Summit County Citizens Voice

Sheep Lakes, Rocky Mountain National Park. PHOTO COURTESY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

Public meetings:

April 11, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Larimer County Courthouse, 200 W. Oak St., Fort Collins
April 12, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Grand Lake Fire Protection District, 201 W. Portal Road, Grand Lake.

SUMMIT COUNTY — Colorado’s trans-mountain water diversions result in plenty of long-term incremental environmental harm, but when a diversion ditch running through Rocky Mountain National Park failed catastrophically in 2003, the damage was immediate and dramatic in the Upper Kawuneeche Valley.

One of the most scenic parts of the park was inundated with mud and sediment, destroying hundreds of trees. The flood degraded the aquatic, riparian, and upland ecosystems, in addition to the wetland communities that support a unique array of species in comparison to other habitat types in the park.

Now, the National Park Service is finalizing a restoration project, and looking for public comment to help shape the final plan. The goal is to restore natural hydrological processes, ecosystems and wilderness character of the area.

The agency’s preferred option focuses on the removal of large debris piles aroudn key wetlands and stabilization of unstable slopes and banks throughout the upper portions of the restoration area, using small-scale motorized equipment.

A draft environmental study outlines several alternatives for the restoration project. The deadline for the comment period is May 25. Mail comments to: Superintendent, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO 80517-8397. You may also comment via the Internet at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/romo You can e-mail comments to e-mail us.  Finally, you may hand deliver comments to: Rocky Mountain National Park Headquarters, 1000 US Highway 36, Estes Park or to the Kawuneeche Visitor Center, Rocky Mountain National Park, 16018 Highway 34, Grand Lake.

Filed under: Colorado, Environment, national parks, public lands Tagged: | Colorado, Grand Ditch breach, National Park Service, Rocky Mountain National Park, Upper Kawuneeche Valley