Bitter Creek Reconstruction Plan & Design
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Bitter Creek Reconstruction Plan & Design A Master Plan for the Reclamation and Development of the Bitter Creek Drainage through Downtown Rock Springs, Wyoming December 14, 2007 Landmark Design, Inc. Master Plan for the Reclamation and Development of the Bitter Creek Drainage through Downtown Rock Springs, Wyoming Acknowledgements Bitter Creek Reconstruction and Design Master Plan Steering Committee Debby Dellai Boese Sweetwater County Fran Carrier Real Estate Dave Jensen Businessman Rennard Jensen Urban Renewal Agency Wayne Johnson Businessman Neil Kourbelas City Council/Parks and Recreation Kevin Mortensen Plaza Mall Tom Spicer Businessman Jana Pastor Businesswoman Jeff Strange Industry Craig Thompson Western Wyoming Community College Glennise Wendorff Planning and Zoning City Administration and Staff Tim Kaumo Mayor Lisa Parady Urban Renewal Agency/Housing Authority Paul Kauchich Director of Engineering and Operations Laura Crandall City Planner City Council Chad Banks Joyce Corcoran Carl Demshar Harry Horn Neil Kourbelas Kent Porenta David Tate Rob Zotti Consultant Team Jan Striefel, FASLA, AICP Landmark Design, Inc Jennifer Hale, ASLA Landmark Design, Inc Greg Poole, P.E. Hansen Allen & Luce, Inc David E. Hansen, PhD., P.E. Hansen Allen & Luce, Inc Acknowledgements December 14,2007 Master Plan for the Reclamation and Development of the Bitter Creek Drainage through Downtown Rock Springs, Wyoming Table of Contents Page 1. Introduction 1 Planning Process 1 Steering Committee 1 Public Involvement 1 Study Area 2 Organization of the Document 2 2. Background 3 The Bitter Creek Watershed 3 Historic Bitter Creek Flooding 4 Dead Horse Canyon Creek and Killpecker Creek 5 3. Existing Conditions 9 Source of Flooding 9 Water Quality 11 Sediment 11 Impacts to Land Development 11 Slopes and Channel 12 Debris and Trash 12 Vegetation 12 Adjacent Land Uses 13 Social and Cultural Context 16 4. Bitter Creek Reconstruction and Design Master Plan 21 Description of Plan Concepts 21 Flood Conveyance System Improvements 22 Greenway Improvements 27 Concept 1: Full Cooperation 28 Concept 2: Limited Cooperation 35 5. Proposed Phasing 41 6. Implementation Strategies 42 Development Review Process 42 Easements or Acquisition 42 Urban Renewal Agency 43 7. Funding Opportunities 43 State and Federal Programs 43 Local and Private Funds 46 In-Kind and Donated Services or Funds 48 Appendix Table of Contents December 14, 2007 Master Plan for the Reclamation and Development of the Bitter Creek Drainage through Downtown Rock Springs, Wyoming List of Figures 1. Bitter Creek Study Area 2. Bitter Creek Watershed 3. Dead Horse Canyon Creek detention pond locations from the1989 Flood Control Study 4. Killpecker Creek detention pond locations from the 1989 Flood Control Study 5. FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map 6. Existing Conditions: South Side Belt (East) to N Street 7. Existing Conditions: N Street to Dewar Street 8. Existing Conditions: Dewar to South Side Belt (West) 9. Existing Conditions: South Side Belt to Sweetwater Creek 10. Meander-Naturalized Section 11. Gabion-Naturalized Section 12. Gabion Section 13. Restricted Gabion Section 14. Concept 1: South Side Belt (East) to N Street 15. Concept 1: N Street to Dewar Street 16. Concept 1: Dewar to South Side Belt (East) 17 Concept 1: South Side Belt to Sweetwater Creek 18. Concept 2: South Side Belt (East) to N Street 19. Concept 2: N Street to Dewar Street 20. Concept 2: Dewar to South Side Belt (East) 21. Concept 2: South Side Belt to Sweetwater Creek List of Tables 1. Rock Springs Bitter Creek Historic Flood Events 2. Rock Springs Historic Flood Control Works 3. Flood Peak Discharges by Return Period 4. Meander-Naturalized Section Dimensions 5. Gabion-Naturalized Section Dimensions 6. Gabion Section Dimensions 7. Restricted Gabion Section Dimensions 8. Opinion of Probable Cost – Concept 1 9. Opinion of Probable Cost – Concept 2 Table of Contents December 14, 2007 Master Plan for the Reclamation and Development of the Bitter Creek Drainage through Downtown Rock Springs, Wyoming I. Introduction Purpose of the Plan The Master Plan has two purposes – one functional and engineering-based, and another that focuses on aesthetics and urban design. Both purposes will provide guidance to the reconstruction and design of Bitter Creek as it flows through the City of Rock Springs, Wyoming. Bitter Creek currently causes residential neighborhoods and commercial/retail areas to be designated within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood plain. This designation puts severe restrictions on development opportunities, requires property owners to pay additional, sometimes costly flood insurance premiums, and negatively affects community image. A primary purpose of the plan is to reconstruct the creek channel to contain flood events so that properties now shown in the flood plain can be removed from the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and the restrictions attached. The Plan will also set a framework for transforming the long-neglected eyesore into a green corridor that links neighborhoods with each other and downtown, and provides a pleasant and inviting pathway system accented with gathering places, seating places, and plazas. The creek corridor will be cleaned, planted with native riparian and upland vegetation, and over time will establish Bitter Creek as a community asset and positive reflection on the community. Planning Process The Plan was completed by a consultant team with guidance from a Steering Committee. Throughout the process, several opportunities for community involvement and public participation were provided. Steering Committee The Steering Committee was made up of fourteen (14) individuals representing the Urban Renewal Agency, the Rock Springs Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council, Sweetwater County, city staff, and local businesses and residents. The committee met three times: (1) to identify issues to be addressed in the plan, (2) to review alternatives and concepts, and (3) to make comment on the draft plan. The assistance and insight of the Steering Committee was invaluable in developing the Master Plan. It is anticipated that the Committee will remain intact and continue to work toward implementing the Plan. Public Involvement Residents of Rock Springs attended a Public Scoping Meeting on July 16, 2007. Twenty individuals signed-in at the meeting, and identified concerns and conditions along Bitter Creek that should be addressed in the Plan. Three comment forms were also returned with comments regarding Bitter Creek issues. On August 27, 16 individuals attended a Draft Plan Open House, where two development concepts were presented. In each instance, comments were collected, documented, and submitted to the Steering Page 1 December 14, 2007 Master Plan for the Reclamation and Development of the Bitter Creek Drainage through Downtown Rock Springs, Wyoming Committee for review. Comments received at both public meetings are summarized and included in the Appendix. Study Area The master plan area includes the Bitter Creek corridor from the South Side Belt Route roadway bridge on the east side of Rock Springs to the confluence of Sweetwater Creek just west of Plaza Mall. The length if approximately three miles and includes several roadway bridge crossings and pipe crossings, as well as a variety of conditions within the channel and adjacent to it. Figure 1 shows the location of the corridor, its context within the City of Rock Springs, and the limits of the study area. Figure 1 – Vicinity Map and Study Area Limits Organization of the document The document is organized in sections, beginning with this introduction, and proceeding through background information on the creek and watershed, followed by a discussion of existing conditions in the channel and on adjacent lands, a description of master plan concepts and options for design and development, and ending with phasing and implementation strategies, including funding opportunities. Reference materials are cited, and appendices are included with supporting and supplemental information. Page 2 December 14, 2007 Master Plan for the Reclamation and Development of the Bitter Creek Drainage through Downtown Rock Springs, Wyoming 2. Background The Bitter Creek Watershed Bitter Creek is part of a much larger watershed that ultimately drains to the Green River, passing through Rock Springs on its way. Thus, the larger issues about the health of the watershed, the tributaries flowing into Bitter Creek, and the land uses that take place along the creek all affect water quality, stream conditions, erosion and sedimentation. This master plan looks specifically at the 3-mile section within Rock Springs, and acknowledges that all watershed issues cannot be solved here; rather this effort is viewed as a beginning, resolving the most critical issues now and providing a catalyst and inspiration for future needs. The broader watershed issues are critical and need to be addressed by a consortium of land owners, interest groups, municipalities, and local and federal government agencies. A majority of the watershed is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (see Figure 2). The remaining portions of the watershed are privately owned with a smaller portion of State land. The City of Rock Springs has publicly stated that it is most willing to participate and collaborate with others toward improving conditions in Bitter Creek farther upstream, and in the watershed in general. “The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality 2006 State Water Quality Assessment