Thanks for the heads up. I called and left a message. Luke George On Wed, Sep 20, 2023 at 1:10 PM Norm Erthal <[email protected]> wrote:
> > As Nathan said, FRICO owns the land, dam, and water.The legislature has > absolutely no authority over them at all. There is one state agency with > authority but only in a limited way. That is the Office of the State > Engineer and their only authority is in regards to dam safety. This is > relevant regarding the increase of storage and could be what is causing the > placement of the riprap. > > The Endangererd Species Act would be the only other means of restricting > work. This likely only applies to a certain distance restriction from a > nest site. > > The only other possibility is in what rights Parks has regarding the lease > and I doubt if Frico gave them any authority regarding the storage of water > in the lake. The biggest problem I can see going forward is how the > increased storage level impacts the trees around the reservoir. The years > in which the reservoir stayed fairly full in the winter has caused the loss > of old cottonwoods and I can only see this becoming worse. There is little > to no regeneration of cottonwoods due to how young trees develop. I doubt > if the Endangered Species Act could be used to stop the storage increase > even if it results in the loss of trees that would effect nest sites. > > Norm Erthal > On Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 1:49:06 PM UTC-6 Nathan Pieplow wrote: > >> Hello all, >> >> Tammy VerCauteren at Bird Conservancy of the Rockies let us know this >> morning that an unfortunate situation is unfolding at Barr Lake State Park. >> FRICO, the ditch company that built the reservoir and owns the water >> rights, recently increased the water level in the reservoir to accommodate >> more irrigation needs and water storage and other municipal needs. However, >> this has caused issues with trails getting washed out and the overall >> integrity of the lake. To mitigate, they are removing a great deal of >> shoreline vegetation and replacing it with rip rap. >> >> They have already completely cleared the area from the NE corner of the >> dam to the boat ramp, and are installing rip rap there now. The cleared >> area is at least 30 feet wide. Yesterday they started work on a second >> section, from the boat ramp to the Pioneer Boardwalk. Again they have >> removed all vegetation including 100+ year old cottonwoods. The current >> plan is to continue this method all the way to the large bald eagle viewing >> gazebo on the south end of the park. This would completely clear out the >> area where the Bird Conservancy Banding station is, not to mention almost >> all the rest of the shoreline vegetation along the east side of the lake. >> The plan is to complete this work in the next couple of weeks. >> >> Our understanding is that FRICO has extremely broad legal latitude to do >> what it is doing, even though Barr Lake is a state park, because FRICO owns >> the lake. The effects on habitat and wildlife are going to be severe, >> especially at the banding station which has been in place for 35 years. >> This is particularly galling because when the company filed a grant >> application to increase the water level, they touted the area as a great >> birding destination and argued that raising the water level would only >> enhance it. Now the exact opposite is happening. >> >> To change the outcome is probably going to require a strong and immediate >> public outcry. You can contact FRICO at: >> >> Farmers Reservoir & Irrigation Company >> 80 South 27th Avenue >> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/80+South+27th+Avenue%C2%A0+Brighton,+CO+80601?entry=gmail&source=g> >> Brighton, CO 80601 >> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/80+South+27th+Avenue%C2%A0+Brighton,+CO+80601?entry=gmail&source=g> >> >> P: (303) 659-7373 >> [email protected] >> >> You might also consider reaching out to your state and local government >> representatives. If you are a member of a group that would like to get >> involved, contact Tammy VerCauteren <[email protected]>, >> who is working to initiate a wide-ranging response. >> >> Nathan Pieplow >> Boulder >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "Colorado Birds" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en > * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. 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