PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release
December 9, 1999

For more information contact Chuck Wanner, (970) 484-0810

City of Fort Collins Downtown River Corridor Implementation Program - Friends of the Poudre Policy Statement

Friends Of The Poudre's primary mission is monitoring, protecting, and advocacy for the Cache La Poudre River and its watershed. Our comments and perspectives on the City of Fort Collins Downtown River Corridor Implementation Program (DRCIP) and other issues affecting the Cache La Poudre River in the downtown area are based upon this perspective. We believe that a majority of Fort Collins residents want the downtown river corridor to be left in a natural state, free of encroaching developments. As a contrast to the thriving economic scene in the downtown area, a less developed river corridor will offer a welcome respite to what is already there. This contrast and compliment will continue to attract people-not only for the built-environment but also for the natural one. The vitality of downtown will be enhanced, and the river will be protected. This scenario is our vision for the future of this river. We all need to expand the notion of what is possible for this river, both in the wilds of its canyon and along the banks of its urban reach.

Overview
Friends Of The Poudre sees the Poudre River corridor as a vital, functioning entity. The river is important for a wide variety of life, including humans, many of which are dependent upon a healthy, biologically functioning, and hydrologically unimpeded river. We believe that the preservation and protection of the river-and the life it supports-is the most important aspect of any program or plan that affects the river. Modifying, containing or disturbing the river's natural processes are to be avoided.

Changes to the river corridor's ecological integrity can be either positive or negative. Friends Of The Poudre can only support those that are positive. Of prime importance is ensuring that riverside clean-up, riparian restoration, streambed engineering, urban development and redevelopment, and other efforts that would change or impact the downtown river corridor and its riparian areas are accomplished in a way that protects and preserves the natural qualities of the river and helps restore its natural features.

Corridor Boundaries
We agree with the currently defined boundaries of the downtown river corridor as detailed by the City of Fort Collins Downtown River Corridor Implementation Program-those boundaries being the full reach of the river from College Avenue to Mulberry Street. However, we also believe that to more fully embrace the entire spectrum of river issues (biologic, social, and economic) and in this area, the boundaries should be extended upstream to include all of Martinez and Legacy Parks and downstream to approximately River Bend Ponds. While we are not suggesting that the scope of the DRCIP be expanded (nor that the initial boundary definitions were wrong), we are saying that planning for protection, acquisition, and development, in the downtown river area has broader implications to the larger urban river environment and thus, a somewhat broader view should be taken which focuses on this larger urban reach of the river.

Values and Beliefs About the River
Friends Of The Poudre stands by its values and beliefs about the river. We want to ensure that the river and its riparian corridor is protected-whether in a wilderness setting or an urban environment. Below are some finer points to further expand on our general philosophies.

Downtown River Corridor Related (D)

• D1. Priority should be placed on redevelopment of existing areas rather than promoting new development on currently undeveloped land.
• D2. Undeveloped land in the river corridor should be acquired by the City and used for public purposes. Most of this publicly-owned property should be left primarily as natural with some opportunities for small scale park-like facilities and/or small scale community facilities.
• D3. Land not now developed on the north side of the river-and after its acquisition by the City-should be left in a natural state with no infrastructure development outside the scope of what currently complies with City of Fort Collins Natural Area guidelines and regulations. This includes adherence to all buffer zone requirements and flood plain regulations.
• D4. Land on the south side of the river, that is currently developed, should be considered for redevelopment efforts-either public, private or in partnerships.
• D5. The City should partner with the private sector to identify funding mechanisms to acquire redevelopment and bare land sites.
• D6. Development in any areas within the 100-hundred year flood plain should be prohibited. The city should fairly negotiate with owners of property in the 100-year floodplain, whether on the north or south side of the river corridor, and purchase these parcels for ultimate conversion to a natural state. In these negotiations the rights of property owners should be given due consideration.
• D7. The Downtown River Corridor Implementation Program and the review of the City's 100-year floodplain regulations are related. The DRCIP should be formulated with this in mind.
• D8. Plans for existing neighborhoods that are threatened by flooding should be given special consideration within the context of this plan. Protective measures should strike the best balance between public cost, protection of people, and protection of the river corridor.

General River Corridor Related (G)

• G1. Raise the priority for all river projects and enhancements to always include improving the ecological condition of the river.
• G2. The river should be allowed to define its own course within the 100-year floodplain mapped by Federal Emergency Management Authority (FEMA) and the City of Fort Collins. The 100-year floodplain is often a flash floodplain, meaning that floods in our region can and do occur very rapidly and without much warning.
• G3. The flood danger zone should be defined as those areas where the 500 year floodway overlaps the 100-year floodplain. To minimize future human tragedy and property loss, new construction or redevelopment should occur beyond this zone.
• G4. The total number of acres in riparian wildlife habitat is increased or remains the same.
• G5. Recognizing that existing wildlife movement corridors may not be ideal because of past misdeeds, they nevertheless provide important habitat. They have been impacted by past human use, but they should be preserved and enhanced from Martinez Park to River Bend Ponds.
• G6. Riparian habitats within the 100-year flood plain should be allowed to renew as a result of flood events.
• G7. Native vegetation (for example Plains Cottonwood, Choke Cherry, Coyote Willow) are given a chance to establish and reestablish themselves and aggressive exotics such as (but not limited to) Russian Olive, Canada Thistle, and Leafy Spurge are discouraged and/or removed.
• G8. Reinforcement of the river banks is not in the best interests of a naturally flowing river. Bank stabilization seems cost effective in the short run but has proven, in the long run, to cause negative impacts both upstream and downstream and require ever increasingly ecologically intrusive and financially expensive impacts to river systems. Streambank reinforcement should not be the method of choice for protecting man-made features. There are many alternatives to hardening the banks and locking the river into its current course.
• G9. Existing man-made structures and natural features (both up and downstream of the downtown river corridor) remain unaffected by new development or redevelopment. This will lessen the need for new channelization or bank stabilization efforts.
• G10. Armoring or stabilization of stream banks or adjacent ponds should be allowed only where necessary to protect significant existing public or private infrastructure. Bank stabilization projects often result in channelization of the river. Channelization can lead to erosion and bank damage during flood events. All such projects should be carefully analyzed on a case-by-case basis.
• G11. Water quality should be improved beyond its current level and not degraded as a result of changes made in the river corridor.

Conclusion
The Cache la Poudre River is the most valuable natural resource in the city of Fort Collins. Its riparian areas provide essential habitat for wildlife and provide humans with matchless beauty, tranquility and opportunities for escaping the urban scene. To disturb this amenity in a damaging way would be counter productive to the health and quality of life in this community.

Friends Of The Poudre greatly appreciates the opportunity for discussion that the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce and the Poudre River Trust has offered. We hope that our discussions have been productive and that they will ultimately result in fostering an agreeable and equitable solution for both protecting the river and promoting appropriate economic development within the downtown river corridor.