Stream Management Plan
Why Is Stream Management Needed?
The St. Vrain Creek (of which Left Hand Creek is a part) is the lifeblood of our valleys. The creek’s health is directly tied to the health, biodiversity, character and economy of communities in the region, including Lyons and Longmont. It is home to various native fish. It has its headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park and the Indian Peaks Wilderness and hosts one of the country’s largest outdoor, adventure and music festivals—the Lyons Outdoor Games. The creek also receives Colorado River transmountain water and flows through the biggest agricultural county in Colorado. Agriculture, domestic water providers and recreators all have a stake in the creek’s health. Due to its wide range of uses and the ways it is already being studied, the St. Vrain offers an excellent opportunity for users to develop a plan to balance their needs with the creek’s health.
In the past there has been little shared vision to manage the St. Vrain Creek. The September 2013 flood brought about a new era of local collaboration, along with millions of dollars for stream restoration. The collaborative flood recovery created a greater level of trust and partnership amongst water users. Many involved in the recovery want to discuss water management activities that can maximize post-flood projects to further benefit environmental, recreational, agricultural and domestic uses. Developing a stream management plan was a logical way to make this transition.
What Is the SMP?
A stream management plan collects and provides data on what needs to be done to support a creek’s health and recreational/other uses. It provides a starting point for collaboration to keep the stream healthy and work toward shared goals.
The St. Vrain Stream Management Plan (SMP) has one key goal: to improve the creek’s environmental conditions while also meeting water users’ current and future needs. The plan identified projects and management strategies for the St. Vrain and Creek that transition flood recovery to stream health-related projects. It will also ensure that future projects will align with private property rights, public land and resource management plans, and the prior appropriation system.
The plan covers the South St. Vrain Creek, Middle St. Vrain Creek, North St. Vrain Creek, and the main stem of St. Vrain Creek to the confluence of the South Platte River. It also includes the tributary of Left Hand Creek upstream and its tributaries James Creek and Little James Creek. See the map below for the four main sections of the whole creek as identified in the plan.
How Was the SMP Created?
Since the St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District has led local water-related collaborations in the Longmont area for over 50 years, the District spearhead the creation of the St. Vrain Stream Management Plan. The project was funded by numerous government, recreation and water groups on both the state and local levels. Stakeholders and the public were given many opportunities to provide input on the plan.
SMP Phase 1
Phase 1 of the Stream Management Plan was completed in 2020. The SMP synthesized feedback from various stakeholders and existing data from studies covering 185 miles of streams within the 500-square mile planning area. The SMP identified four key areas that needed to be addressed including stream flows, habitat, water quality and management and established goals for each area.
SMP Implementation (Phase 2)
Local priority initiatives and projects were further identified and refined. The Implementation Priority Initiatives Report outlines these local priorities and discreet projects are highlighted in the appendices.
ST. VRAIN & LEFT HAND WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
1715 Iron Horse Drive, Suite 250
Longmont, CO 80501
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 303-772-4060
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