LITTLE THOMPSON JOURNAL: ISSUE 2: FEBRUARY 17, 2014
NEWS FLASH
Go to www.bigthompson.org look for Hot Topics! at the bottom. Also click on Little
Thompson Watershed Restoration Coalition link.
PROPERTY OWNERS MEETING IN MARCH
The 2nd LTWRC property owners meeting to be held mid-March. You’ll receive a separate email once date/time is set. To be at the Berthoud Community Center. We plan to have a presentation on the entire workings of the Little Thompson River and its geography, flows and diversion systems, among other topics.
!!TOMORROW!! TUES. FEB. 18 DEADLINE HUD/DOLA COMMENTS FOR FUNDING HUD allocated $62.8M in Community Development Block Grant, Disaster Recovery to Colorado to assist in flood disaster recovery. The state’s Action Plan is draft until 2/21; a summary is attached.
We ask you to support infrastructure and river restoration funds in the draft Action Plan by submitting comments to DOLA online, accepted through Tues. Feb. 18. Suggested comments are at the end of this email. Copy, paste and edit to your preference. Go to this link to submit:
https://dola.colorado.gov/cdbg–dr/content/public–comments
On 2/21, the state submits the Action Plan to HUD. Once approved, 45 days later (early April), the Little Thompson Watershed Restoration Coalition will submit a grant application for our work.
MEET ON WED. FEB. 19 AT 6:30PM FOR DEBRIS REMOVAL
The Berthoud Fire Protection District (BFP) received funding for a large tub grinder to convert woody debris into piles of wood chips.
- Open house to talk about the project on Wed. February 19th at 6:30pm,
- Berthoud Community Center (248 Welch Ave).
- Sign up to get help or provide help with debris removal.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) will send two groups of young people from March 24-April 5 to help with woody debris collection. We need volunteers to help haul the debris to the collection points. Pickups, trailers, beet trucks are all welcome.
We understand that even if you are not in the BFPD, you may be able to haul your woody debris to one of the sites for them to process. Some of the UMCOR volunteers may be available to help you load debris onto your own trucks to haul there. Call Larry Glover to request volunteers (970) 214-1296 and/or go to the meeting to sign up for help. For more info, call BFPD Chief Stephen Charles at (970) 532–2264 or email Mike Cook at mtcook@LTWD.org
FOR LARIMER RESIDENTS, A CHANCE TO GET FUNDS FOR REBUILDING YOUR HOME:
Please check out this website:
http://lovelandhsg.org/home–ownership/larimer–home–improvement–program/
SUGGESTED COMMENTS FOR POST-FLOOD FUNDS FROM HUD:$62.8 MILLION
https://dola.colorado.gov/cdbg–dr/content/public–comments
Be sure to include your name and contact info when you submit comments.
I am a property owner and resident in the Little Thompson River watershed, and a member of the Little Thompson River Watershed Restoration Coalition. During the flood of 2013, the Little Thompson River damaged or destroyed many homes, livelihoods, lands, irrigation diversions and agricultural operations along its path. The flood also damaged or destroyed every private and public bridge from Big Elk Meadows west of highway 36 to the town of Milliken. The debris left by the flood in the stream-bed and the condition of some stream banks remain a threat to life and property should we experience another significant water flow event.
The Little Thompson Watershed Restoration Coalition has a mission to reduce future threats from the river and make it a healthier river while helping landowners along the river with their flood recovery efforts.
To accomplish this mission, we want to ensure we are well informed about, well connected to, and well-funded by the CDBG-DR program. Our request is that the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) includes our LTWRC Coalition in the planning for the distribution of funds for the CDBG-DR program. We also support Larimer, Boulder and Weld County’s request for funding support for flood recovery related infrastructure projects. The Little Thompson River encompasses 60 miles of river, covering 203.7 square miles, or 130,000 acres, in those three counties, with so far by our count, and we’re still tabulating this, almost 500 parcels or landowners. Except for 12 parcels owned either by BLM or USDA, all parcels are privately owned. The Little Thompson is unique in Colorado because it’s the only river without a road alongside it or commercial development along it.
Many of us live in one of those three unincorporated counties without a town to represent us. Some are in remote areas and are often feel forgotten, yet our river created some of the state’s most seriously damaged areas. We need this specific chance with the state’s ACTION PLAN to be remembered and helped. Our Coalition can be reached at the Big Thompson Conservation District, info@bigthompson.org or 970-290-6455.
