Coalition for Urban River Evaluation
1697 Cole Blvd., Ste 200, Golden, Colorado 80401 ● Ph: (303) 239-5411 ● Fax: (303) 239-5454
SP CURE Board Meeting
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 – 9:00 a.m.
Meeting Location: Brown and Caldwell
1697 Cole Blvd. Ste 200, Golden CO 80401
Host: Sarah Reeves
(303) 239-5411
December Meeting Summary
1.
Discussion and Approval of November Meeting Summary
Dennis Stowe moved approval of the November meeting summary. The motion was
seconded by Blair Corning, which passed unanimously.
2.
Urban Waters Federal Partnership
The Urban Waters Federal Partnership’s Mission: Multiple federal agencies working
together to reconnect urban communities by improving coordination among federal
agencies and collaborating with community-led revitalization efforts to improve our
Nation’s water systems and promote their economic, environmental, and social benefits.
Proposed South Platte River because had been working with Greenway Program and the
City of Denver, Denver Environmental Health and were familiar with the issues and needs
of this area. The South Platte pilot is a little different because USFS put in for the
headwaters of the South Platte and EPA put in for the Urban South Platte, so there are sort
of 2 separate projects. The website is www.UrbanWaters.gov. There are 7 pilots in total.
There is $180,000 available in Region VII so will likely be able to fund 3 projects. Okay
for our region because we are not that urban – will only be competing against those in our
EPA Region. The hope is that there will be more money to fund additional projects next
year.
The South Platte Urban Waters Project covers a rather large area that encompasses the
urban and suburban area around the Denver Metro Area as well as the headwaters
watershed (basically 2 different watershed areas). It does not include the Cherry Creek
basin, and Stacey Erikson will bring that back to the Urban Waters group to see if they
should be included. Talking about the need to have a full-time person to coordinate the
efforts in the South Platte. Also looking at mapping who is doing what in the South Platte
area and how they overlap. A good example of this mapping effort is the Anacostia River
in Washington, D.C. Looking for money for this effort.
Projects:
 Groundwork Denver watershed plan for Bear Creek.
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Greenway Foundation expansion to River Rangers program (green jobs pilot) with
water quality monitoring (EPA lab to analyze data), watershed trips.
Partnership with Denver Water to protect water supplies – looking at Hayman fire
area.
Trust for Public Land green infrastructure mapping to map parks, open spaces,
conservation areas and where there are environmental justice areas and looking to
make sure people have access to these lands. Also working on a Westerley Creek
stream restoration.
U.S. Corps of Engineers has had some issues because they have been given a “no new
starts” order by Congress, but are trying to work through this.
Looking at personal care products and other contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in
the watershed. Want to know how present these products are and where they are being
found. Their hope is that they won’t find these personal care products in national parks and
other headwaters areas. This is being coordinated with the USGS, but is basically a
research project. The data are expected to be put up on the Data Sharing Network (DSN).
EPA wants to see that proposals address community priorities and Environmental Justice
areas. Jill Piatt Kemper asked if deference would be given to projects that are part of a
larger effort and commitment by a watershed group. That is possibly one area that will be
considered.
The time frame for this effort is unknown at this point. It is supported under the current
administration and will likely continue if this administration continues.
Seeing a lot more collaboration between agencies through this project and agencies are
making it a priority. Agencies are identifying barriers to working together and have a list
of issues that need to be revised to allow better coordination. This effort has also allowed
agencies to understand each others’ funding mechanisms.
If you would like to be on the mailing list for the South Platte River Urban Waters Project,
email Stacey Eriksen at Eriksen.stacy@epa.gov.
SP CURE discussed the possibility of developing a proposal for submission for funding by
the Urban Waters Program. The timeframe is tight – January 23, 2011 – maybe we could
wait until next year. Stacey suggested that the Piton Foundation has environmental justice
information that we could use regarding population below poverty line, etc. Laurie Rink
suggested that we certainly have a lot of stakeholders and we have ways to show that we
address environmental justice areas because of the funding issues associated with nutrient
treatment. Laurie Rink volunteered to help, as needed. The Board decided that it would be
great to have Laurie put together a grant application using her ideas if she has time and
wants to do it.
3.
Segment 14 MMI Results
The Board reviewed the MMI results and recognized the inherent variability in the MMI
measurements. We also noted that the MMI does not apply to Segment 14 and that the
MMI thresholds are not applicable. The Board had asked Aquatics Associates to perform
the MMI calculations for information only.
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Brown and Caldwell will provide Phil Russell with MMI data to add in with the nutrients
data he is already summarizing. For January Board Meeting, Phil will present his nutrient
data summary and a comparison of nutrient data with MMI scores.
4.
Nutrient Monitoring Framework
Sarah Reeves went to the Chatfield
Bill Lewis requested to comment on the appropriateness of SPARROW model to look at
these data. Xcel lab suggests that MDL is not appropriate here. PQL is likely more
appropriate – or just a reporting limit. This is definitely an item that SP CURE should
comment on. If you have any comments, please send Sarah an email.
Members will coordinate with other entities within S. Platte Basin for nutrient monitoring
and data collection.
5.
Arsenic Hearing Update
There was an emergency arsenic hearing on December 13, 2011 where the Water
Quality Control Division (Division)
6.
UDFCD Update
No report.
6.
Budget Update
We are on budget. We will work in January on the budget for 2012/13.
Project Updates
a. BMW – No report
b. DSN – All data uploaded into AWQMS except L/E; sampling method not recognized
by current database. Gold Systems waiting on EPA to approve sampling method, they
will included into AWQMS.
c. Monitoring Committee – Committee working on finalizing SP CURE SAP with
projected completion date of February 14, 2012.
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7.
New Business
Emergency Arsenic Hearing – CDOT has construction dewatering remediation permit for
water they are collecting along Segment 14. They have limits of 0.02 ug/L because it is a
water plus fish standard. The water is about 2 ug/L and they cannot treat for the arsenic to
these levels. They are currently trucking the water down to Segment 15 and discharging it.
CDOT has a number of other projects that are coming up in the same area and would like
to address the standard so they don’t have to truck the water to Segment 15.
December 13th Emergency Hearing is set. The Division will be developing the proposal.
Dennis Stowe pointed out that a change in the footnote would likely fix this issue.
Chatfield Watershed Authority Meeting – Want to discuss monitoring framework.
Sarah Reeves or Phil Russell to come to talk to the group. Tim Grotheer to let Sarah know
who he wants to present and the date and time of the meeting.
Thornton Involvement – Vic Lucero is retiring in December/January and there may be a
lapse in attendance/involvement for a while. Mark Koleber will be their new contact.
8.
Next Meeting Dates
January 17, 2012 – City of Aurora
February 14, 2012 – SACWSD
March 20, 2012 – Metro Wastewater Reclamation District
Meeting summary was prepared by Sarah Reeves.
Approved by:
___________________________________
Christine Johnston, Secretary
____________________
Date Approved
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SPCURE Board Meeting – November 15, 2011
Attendance Record
Present
Name
Organization
Linda Boyle
Mary Dawson
Randy Giffin
Jill Piatt Kemper
Ed Burke
Al Baker
Aurora
Aurora
Aurora
Aurora
Brighton
Centennial W&S District
X
Tim Grotheer
Nick Tino
Alan Polonsky
Jon Novick
Kevin Lewis
Dave Kaunisto
Centennial W&S District
Centennial W&S District
City and County of Denver
City and County of Denver
Denver Wastewater
East Cherry Creek Valley W&S
X (phone)
Laurie Rink
Anne Beierle
Mary Gardner
Phil Russell
Dennis Stowe
Barbara Biggs
FRICO
Golden
Littleton/Englewood WWTP
Littleton/Englewood WWTP
Littleton/Englewood WWTP
Metro District
Amy Woodis
Jim Dorsch
Michelle Ryerson
Fred Linton
Blair Corning
Stephen Ellis
Metro District
Metro District
Metro District
Miller/Coors
South Adams County W&S
South Adams County W&S
JM Grebnec
Tony Congram
Vic Lucero
Shay Shih
Steve Materkowski
Christine Johnston
South Adams County W&S
Suncor Energy (U.S.A.)
Thornton
Thornton
UDFCD
Xcel Energy
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Sarah Reeves
X
Brenda Stansbury
Visiting Attendees
X
Amy Conklin
X
Coordinator - Brown and Caldwell
Brown and Caldwell
BMW Association
EPA Urban Watershed Revitalization
Coordinator (eriksen.stacey@epa.gov)
Stacey Eriksen
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