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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3 - Water Resources - Draft Minutes - 3/18/2002 WATER RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD FINAL MEETING MINUTES March 18, 2002 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT Robert Fiehweg, Jeannette Hillery, Gil Barth, Cal Youngberg, Vicki Naber STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Ned Williams, Carol Ellinghouse, Joanna Stansbury, Curt Thompson (GEI Consultants), Randy Crittenden, Robin Madel, secretary AGENDA ITEM 1 Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:15 p.m. AGENDA ITEM 2 Approval of January 28, 2002 Meeting Minutes Jeannette Hillery motioned to approve the minutes from January 28, 2002. Gil Barth seconded. The vote was 3-0 in favor of the motion. Vicki Naber abstained because she was absent from that meeting. Cal Youngberg had not yet arrived. AGENDA ITEM 3 General Citizen Participation There was none. General Citizen Participation was closed. Water Resources Advisory Board Full Minutes March 18, 2002 Page I -1 Formal thanks to Cal Youngberg Ned Williams formally thanked Youngberg for his years of service (his term ended). Williams gave Youngberg a plaque and there was cake. AGENDA ITEM 4 Staff presentation and discussion on the Middle Boulder Creek Water Source Management Work Plan. Carol Ellin hg ouse reviewed the background for development of the work plan and the process that was used to create the work plan. The plan focuses on six topics of interest: water quality, hydropower, watershed operations, recreation, environment, and historical/cultural resources. The biggest concern to the public appears to be whether or not to allow non-motorized boating on Barker Reservoir. The most important concerns to the city relate to maintaining water quality, water quantity and hydropower production. The Work Plan contains a description of the basins that feed Middle Boulder Creek. It also contains a description of the cultural and historical value of the hydroelectric plant, which is one of the oldest in the United States and is eligible for Landmark status. The plan also discusses the riparian corridors and stream ecology of the system. The staff created a list of recommendations for management of the creek and reservoir that was based on feedback from the public. The number of recommendations in the second draft has been reduced to 65 (down from over 100 in the previous draft). Gil Barth asked whether the staff had created a decision matrix to make decisions about future management and uses of the reservoir and creek. Ellinghouse said that the matrix is in development and will be finalized when the plan is finalized. Bob Fiehweg asked which decision factors are cast in stone. Ellinghouse pointed out that the legal agreements and obligations that drive decision-making are detailed in the plan. Vicki Naber asked about the new outlet structure being installed on Barker Dam and how it will affect the dam inspection schedule. Ellinghouse described the structure. Once it is constructed, the reservoir will no longer have to be drained to be inspected. Gil Barth asked Ellinghouse if there are plans to install as many feedback mechanisms as possible into the system to be able to manage the system dynamically in daily operations. Ellinghouse said that the raw water system has been rebuilt over the last decade. As part of the re-building the staff has investigated installing telemetry and other monitoring systems. Ellinghouse also discussed a study done by a consultant that evaluated loss of water within the Barker system due to the inflexibility of the existing system. Cal Youngberg pointed out that the Raw Water Master Plan would be a good place to discuss installation of a flexible management system. Gil Barth pointed out that this would be an excellent opportunity to create a fully Water Resources Advisory Board Full Minutes March /8, 2002 Page 2 flexible, dynamic system. Barth said the city would get more control for water quantity and recreation if the city could instantly evaluate what is happening with the watershed, the reservoir and the creek. With regards to recreation, Ellinghouse said the basis would be maintaining water rights and water quality. Recreation would have to take second place to those issues. Jim Miller, the mayor of Nederland, has expressed his support for allowing non-motorized boating and sees it as a part the town of Nederland's economic vitality. There are some residents of Nederland that are opposed to boating on the reservoir but they appear to be in the minority. Another concern is that the town of Nederland wastewater treatment plant's outfall pipe is located in a higher risk location for contamination. The town and the city of Boulder are completing a joint study to evaluate options for the town's wastewater treatment plant. The staff is having a consultant prepare a feasibility study to evaluate whether or not to allow non-motorized boating. The study would include evaluating the treatment issues that are associated with recreation on the reservoir. The staff said that the main focus in managing the system for recreation would be resolving liability and security issues, then evaluating the contaminant risks and scenarios associated with allowing non-motorized boating. Ned Williams said that the city's strategy will be to proceed cautiously rather than opening the reservoir up to increased use, then having to scale that use back in the future. Finally, Bob Fiehweg asked to have known contaminants of concern and supporting data presented at the end of each section within the water quality section. Fiehweg also said that the title of the limnology section appeared confusing and recommended changing the title to something that more accurately reflects what was discussed in that section. Ellinghouse said that the report is available to the public for $10 and will be posted on the city's Web site. The report will be presented to the WRAB for a final recommendation to the city council at the May 2002 meeting. There are no other public meetings scheduled. The staff requested comments from the WRAB by the April 15, 2002 meeting. After presentation to the WRAB, a final draft will be prepared and presented to the City Council for approval in June or July. AGENDA ITEM 5 A. Matters from the Board • Gil Barth asked if the goose over-population and subsequent poor water quality at Viele Lake is a WRAB issue. Ned advised him to contact the Parks and Recreation department because it manages the park and has previously dealt with this issue. Water Resources Advisory Board Full Minutes March 18, 2002 Page 3 • Vicki Naber asked about a letter to the Boulder County Planning Commission from a ditch company that is upset about the Lafayette pipeline diversion. Williams said that the diversion is going before the County Planning Commission as the first step in the county permitting process and that the letter contained some inaccuracies. • Cal Youngberg asked about the proposed sale of Windy Gap water to Louisville. Williams said that the city of Boulder might sell 6 units of the 37 units of Windy Gap water it has left, with the provision that the city of Louisville not use the water for any development outside of its planning boundary. • Bob Fiebwee discussed the meeting he had with the chairman of the Environmental Advisory Board (EAB) and asked the WRAB if they would be interested in having a joint study session with the EAB to discuss the fluoridation in drinking water issue. The consensus of the board was that they were not interested in a joint study session. They would rather wait and see what information and recommendations come from the board convened by the Ft. Collins City Council. B. Matters from Staff Ned Williams discussed the following: • Lakewood Pipeline -,the groundbreaking ceremony will be the first Friday in May. They discussed the article that was in the March 18, 2002 Daily Camera that discussed the condemnation of two pieces of property to construct the pipeline. • The Fourmile Canyon Creek and Wonderland Canyon Creek master plans, which will be presented to the WRAB in draft form in April and in final form for approval in May or June. • Sale of Windy Gap units to Louisville. Vicki Naber asked what drought scenario was evaluated in preparation for the sale. Williams said that data from previous droughts and a 100-year drought scenario were evaluated. Also, the water would not be available in times of drought anyway unless a storage reservoir is constructed. • The 2003 budget, which will be presented in a preliminary form in the April 2002 meeting. • The Goose Creek bikepath through the Mapleton Mobile Home Park, which is under construction. • The training policy that the Public Works and Planning Departments have instituted for their respective boards. Williams reviewed the details of the policy. • Any tours or field trips that the WRAB is interested in taking. An invitation to the trip would be extended to other advisory boards and the city council. They discussed having a tour of the treatment plant and the Marshall Landfill site. • Election of new officers, which will be discussed at the April 15, 2002 meeting. Jeannette Hillery will be absent from the May 20, 2002 meeting so the WRAB may decide to reschedule the May 20 meeting when the new board member is in attendance in April. Water Resources Adviso+y Board Fall Minutes March 18, 2002 Page 4 AGENDA ITEM 6 Discussion of Future Meeting Dates and Agenda WRAB recommendation about the Middle Boulder Creek Work Plan. The master plans for Fourmile Canyon Creek and Wonderland Creek. Election of new officers. The 2003 budget. I AGENDA ITEM 7 Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:01 p.m. Date, Time, and Location of Next Meeting: The next regular meeting will be April 15, 2002, 7:00 p.m., regular meeting, at the City Yards Lunchroom, 5050 East Pearl. Minutes approved b Date y ~S~ O?i Water Resources Advisory Board Full Minutes March 18, 2002 Page 5