sundial located adjacent to the St. Vrain Greenway trail east of the South Pratt Parkway Bridge. Limited parking will be available along Boston Avenue east of South Pratt Parkway.
“This cooperative effort between state and local government represents how resiliency practices bolstered by the Department of Local Affairs can provide long-term protection of life, property and the environment, in the face of significant disruptions,” said Rick Garcia, executive director for DOLA.
RSVP was developed after Longmont experienced catastrophic flooding in September 2013. In addition to repairing flood damage, the estimated $140 million project is increasing the St. Vrain Creek channel flood conveyance to contain up to a 100-year flood event; improving public safety and health protection during future flood events; and protecting infrastructure. Once completed the project will remove 818 acres and 526 homes and businesses from the current 100-year floodplain.
Construction is being conducted in an environmentally sensitive manner that maintains or enhances the natural habitat for wildlife and fish and creates wetland areas to help clean water coming into the creek after storms or by runoff. Restoring and improving recreation opportunities are another focus of RSVP. The city-spanning 18-mile St. Vrain Greenway corridor and multimodal trail is being restored, and a 1.5-mile float course—that also improves fish passage—has been created.
“The residents of Longmont made it clear after the 2013 flood that they wanted a more resilient community, that was better prepared against future flooding. DOLA’s contribution helps us achieve those goals of protecting people, property and infrastructure,” said Dale Rademacher, deputy city manager for Longmont.
The project follows the St. Vrain Creek through Longmont, from Airport Road at the upstream end to the confluence with Boulder Creek at the downstream end.
DOLA funds have been allocated for the City Reach 2B section of RSVP, which runs through the most developed portions of Longmont. City Reach 2B extends from just west of the South Pratt Parkway Bridge to the BNSF Railroad Bridge, located near Price Road.
For more information on RSVP, visit LongmontColorado.gov/ResilientStVrain or call 303-651-8416.
