Custom Builders of Aspen Completes a Special Use Permit Project in Pitkin County

Basalt, Colorado, November 12, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Custom Builders of Aspen was contracted in early 2006 to spearhead a permit submittal to the US Forest Service for permission to install control and measuring devices on the Finlay Ditch in the upper Capital Creek drainage. The process involves issuance of a Special Use Permit by the USFS. The project scope of work consisted of the operation, maintenance, repair, restoration, and installation of certain control devices in the Finlay Ditch #1 and #4. These ditches were originally adjudicated in Civil Action to provide water for irrigation and stock, and were further decreed to fill two ponds for wildlife, piscatorial, and fire protection uses. If a ranch takes water decreed to them, by law, it is required to control and measure the water received.

After three years that included submittal of a SUP Permit Application, wildlife and botanical biological assessments, and hydrologic assessment. Also engineered drawings and specifications of all control devices including GPS locations. The SUP had still not been approved. The result of this governmental delay resulted in uncontrolled quantities of water infiltration to the Wetlands Area located on the ranch. The result was down cutting of the channel along with large amounts of sediment being deposited in the area as well as highly incised channel that damaged and killed many protected wetland plants throughout the area.

As the Aspen general contractor, in order to make reparations and restore the wetlands, Custom Builders of Aspen was required to request for a Nationwide Permit #27-Aquatic Habitat Restoration, Establishment and Enhancement Activities Permit. This permit allows for the removal of accumulated sediments, installation of small water control structures, dikes, and berms, as well as discharges of dredged or fill material to restore appropriate stream channel configurations.

The project included a number of steps to enhance stream stability to allow the drainage to carry up the 5cfs of water and maintain fringe of wetlands vegetation.

First, water was diverted out of the channel to allow for drying out of the deposited sediment accumulations. Once the sediment had dried sufficiently the material was collected with the use of a large excavator and transferred to a staging area to drain and dry further. In addition wetland vegetation, which was slumped into the channel, was removed and stockpiled for revegetation purposes. To achieve stream stabilization, drop structures (trench breakers) were installed at varying distances averaging 25 feet apart up the incised section of drainage. Depending on the depth of the channel and the adjacent topography, the trench breakers were comprised of sandbags and rocks. There was not enough soil salvaged from the collected deposits to adequately re-fill the area, so the trench breakers were designed to allow sediment to stockpile behind the check dams, raising the depth of the channel over time. By raising the channel, the perched wetlands were re-wet on either side of the channel.

The original contours were adjusted to further tie the new structures into the banks. Depending on site specifics, the sides were graded and smoothed depending on the amount of work needed to stabilize and re-vegetate the banks. Erosion control blankets were installed along the disturbed area along the banks of the stabilized channel. Salvaged clumps of wetland plants from the trench were placed. In areas where side casting could occur, the use of a visual barrier (certified weed free straw) was used to demarcate native wetlands from side cast material. Once the erosion control blankets were in place, some water was allowed to flow into the channel to wet the blankets and the soils beneath. Live plants using 10c plugs were used to revegatate the stream channel and any disturbed banks. The entirety of the project area was fenced to keep grazing cattle out of the area until success criteria were met.

All wetland and later investigations were conducted following technical guidelines set forth in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual. Pre-field work included review of pertinent background information and discussions with individuals familiar with the Investigation Area and down gradient hydric resources.

Most recently this Aspen construction company filed the Performance Standards and Monitoring Requirements with the USACE. Photo documentation of the conditions of hydrology, wetland plants persistence, noxious weeds, and siltation issues were addressed. The USACE and Pitkin County were invited to verify the construction and reclamation process. Monitoring will continue for two additional growing seasons, or until vegetation is well established and reclamation is functioning properly.

Custom Builders of Aspen is an Aspen construction company that has been building Aspen custom homes and managing projects in the Roaring Fork Valley for 20 years. From building and managing Custom Homes to large Commercial projects. From the time that Custom Builders of Aspen is involved in the construction process, experience on all levels becomes apparent.

Address:
Custom Builders Of Aspen
P.O. Box 2071
Basalt, CO 81621

Phone: 970 618 6396
Email: info@custombuildersofaspen.com
Website: http://custombuildersofaspen.com