HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 May hrs minutes 2024
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HEALTHY RIVERS AND STREAMS CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD
Regular Meeting May 16, 2024 4:00 PM
River Park Center
123 Emma Road 2nd floor
Basalt, CO 81621
River Board members present: Chris Wheatley, Andre Wille, Bill Jochems, Kirstin Neff, Maciej Mrotek,
Chris Lemons – via Zoom
River Board members absent: Wendy Huber
Attendees in addition to presenters: Lisa MacDonald, Lisa Tasker via Zoom, Matt Annabel, Laura Makar
Media Present: Heather Sackett
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Board Comment: None
Public Comment: None
Additions/Deletions to the Agenda: change agenda items to accommodate Mr. Dahl’s schedule
Approval of April 18, 2024 minutes
Mr. Wille moved to approve the April 18, 2024 minutes. Mr. Jochems seconded the motion. The motion passed 6/0
Whitewater Park Site Design Update - Sam Baucum, Bluegreen Mr. Baucum presented the design updates to the Board. We are working with the Town of Basalt on the Road shift design and hope to bid it out this summer. Work on the Emergency Access will happen per a request from the original authorization of the park from Basalt. This will only be for Emergency Personnel. There is no public access allowed. Road shift work is occurring per recommendations from Basalt.
Lincoln Creek/Grizzly Reservoir Water Sampling 2024 Proposal and update – Kurt Dahl
Pitkin Co Environmental Health Manager and Chad Rudow, RFC
The River program has $15,000 budgeted in 2024 to support lab testing costs for 3-4 sites, with 4
different sampling times (pre-draining, during reservoir draining, during a change in creek diversion, and
post construction completion). The sampling times will be determined once we receive the construction
outline from Twin Lakes Canal Company.
Mr. Dahl and Mr. Rudow presented a proposal and update to the Board regarding the testing and plans.
The dam construction will require Grizzly Reservoir to be drained and flows from Lincoln Creek will be
diverted towards Twin Lakes until a senior water rights “call” from downstream requires water from the
creek. Lincoln Creek will be released to the Roaring Fork River during these “calls”. It is not clear at this
time if the creek will be diverted through the bottom of the drained reservoir or if will be routed around it.
Given the combination of factors they believe it is important to take water samples at different phases of
the construction to determine if there may be a possibility of impacts to the creek and river. This will help
us to understand how future dam construction/maintenance might impact the creek and river and
influence future planning for how to minimize possible impacts.
Sponsorship request of $4880 for the Study of trace metals and rare earth elements in water,
streambed sediment and biota in Lincoln Creek and associated water bodies – Roaring Fork
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Conservancy and Diane McKnight Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research University of Colorado-
Boulder
Ms. McKnight asked for funding for a study of the Lincoln Creek system during summer 2024 by collecting
water, stream sediment and benthic macroinvertebrate samples for analysis of REEs. The results of these
analyses will complement the planned study by state and local agencies. Two master’s degree students in
the Environmental Engineering Program at CU will participate in the sampling efforts, and will also analyze
the samples and work with others involved in the study to interpret the results. These students will work
with Profs. Diane McKnight and Tom Marchitto with the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR)
at CU. These samples for REEs will be analyzed by the ICP-MS laboratory at INSTAAR, which has developed
methods for these analyses of REEs in previous studies. The students will be trained in the sampling
protocols by the staff of the Roaring Fork Conservancy.
Mr. Mrotek moved to approve a sponsorship to CU in the amount of $4880. Mr. Wille seconded the motion.
The motion passed 6/0.
Modifications to the USFS Collection Agreement - Beaver Project and Monitoring – Lisa Tasker
Ms. Tasker sought board approval of the Collection Agreement extending the terms to align with the original
agreement to 2027. She also asked to modify the agreement to include $10,000 to contribute to the collection of
water quantity and quality data in the vicinity of Lincoln Creek, a Roaring Fork River tributary, related to recent
declines in water quality. These funds will purchase equipment needed for quantification of water quantity and
quality parameters and could include processing for sediment, macroinvertebrates, or other related samples in
coordination with the Healthy Rivers Program.
Mr. Wille moved to approve the additional $10,000 and extend the terms of the Collection Agreement. Ms. Neff
seconded the motion. The motion passed 6/0.
Monthly Staff Report
Staff provided an update on projects and work as contained in the report in the Board’s packet. The Crystal River
Project is complete until the fall planting.
Swift Water Training Course is happening in June.
Open Discussion
Mr. Jochems had a question regarding the data collection and where will it lead.
Mr. Jochems moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Mrotek seconded the motion. The motion passed 6/0.
The meeting adjourned at approx. 6:20 pm.
Approved: Attest:
______________________________________________ _________________________________________________
Wendy Huber – Chair Lisa Tasker