REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Saint Vrain Creek Watershed Master Planning March 7, 2014 Issued by: Boulder County 1
PROPOSALS REQUESTED FOR MASTER PLANNING Funded by a grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) through the Colorado Watershed Restoration Program, Boulder County is accepting proposals from qualified multidisciplinary teams (consultant) to complete a stream corridor Master Plan for the St. Vrain Creek watershed. Given the extent and impact of the flood damage along the corridor from the September 2013 flood, the need to take advantage of near term funding opportunities, and project implementation that must take place in sequence with other flood recovery efforts, an accelerated schedule is desired for the development of the St. Vrain Creek Watershed Master Plan. The goals of the St. Vrain Creek Watershed Master Plan, which seeks to create an open, collaborative, and voluntary approach to long term planning and management of St. Vrain Creek, will be to: Reduce the potential risk of future flood damage to public and private infrastructure along St. Vrain Creek; Confirm the 100 year floodplain to inform future Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) floodplain mapping efforts; Understand how physical infrastructure in the creek corridor affects flows and evaluate opportunities to reduce and manage flood risk through enhanced interaction between the natural creek and physical infrastructure within the creek corridor; Restore, enhance, and preserve the ecological functions, values, and characteristics of St. Vrain Creek; Provide for recreational opportunities where appropriate and desired along St. Vrain Creek; Identify and prioritize actions that are consistent with existing local policies and plans and help facilitate recovery from the September 2013 flood. These goals, which will be confirmed during the planning process, will be achieved by engaging agencies, affected property owners, ditch companies, the public, and other stakeholders in the development of the Master Plan. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In September 2013, St. Vrain Creek experienced a catastrophic flood event which destroyed large sections of Colorado Highway 7, US Highway 36, local roads, and public, residential and commercial properties along the St. Vrain Creek corridor. The high peak flow combined with the extended duration of the event and sediment/debris inputs from landslides/debris flows resulted in dramatic changes in the creek corridor and significant infrastructure damage, both public and private. In various locations the stream migrated laterally, experienced significant instream and off channel deposition and erosion, cut new overbank channels, lost a significant amount of its riparian ecological function, and migrated or scoured to the point of destroying numerous waterlines, roads, embankments, bridges, and other infrastructure. The Town of Lyons, which is home to the confluence of South St. Vrain Creek and North St. Vrain Creek, experienced devastating damage, as did many areas in the City of Longmont and unincorporated Boulder County. The flood impact on tributaries in the drainage varied from the mountains to the plains. In the mountain areas, the runoff caused significant change not only to the creek corridor, but also to the 2
upland tributary creek drainages. The effects included debris flows from hillsides that caused erosion and deposition of material in tributaries, along with conveyance and deposition of significant debris such as rocks, cobble, sand, trees, and trash throughout the stream corridor. On the plains, the effect to the tributary drainages was less drastic, as much of the drainages are bisected by urban development with formalized drainage facilities. As the flood waters reached the plains via the mouth of the canyon, they spread out overland. It was through this overland flow that a significant number of historic gravel mining operations were impacted by flood waters and subsequently breached. In the aftermath of the flood, private ditch companies, land owners, land management and transportation agencies, and communities along the St. Vrain Creek corridor responded by undertaking actions, many short term and temporary, in order to address the damage caused by the flood. Efforts of this nature ranged from repairing water delivery infrastructure, constructing emergency access and temporary roads, installing temporary berms, reestablishing channel conveyance, and stabilizing stream channels. These site specific efforts continue to take place along different reaches of St. Vrain Creek and are generally oriented toward meeting immediate needs or mitigating damage and allowing for the diversion of domestic and agricultural water before snow melt run off in the spring. While local short term solutions are being implemented, there is also a recognized need to conduct long term planning for St. Vrain Creek at a watershed scale. From a risk reduction perspective, actions taken upstream affect creek flows and sediment transport downstream. Impacts on the downstream must be known, communicated, and potentially mitigated. In addition, planning at the watershed scale for the St. Vrain Creek corridor is necessary in order to incorporate local needs (residents of the Town of Lyons, City of Longmont, and Boulder County; ditch companies; St. Vrain Left Hand Water Conservancy District; and property owners) and broader stakeholder interests (recreation, habitat preservation, etc.) into an approach to flood control and stream restoration. For these reasons, various entities along St. Vrain Creek have formed the St. Vrain Creek Coalition in order to initiate a Master Plan for the watershed. The purpose of the St. Vrain Creek Watershed Master Plan is to inform the public, property owners, stakeholders, and local decision makers about the current condition and long term plan for the St. Vrain Creek watershed and help them identify, prioritize, and select projects that reduce risk to public and private infrastructure, while preserving, enhancing, or restoring the creek s natural environment and providing for recreational opportunities, where appropriate and desired. GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE AND DESCRIPTION The North St. Vrain Creek and South St. Vrain Creek drainage basins are located on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains and join in Lyons to form St. Vrain Creek. St. Vrain Creek flows eastward from Lyons and at its confluence with Boulder Creek forms the Saint Vrain River, which flows to the S. Platte River in Northern Colorado. The transition of the creek from mountain to plains occurs just downstream of Lyons. Upstream of Lyons, the creeks are more natural and are confined by the existing topography, as well as roadways. Much of the area is U.S. Forest Service land with some pockets of residential 3
development in unincorporated Boulder County. Through Lyons and east through Longmont, the creek becomes more managed with many irrigation headgates and current and past land uses that have confined the creek corridor. This includes a number of existing and proposed reservoirs, which were created during the extraction of sand and gravel from the corridor, and development in Lyons and Longmont. Elevation in the watershed ranges from 14,259 feet at the top of Longs Peak to 4,850 feet at the confluence of St. Vrain Creek and Boulder Creek. The topography changes from forested mountain terrain on the west to rolling pasture and cultivated plains on the east. The St. Vrain Creek drainage area upstream of Lyons is 219 square miles; North St. Vrain Creek has a drainage area of 125 square miles and South St. Vrain Creek has a drainage area of 94 square miles. Precipitation in the mountains of the western watershed averages approximately 17 inches per year. The average annual temperature is approximately 40 degrees F with cold winters and hot summers. The St. Vrain Watershed Master Plan is intended to address the reaches of the St. Vrain watershed that were significantly impacted by the September 2013 flood. In order to do so, hydrological processes and land use activities in the upper watershed need to be evaluated for their influence on conveying water and sediment to the lower watershed. For this reason, the St. Vrain Watershed Master Plan differentiates between an Analysis Area and a Planning Area. See the map on the following page. Planning Area In general, the Analysis Area for the St. Vrain Creek Watershed Master Plan is the geographic area for data collection and analysis. The Analysis Area is the area within which the consultant is expected to conduct Tasks 4, 5, and 6. (Note: The consultant is not expected to develop 100 year floodplain maps for the analysis area.) The Planning Area for the St. Vrain Creek Watershed Master Plan is a smaller geographic area and is defined in the following manner: South Saint Vrain Creek drainage east of State Highway 72 along State Highway 7 to its confluence with North Saint Vrain Creek at the Town of Lyons; North Saint Vrain Creek drainage east of Button Rock along US Highway 36 to its confluence with the South Saint Vrain Creek at the Town of Lyons; and Main stem of Saint Vrain Creek to the confluence with Boulder Creek, east of the City of Longmont. The Planning Area is the area within which the consultant is expected to conduct all master plan Tasks. If the Planning Area changes as a result of the analysis, a contract amendment will be issued. Note that the Left Hand Creek drainage is being addressed through a separate master planning effort, to be closely coordinated with the St. Vrain Creek Watershed Master Plan. (Note: See Task 1 below.) 4
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CONTRACTING ENTITY AND PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE Boulder County is issuing this Request for Proposals (RFP) to qualified consultants to provide master planning services for the St. Vrain watershed, as defined in the previous section. Boulder County will be the Contracting Agency and act as the primary point of contact for the Master Plan consultant. The consultant will provide invoices, progress reports, and study deliverables to Boulder County on a regular schedule. In addition, the consultant will provide a final report to CWCB to meet grant funding requirements. Consultant selection for the Master Plan will be made by the St. Vrain Creek Coalition, which consists of representatives from: Boulder County Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Town of Lyons City of Longmont St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District (SVLHWCD) USDA Forest Service, Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) The St. Vrain Creek Coalition will also serve as the Master Plan s steering committee. This committee will guide the development of the plan and coordinate plan activities with local agency efforts. At the beginning of the Master Plan, the consultant will confirm agency representation on the steering committee and determine the role of other local, state, and federal agencies, such as the Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the study. The consultant will also establish forums for public, property owner, and stakeholder engagement. CONDITIONS OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS All proposals shall comply with the following conditions: 1. A representative of the proposing company who has contractual authority must sign the proposal. Only one proposal will be accepted from any one company serving as a prime consultant. Subconsultants to the prime consultant may be included in the proposal of more than one consulting company. 2. All proposals must be complete, comprehensive, and professional, but it is not necessary to include expensive displays or excess materials. All costs incurred in the preparation and presentation of the proposal shall be entirely borne by the prospective consultant and any sub consultants, and shall not be reimbursable by Boulder County. 3. Prospective consultants shall submit an electronic copy of their proposal via email to XXXX Proposals should be a single PDF document and be less than 10MB in size. 6
4. All proposals shall be submitted in full no later than 5:00 p.m., Monday, March 24, 2014. Any proposal arriving after the deadline will not be included in the selection process. 5. All questions and inquiries relating to this proposal should be sent by 5:00 p.m., March 12, 2014, to Julie McKay, by email at jmckay@bouldercounty.org OR TO PURCHASING?. The county will answer all questions at the March 17, 2014, mandatory pre proposal meeting, with written responses to follow on March 19, 2014. 6. A St. Vrain Creek Coalition selection committee will review the proposals received and select the consultant it believes is the most qualified to furnish the desired professional services. 7. The selected consultant will be required to execute a contractual agreement with Boulder County. The contract term will be through the end of 2014. 8. Boulder County reserves the right to reject any or all proposals. ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE 1. Questions due to Boulder County: March 12, 2014 2. Mandatory pre proposal meeting: March 17, 2014, 1:00 2:30 p.m., location 3. Responses to questions distributed: March 19, 2014 4. Last day for submitting proposal: March 24, 2014 5. Notification of consultant team interviews: March 28, 2014 6. In person consultant team interviews: April 1 2, 2014 7. Notification of consultant team selection: April 9, 2014 8. Execution of Agreement: April 24, 2014 Consultant teams should reserve April 1 and April 2 for in person interviews. The interview format will be a series of questions, posed by the St. Vrain Creek Coalition selection committee, and open discussion about the consultant team s proposal. No formal presentation is required or desired. Commence Work: Immediately following execution of agreement with Boulder County Board of Commissioners. PROPOSAL ELEMENTS AND FORMAT The response to this RFP, for items A I below, is limited to a maximum of 25 pages, excluding front and back covers, using no smaller than 11 point font and no less than 0.5 margins. Each response should be complete yet concise and contain only the elements shown below. Please avoid submittal of extraneous and unnecessary information. A. Cover Letter Include a one page cover letter that expresses the consultant s interest to be considered and identifies the consultant s primary contact person. Provide the name, mailing address, telephone number, fax number, and email address of the primary contact person. The cover letter shall be 7
signed by a person who has contractual authority with the consulting company, such as a principal, partner, senior manager, or officer of the consulting company. B. Project Team Describe the consultant s team for the project. List any proposed sub consultants, e.g., surveying, ecological, public involvement, etc. For the key project team members, which at a minimum should include the consultant s Project Manager and Project Engineer(s), please include: 1. A brief description of the individual s background and experience (brief resume); 2. Each individual s years of relevant experience; 3. A description of each individual s relevant experience; and 4. The role each individual will take on the project. C. Location of Consultant Firm and Sub consultants Indicate the office location of the consultant firm and sub consultant firms. D. Workload Capacity List the proposed project team s current workload capacity and commitments, in addition to its anticipated capacity for March through September 2014. Provide the percentage of time that each project team member would be committed to this project. State the team s commitment to accomplish this project in what s acknowledged to be a tight time frame. Due to the unique nature of flood recovery work in a natural disaster of this significance, and the short time frame available to protect critical infrastructure, sufficient consultant workload capacity is critical for this contract. The Master Plan will be used to guide much of the upcoming restoration and protection work in the creek corridor and help enable community recovery efforts and individual rebuilding decisions. Anticipated future projects may have a very short time frame for scoping, analysis and design, bidding, and construction. The consultant s ability and commitment to perform this work in the available time frame is essential. E. Relevant Project Experience Provide relevant project experience, per the guidelines given below for consultant selection, in the categories of creek master planning, analyzing and designing creek channel modifications, stream stabilization improvements, creek and floodplain restoration, creek hydraulics, floodplain modeling and mapping, creek ecology and biological assessments, fluvial geomorphology of similar creek systems, fisheries habitat improvements, alternatives analysis, managing public involvement processes, and project funding. Please do not provide more than three relevant projects for each category. Projects can be listed for multiple categories if significant work encompassed that category. F. References Include list of clients for which the consulting company performs similar work (include contact information for each client, with a maximum of ten clients listed). G. Understanding of RFP and Approach Provide a summary that demonstrates an understanding of the requested services and includes a proposed approach to the project, including key activities, study milestones, timelines, and deliverables. The approach should demonstrate how local communities (Lyons, Boulder County, 8
Longmont); affected residents and property owners; non governmental stakeholders; other local, state, and federal agencies; the St. Vrain Creek Coalition; and the general public will participate in the study and provide input at key study milestones. It should also refine and confirm deliverables, as outlined in the Scope of Work section of this proposal for each Task. H. Proposed Project Schedule and Deliverables Provide a proposed project schedule that includes planning activities, study milestones, and project deliverables, with draft and final Master Plan completion dates, per Task 9 below. The project schedule shall assume that consultant team resources are available to complete the scope of the work within identified time frames. I. Cost Proposal Provide an itemized cost proposal that corresponds to the consultant s approach to the project, work schedule, and Scope of Work. Costs should be itemized by Task, as described in the Scope of Work. Hourly fees of consultant team staff should be included. INSURANCE AND LIABILITY Before Boulder County will award the contract, the successful contractor must supply a copy of the consulting company s Certificates of Insurance, Workers Compensation, Commercial General Liability Insurance, and Professional Liability Insurance. SELECTION PROCESS The consultant selection process is anticipated to follow the previously described schedule. Upon receipt of proposals, members of the selection committee, which is a subgroup of the St. Vrain Creek Coalition, will individually review and score each proposal. The scores will be compiled in order to rank the applicants from highest to lowest. Interviews will be held with top scoring consulting companies. The top consulting company(s) will be selected to enter into a professional services agreement with Boulder County, subject to the approval of the designated selection committee and Boulder County Board of Commissioners. The selection committee will evaluate proposals using the following general criteria with a maximum of 100 points available: 1. Project Team (20 points) project manager, key team members, and the consulting company s and sub consultants qualifications; defined responsibilities; key team member s experience working together (continuity); and overall body of work experience. 2. Relevant Master Planning and Science based Project Experience (15 points) previous experience by the project team analyzing and designing creek channel modifications, stream bank stabilization, hydraulics, geomorphology, creek restoration, floodplain restoration, floodplain modeling and mapping, ecological and biological assessments, fisheries habitat improvements, kayaking and recreational amenities; demonstrated understanding of floodplain regulations; previous flood recovery work for similar circumstances; understanding of the unique permitting requirements of creek related construction projects; and previous experience working on Colorado Front Range Rivers. 9
3. Relevant Project Management, Stakeholder Involvement, and Public Engagement Experience (15 points) demonstrated history of a commitment to inclusive and open public and stakeholder engagement, including how it influences study decision making; efficiency with small and large projects alike; demonstrated responsiveness to short time frames for complex creek projects; demonstrated experience with consensus building and facilitating multiple and diverse stakeholders resulting in a cooperative planning processes and the building of strong community coalitions; demonstrated public outreach and information experience; and demonstrated knowledge of and ability to identify funding sources for potential master plan projects. 4. Project Schedule and Workload Capacity (20 points) demonstrated ability to meet project timeframe from start to completion of the Master Plan; demonstrated workload capacity; and demonstrated commitment to the vision of this master planning project. 5. Location (5 points) local consultant firm and sub consultant firms will receive higher consideration. Qualified teams from the Boulder County area will receive 5 points; teams from the Denver Metro Area as defined by the Denver Regional Council of Governments will get 4 points; teams from Colorado will get 3 points; and out of state teams will receive 1 point. The total points will be weighted by the firm and sub consultants. 6. Cost (25) overall cost and efficiency in staffing and approach to study activities. Consultant selection will be made on the basis of qualifications, cost, and demonstrated approach, according to the scoring formula above. 10
PLANNING ACTIVITIES AND DELIVERABLES The ultimate result of master planning and subsequent project implementation is increased flood resiliency in communities, economies, and river systems. Master planning should guide agencies and communities towards identification, prioritization, and implementation of projects to reduce the risk of impacts to life and property during future flood events, while maintaining or enhancing the ecological function of the stream system. The Master Plan should characterize multiple benefit efforts, those management strategies and projects with flood and geomorphic risk benefits in addition to ecosystem and recreational enhancements. The master planning process should be collaborative in nature, guided by expertise provided by a professional consultant team of engineers, fluvial geomorphologists, ecologists, riparian and wetland restoration specialists, fisheries biologists, and flood risk experts. It should also be informed by input from impacted home, property, and business owners, stakeholder groups, and the community at large, including those with specialized expertise. The Master Plan should be based on solid scientific and engineering understanding of river system evaluation and decision making. In addition to standard hydrologic, hydraulic, and geomorphic analysis, the plan should employ qualitative and quantitative risk assessment tools that distill extensively complicated factors into information that plan participants can use to make informed short and long term recovery and planning decisions. PLAN THEMES The Master Plan will successfully incorporate the following themes by developing strategies, exploring alternatives, and identifying multiple benefit projects: Stream Hydrology and Stability Themes Stream hydrology and hydraulics; Channel dynamics and sediment transport; and Channel stabilization, relocation, and/or reconfiguration. Community Recovery and Resiliency Themes Residential and community recovery; Irrigation water delivery systems and agricultural needs; Creation of resilient communities and ecosystems; and Provide models for development standards that decrease flood impacts on public and private properties. Flood Mitigation and Hazard Risk Reduction Themes Community values about how flood risk should be managed; Reducing the impact of future flooding on the communities and neighborhoods along St. Vrain Creek, particularly those that were impacted by the September 2013 flood; 11
Floodplain preservation, restoration, and flood control; Reducing debris inputs into the main stem from tributaries after future flood events, especially post fire events or other catastrophic events; and Energy dissipation and possible detention/retention. Physical and Structural Protection Themes Residential development and urban area protection; Road stabilization, relocation, and reconfiguration, including safe multimodal travel; Transportation corridor, infrastructure, and utility protection; and Utility maintenance and access development on existing public properties or private properties that have a public easement in place for such uses. Recreation Themes Community desires for recreation; Recreation improvements, ecotourism, and infrastructure, including trails, fishing, kayaking and boating (tubing); and Existing public access, including restrictions and prohibition. Biological and Environmental Themes Upland and bank erosion mitigation along creek corridor; Strategies for water supply diversions that include improved headgates and fish screens; Minimize rip rap and other hardscaped restoration methods that inhibit biological and environmental functions; Water quality enhancement by minimizing inflows of nutrients, chemicals, and sediment into the creek; Aquatic and terrestrial wildlife habitat improvement/restoration, including but not limited to low flow channel improvements, wetland and riparian restoration, enhanced floodplain capacity, endangered species needs, fish habitat needs including game fisheries and native species, and fish passage structures, spawning bed locations, and backwater areas; and Preserve and enhance habitat focusing on connectivity of instream and riparian habitat. 12
SCOPE OF WORK AND DELIVERABLES Task 1: Project Management and Coordination The selected consultant will organize and conduct meetings of the St. Vrain Creek Coalition, which will serve as the steering committee for the Master Plan. The Boulder County project manager will act as the primary point of contact for the Master Plan consultant to help prepare for coalition meetings. Specific planning activities with the St. Vrain Creek Coalition should include: Confirm the role and composition of the Coalition in the planning process; Conduct individual interviews with each member agency of the Coalition to refine the Master Plan goals, identify the interests and needs of each agency, and integrate them into plan activities and deliverables; Prepare for and facilitate regular meetings of the Coalition; Seek guidance and collect input from the Coalition at key milestones, per Tasks included in this Scope of Work; Facilitate Coalition review of plan deliverables; Review plan activities, including agendas for public meetings, with the Coalition to ensure that activities conducted for the Master Plan are coordinated with local flood recovery planning and project implementation efforts; Consult with Coalition members on options, both short and long term, and considerations for flood mitigation measures; Coordinate with entities that may provide policy, regulatory, or legal guidance for the plan, as instructed by Boulder County and coalition partners; and Coordinate with the Coalition in an ongoing effort to provide for public, property owner, agency, and stakeholder involvement, including opportunities for volunteer engagement at all phases of master planning and subsequent implementation of restoration plans. In addition to working directly with the St. Vrain Creek Coalition to coordinate activities between the Master Plan and local and site specific efforts of Boulder County, Lyons, Longmont, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and other coalition agencies, the consultant will be responsible for coordinating with additional agencies that are conducting activities relevant to the St. Vrain Creek Master Plan. Coordination activities should include: Master plan development for the Left Hand Creek watershed and other watersheds in Boulder, Larimer, and Weld Counties; Public transportation infrastructure design and reconstruction in the planning area; and Private infrastructure, onsite water systems, and access recovery in the planning area. Given the significant public transportation infrastructure restoration efforts along Highway 7, Highway 36, and other public roads adjacent to South St. Vrain and North St. Vrain, the consultant must work closely with the USDA Forest Service Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado 13
Department of Transportation (CDOT), Boulder County Transportation Department, and Town of Lyons, City of Longmont, Larimer County, and Weld County transportation representatives and contactors to provide for a well integrated Master Plan. This task also includes coordinating with local agencies responsible for reviewing and permitting private infrastructure reconstruction in flood damaged areas. Deliverables Document and implement a realistic, efficient, and effective approach, including key plan activities, milestones, and schedule, for the development of a Master Plan for St. Vrain Creek. The approach should describe explicit opportunities for Coalition, agency, property owner, public, and stakeholder roles and participation. St. Vrain Creek Coalition meeting agendas and brief meeting summaries that identify participants, key outcomes, action items, and next steps. Coordinate master planning activities and study milestones with other agencies and partners working on other master planning process, local flood recovery efforts, and transportation infrastructure reconstruction. Task 2: Agency, Stakeholder, and Public Engagement The consultant will actively engage agencies, stakeholders, property owners, and the general public in the St. Vrain Creek Watershed Master Plan. When the planning process begins, the consultant will establish formal avenues for participation in plan development, specifying the type, number, and sequence of activities to be held in order to develop a final plan. The selected consultant will work with the St. Vrain Creek Coalition to identify and establish working groups, a public meeting schedule, and other forums for agency, stakeholder, property owner, and public involvement in the study. The consultant will publicize these opportunities so that it is clear and well known how individuals and entities can participate in the planning process. The consultant will convene, organize, facilitate, and otherwise conduct multiple public events, including documenting them to meet reporting requirements for grant funding associated with the Master Plan. Public events must include public advertisement, outreach to vulnerable, underserved communities and displaced stakeholders, information gathering from those attending, and the collection and inclusion of feedback into the ongoing planning process and at key study milestones. The agency, stakeholder, and public engagement approach, developed by the consultant, should include use of new technologies, varied methods of communication, and engagement forums that access, inform, and educate a large proportion of the target population and interested parties. Specific activities should include: Conduct public outreach, develop public information, and conduct meetings necessary to 14
efficiently give the general public a meaningful role in plan development; Establish a project website; Establish specific participation forums for agencies, property owners, stakeholders, and nongovernmental entities that have specific interests in the study; Solicit input throughout the master planning process through group meetings, individual meetings, and surveys as appropriate; Develop presentations for input and approval; Provide appropriate opportunities for draft plan review; and Attend three four community meetings in Boulder County, including its mountain communities; Town of Lyons; and City of Longmont to provide information about the Master Plan and support local planning or flood recovery efforts. (Note: See Task 3 for additional meetings that the consultant should attend in the Town of Lyons.) The goal of the St. Vrain Creek Watershed Master Plan is adoption by Boulder County, Town of Lyons, and City of Longmont and approval by other coalition agency partners. Each local agency will be responsible for leading the draft review and adoption process within its community. To this extent, the consultant should plan on one presentation to each community s city council or board in order to adopt the final plan. Deliverables Document and implement a realistic, efficient, and effective approach, including key plan activities, milestones, and schedule, for the development of a Master Plan for St. Vrain Creek. The approach should include explicit opportunities for Coalition, agency, property owner, public, and stakeholder participation. (Note: This is the same deliverable identified in Task 1.) Project website. Agency, stakeholder, and public meeting agendas and brief meeting summaries that identify participants, input, outcomes, action items, and next steps. Public information materials, including direct communications, advertisements, meeting announcements, website text, and meeting presentations. Compilation of comments received on the draft Master Plan. Summary of planning issues, input, and activities to be reviewed at key milestones in the planning process and included in the draft Master Plan. Task 3: Town of Lyons Services In addition to the coordination and community outreach activities described in Task 1 and Task 2, the Town of Lyons requests the services of the consultant team to support its local flood recovery planning process, including working directly with the Lyons Stream Recovery Task Force. Specific activities include: Attend meetings in the Town of Lyons to provide guidance and professional expertise for the 15
duration of the master plan (approximately 6 meetings per week, 2 hours in length). Deliverables Attendance at Town of Lyons community meetings and consultation with Town staff, per the above activities, 12 hours per week. Preliminary designs and cost estimates for projects identified in the master plan that would be implemented in or near the Town of Lyons. Preliminary cost estimates for inclusion with FEMA Project Worksheets for Town of Lyons projects identified in the master plan. Task 4: Existing Plans and Post Flood Conditions The consultant team, using existing damage assessments and available data, will establish and analyze existing post flood conditions within the different reaches of St. Vrain Creek. The purpose of doing so is to identify high priority needs for the Master Plan. Planning activities should include: Review existing policy, environmental, recreation, hazard mitigation, long term recovery, and land management plans to ensure that Master Plan alternatives and project recommendations are consistent with adopted plans of local communities and other agencies with jurisdiction (Note: See Appendix A.); Identify, review, and incorporate short term site specific mitigation and repair actions, particularly those already implemented in anticipation of spring snow melt run off and summer monsoon rains, into long term planning. Note: The consultant does not need to provide environmental permitting services (i.e., 404 permitting, Boulder County floodplain development permit) as short term work should already be permitted or permitting is anticipated to be performed under a future RFP for individual restoration projects. Deliverables Documentation of analysis of existing conditions, with recommendations for accelerating plan decisions in specific areas or reaches to facilitate or coordinate effectively with public and private infrastructure restoration efforts. Summary of existing plans that provide guidance or parameters for the development of the Master Plan. Task 5: Data Collection A tremendous amount of study has been performed along St. Vrain Creek, pre and post flood. The master planning effort will use existing available data, studies, and reports to the fullest extent possible. The selected consultant will collect and compile existing data, studies, and reports for St. Vrain Creek and associated tributaries, including but not limited to rainfall data from the September 16
2013 flood and previous large storm events; GIS data; property boundaries; infrastructure location and conditions; pre and post flood aerial photos and LiDAR data; watershed plans; ecological, riparian, and geomorphic assessments; local flood studies; FEMA floodplain maps; hydrologic and hydraulic models; fire protection plans; wildlife studies; and stream restoration reports. The consultant will coordinate with the St. Vrain Creek Coalition and other agencies to confirm, obtain, compile, and use the most appropriate current data, identify gaps, and develop strategies for augmenting the data set as necessary. Specifically, where gaps exist, the consultant will need to collect additional hydrologic data on St. Vrain Creek to ensure appropriate hydrologic analysis for the master plan. Existing data is listed in Appendix A. Deliverables Collect, develop, update, and/or analyze hydrologic, hydraulic, biological, geomorphic, land use, and other data deemed necessary to evaluate the creek corridor (Task 6) and develop a conceptual creek restoration master plan (Tasks 7 9). Task 6: Creek Corridor Evaluation and Risk Assessments The selected consultant will conduct an evaluation of St. Vrain Creek, which will include detailed risk assessments: Flood risk assessments: o Establish the 100 year floodplain; o Coordinate with the St. Vrain Creek Coalition to identify assets (banks, bridges, structures, etc.) at risk during future floods; o Supplement the St. Vrain Creek Coalition asset inventory with field work, as necessary; o Consider the effects of existing and future gravel pits/ponds on future flooding; Ecologic stream assessments; Biological and geomorphological assessments; and Fluvial erosion hazard assessments In addition to assessing the flood and geomorphic risks, the consultant will conduct an ecosystem risk assessment to evaluate the vulnerability of stream and riparian ecosystems to future flooding and quantify the benefits and impacts that proposed projects have on ecosystem function. Planning activities in this task area should include: Applying small, local hydraulic modeling to more fully understand and/or determine appropriate recommendations, as needed. Conducting risk assessments using standard and published methods; 17
Prioritizing action areas based on the results of the flood, geomorphic, fluvial erosion, and ecosystem risk assessments; and Identifying hazardous debris and other potential threats not addressed by current emergency efforts and proposing mitigation strategies. Deliverables Analysis of risks along the St. Vrain Creek corridor, with recommendations for prioritized action areas. Task 7: Identify Plan Strategies, Frameworks, and Alternatives The selected consultant will develop strategies and identify projects, including alternatives, that reduce the risks and vulnerabilities identified in Task 6 and help achieve the Master Plan s goals. The selected consulting company should possess a history of commitment to innovative and ecologicallyfocused management of creek corridors. The focus of aquatic and terrestrial wildlife habitat improvement and restoration should be to restore geomorphic continuity and fluvial processes along the stream corridor so that restoration efforts are ecologically sustainable and beneficial for the long term. Short term temporary fixes that are not integrated with other efforts should be avoided. Plan strategies should articulate how the plan goals can be achieved and provide the organizing concept for plan frameworks. Strategies may include: Channel stabilization, relocation, and/or reconfiguration; Increasing capacity of existing public infrastructure; Reconnecting frequently and infrequently inundated floodplains; Protection and restoration of wetland and riparian areas; Identifying habitat improvement areas; Identifying recreation areas; Encouraging low impact development for stormwater systems within select areas addressed by the Master Plan; Identifying low flow channel improvements and ecosystem connectivity; Implementing potential home buy out programs and facilitating other potential transitions from private to public lands; Identifying water quality improvements; Reducing debris inputs into the main stem from tributaries after future flood events, especially post fire or other catastrophic events; and Pursuing FEMA floodplain re mapping. Plan frameworks should identify projects, programs, and policy actions. The consultant shall develop sketch drawings and conceptual designs, including supplemental surveying and development of 18
potential bridges, ponds or crossings of the creek; provide program descriptions; and identify policy approaches. The recommended actions may include site specific projects, activities that apply to certain reaches, or creek corridor level efforts. Examples of structural projects include: Channel stabilization locations, typical cross sections, profiles, and bank stabilization details Rough locations, sizes, and capacities for improvements to bridges, channels, floodplains, and the storm drainage system Examples of non structural, programs or policy approaches include: Guidelines for flood defensible space Suggested locations of property buy outs, if applicable New stormwater and sewer/septic management criteria Floodplain regulation revisions Land use planning updates Recommended actions should incorporate best practices, including resilient design; the use of natural materials; structural and nonstructural approaches, e.g. natural stream design; bioengineered approaches; etc. and include partnerships with non profit, educational, or other civil society organizations to deliver innovative solutions. In addition to identifying projects, programs, and management approaches that implement plan strategies, the consultant should prepare and evaluate alternatives, either at the plan level or project level, as necessary. Planning activities should include: Identify high priority areas for creek channel stabilization, relocation, and/or reconfiguration recommendations, given the need to confirm creek alignment and implement channel design for public and private infrastructure rebuilding; Identify project and plan alternatives, based on input from the Coalition, stakeholders, agencies, property owners, and the public. Analyze alternatives, including modeling of land use changes where applicable and quantifying ecosystem benefits, including restoration or enhancement of instream, riparian, and upland habitats for native species. Recommended plan or project alternatives in the draft Master Plan, using evaluation results and input from the Coalition, stakeholders, agencies, and the public. Deliverables List of strategies for the draft Master Plan. Plan Frameworks which include projects, programs, and management actions. 19
Conceptual level diagram map(s) as needed, showing pre flood and post flood corridor(s) throughout creek corridor, including additional detail of structures and impediments, existing and proposed. The concept level map(s) should show and describe recommended changes and postflood improvements to the corridor. Task 8: Project Prioritization and Implementation In addition to evaluating project alternatives, the Master Plan should identify multiple benefit projects, those with flood and geomorphic risk benefits as well as ecosystem and recreation benefits, and prioritize all recommended projects. As part of the evaluation process, the consultant will perform a cost/benefits analysis of proposed projects using standard methods. Assessed benefits include flood and geomorphic risk reduction, ecosystem enhancements, water quality improvements, recreation improvements, and associated economic benefits. To conduct this analysis, and to develop an implementation plan for the high priority projects, the selected consultant may: Evaluate construction feasibility of proposed structural improvements and implementation protocols for non structural measures; Perform approximate cost benefit estimates for alternate strategies, including green vs. gray infrastructure comparisons, where appropriate; Identify future restoration projects and maintenance requirements; Provide details about necessary environmental permits and considerations; Identify project costs and potential funding opportunities; Identify fiscal and material resources for use in the implementation of the plan; Document how structural project design will list and analyze failure mechanisms to decrease the likelihood and consequence of structural project failures; and Demonstrate that structural project failure will not increase risk to life and property. Deliverables A recommended prioritized list of site specific projects to the St. Vrain Creek corridor with estimated design and construction costs. Final implementation plans for high priority structural and non structural projects, including a timeline and estimated budget for each step of the plans. Task 9: Draft and Final St. Vrain Creek Watershed Master Plan The selected consultant will draft the final St. Vrain Creek Watershed Master Plan and should address how plan actions will make the community more resilient to future flood threats. The Master Plan will include the analysis and recommendations outlined in Tasks 4 9 and should conclude with prioritized 20
projects and implementation plans for high priority projects that will improve the local economy and ecosystem while also enhancing the resilience of the community to flood and geomorphic risk. The consultant will conduct public outreach and community meetings to present the Draft Master Plan, facilitate its review, and incorporate comments into the final plan. Planning activities should include: Conduct a public review process of the Draft Master Plan; Incorporate comments collected from the coalition, stakeholders, agencies, and the public into the final plan; and Publish the final plan. Deliverables A draft plan is due by July 31, 2014. Final St. Vrain Creek Watershed Master Plan and all supporting documentation, including data bases. Final acceptance of the St. Vrain Watershed Master Plan by Boulder County is due on or before September 30, 2014. Consultant begins work immediately upon contract award. 21
APPENDIX A: EXISTING DATA Following are known sources of information to be used in developing the St. Vrain Creek Master Plan: Anderson Consulting Engineers, Inc., East County Line Road Bridge and Road Rehabilitation: Preliminary (30%/FIR) Hydraulic Design, December 30, 2013. Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland s 1997 Revision of the Land and Resource Management Plan, http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/landmanagement/?cid=fsm91_058285 Boulder County Comprehensive Creek Planning Initiative: Boulder County has developed an extensive data base that includes emergency mitigation sites and pre and post flood LiDAR analysis of reaches of the St. Vrain in unincorporated Boulder County. Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will provide a calibrated rainfall run off model for the St. Vrain watershed. CDOT/CWCB Hydrology Investigation: Phase One 2013 Flood Peak Flow Determinations (January 2014). City of Longmont hydrology data, North 75 th Street through City of Longmont, to be confirmed. Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) Average Daily Flow data for St. Vrain (2014). Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), hydrologic modeling for Boulder and St. Vrain Creeks, draft report (anticipated March 2014) and final report (anticipated April 2014). Hydraulic modeling of North St. Vrain, as part of the assessment and preliminary design phase for Longmont Dam Road (Flatirons, Inc. through contract with Boulder County). Intergovernmental Agreements: http://www.bouldercounty.org/property/build/pages/igas.aspx Flood Damage Assessments: Boulder County, the Town of Lyons, and City of Longmont, USDA Forest Service (Arapahoe & Roosevelt National Forest) have collected data as part of their local flood recovery and community planning efforts. Floodplain Reanalysis and Floodway Delineation North St. Vrain and St. Vrain Creeks, Boulder County, Colorado, Love and Associates, 1992. Local Plans: o Boulder County Comprehensive Plan o Boulder County Comprehensive Plan Environmental Resources Element and Supplemental Materials (Boulder County 2014) o City of Longmont St Vrain Creek Greenway Master Plan o City of Longmont St. Vrain Blueprint planning study (current) o Environmental Assessment South St. Vrain Creek (Ayres Associates 2000) o Pella Crossing and Marlatt Open Space Recreation and Visitor Use Plan (Boulder County Parks & Open Space, 2003) 22
o Riparian Inventory & Assessment Boulder County Parks & Open Space (Biohabitats 2009) o St. Vrain Creek Corridor Open Space Management Plan (Boulder County Parks & Open Space, 2004) o St. Vrain Creek Greenway Master Plan (City of Longmont and Design Workshop 2001) o St. Vrain Trail Master Plan (Boulder County Parks & Open Space and ERO Resources 2004) o Survey of Critical Biological Resources in Boulder County, Colorado (Colorado Natural Heritage Program 2007 2008, 2009) o Town of Lyons, Long Term Flood Recovery Plan (in process) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS): COLORADO FRONT RANGE FLOOD OF 2013: Peak Flow Estimates at Selected Mountain Stream Locations (December 2013) St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District: District 5 Ditch and Reservoir Flood Damage Report 23