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Box Elder Basin update and stormwater master plan prioritize outfalls, funding and potential authority dissolution
Summary
Public works staff briefed the board on the Box Elder Basin Regional Stormwater Authoritys history, recent projects and a 2017 amendment that limits Wellingtons financial responsibility; staff also presented the towns stormwater master-plan project prioritization and near-term construction items. Trustees discussed Clark Reservoir funding, fee impacts and next steps toward any dissolution.
Bob Gowling, director of public works, reviewed the Box Elder Basin Regional Stormwater Authoritys 2008 origin, the Upper Basin mitigation (Inlet Canal improvements and Clark Reservoir upgrades) and the East Side detention facilities that move flows away from developed areas.
Gowling said the authoritys 2017 amendment limited Wellingtons exposure for east-side detention projects and outlined a path for dissolving the authority once projects, loans and asset distributions are complete. He said the audit committee is examining the details needed to pursue an early termination, and that key issues include operations-and-maintenance agreements (which by the original IGA would be assumed by the county), how many projects are part of the built package and how reimbursements or "true-up" amounts would be allocated back to Wellington and placed in Clark Reservoir escrow funds.
Nathan Ewerick then summarized the stormwater master plan (ICON Engineering, 2023), which prioritized projects by impact and cost. High-priority items include a number of conveyance/outfall projects to intercept Coal Creek flows and convey them to Box Elder Creek (Washington Avenue outfall, Box Elder Business Park outfall); Old Town projects such as Garfield Avenue inlet improvements and Cleveland Avenue reconstruction are lower-cost but important for localized flooding. Ewerick noted the 5th Street outfall is already under construction and that some GMA outfalls are development-driven.
Trustees asked about Clark Reservoir dredging and how Wellingtons escrow and future O&M obligations will be handled; Gowling said Wellingtons share moving forward would be 50% for Clark projects (Fort Collins 25%, Larimer County 25%) and that the true-up and escrow details will require negotiation with partners. Residents asked how to view updated flood maps; staff pointed to the FEMA Map Service Center and offered hard-copy maps at the municipal services office.
Next steps: staff will continue audit-committee work on dissolution logistics, update fee and rate analyses as appropriate, and pursue project prioritization and grant opportunities. Board members asked that planning staff coordinate stormwater projects with transportation and development schedules to reduce total cost and disruption.
