Gov. Hickenlooper Announces $2.29 Million in Grants for Stream Recovery Projects

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Office of Gov. John Hickenlooper

Kevin Houck, 303-866-3441 c.  kevin.houck@state.co.us


Gov. Hickenlooper announces $2.29 million in grants for stream recovery projects

DENVER – Friday, Aug. 08 2014 – Moving quickly to keep Colorado’s long-term recovery on pace, Gov. John Hickenlooper today announced grants totaling $2.29 million for 19 new stream recovery projects in Boulder, Larimer, Weld, and Jefferson counties, less than three months after the program was created.

"Quickly and strategically rehabilitating streams damaged by the flood is critical for many reasons; most notably so that we are prepared to endure any future surprises Mother Nature might throw our way," said Hickenlooper. "We are grateful to the Colorado Water Conservation Board; to Senators Jeanne Nicholson and Scott Renfroe and Representatives Mike Foote and Jerry Sonnenberg, for working with us to expeditiously get these resources where they are so needed."  

Repairing the state’s streams and watersheds is a high priority because it reduces future flood risk, and helps restore stream banks, wildlife habitats, agricultural areas and recreational opportunities.

The flooding - which impacted 24 counties - triggered nine small dam failures, damaged or destroyed nearly 225 water-diversion structures, damaged an estimated 32,000 acres of croplands and swept away $540,000 in state-owned stream-gauge equipment. During the floods, many northern Colorado waterways experienced 100-year or 500-year floods.  

The grant program, created with Senate Bill 14-179, will reimburse up to 50 percent of eligible expenses used for cleaning up debris or restoring watersheds. The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) approved the grants on July 16.

The legislation authorizes payments to private entities and individuals whose property was affected by the floods as well as local governments, watershed coalitions, and other private non-profit entities who are performing restoration activities.


Applicant
Project Title
Approved Funding
Wildland Restoration Volunteers
North Fork of the Big Thompson River Restoration
$196,500
City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Department
Boulder Creek Confluence Restoration
$200,000
Rocky Mountain Flycasters
Multi-basin Riparian Restoration and Plant Propagation Program
$200,000
Boulder County Parks and Open Space
Left Hand Creek Restoration
$200,000
Town of Estes Park
Fish Creek Restoration Project: Brook Drive to Country Club Reach
$200,000
Boulder County Land Use Department
Fourmile Creek Restoration Project
$80,000
City of Longmont
Peschel-St.Vrain Creek Restoration
$110,000
Boulder County Parks and Open Space
South St. Vrain Creek Restoration at Hall Ranch
$110,000
City of Greeley/Larimer County
Lions Open Space Eastern Bank Restoration Project
$150,000
The Environmental Group
Coal Creek Canyon Restoration Project: Twin Spruce Junction
$94,400
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Big Thompson River Restoration
$300,000
Sylvan Dale Ranch
Fish Habitat Design and Debris Removal, sylvan Dale Reach, Big Thompson River
$59,850
Big Thompson Conservation district
Little Thompson River Urgent Needs
$170,625
Mark Boslough
Riparian Habitation Restoration, Stream Bank Revegetation and Beaver Reintroduction on Highland Placer, South St. Vrain Watershed, Boulder County
$14,00
Stephen Strand
8398 Lefthand Creek Streambed and Bank Stabilization, Riparian Corridor Restoration
$20,000
Logan Mill Ranch Tree Farm and Properties
Sunbeam Gulch Stream Restoration Project
$20,000
Town of Lyons
Lower McConnell Hazard Mitigation Project
$56,250
Left Hand Water District
Debris Removal from Left Hand Creek Water Intake
$9,030