Standley Lake Protection Project Wetland Mitigation
Westminster, CO

The innovative water distribution system designed by AWC utilizes a check dam and spreader ditches to convey water to the entire site.

The mitigation plan is based on the original conceptual design prepared by AWC, which incorporates an innovative water distribution system and low disturbance vegetation planting techniques.  AWC began the first phase of the project, data collection, in the summer of 1994. This included vegetation identification, soils analysis, native seed collection, final design of the water distribution system, and preparation of construction specifications and plans.  The second phase was initiated in the fall of 1994 and included the construction of the wetland mitigation site, the water distribution system, access roads, a parking area, an access gate, and boulder check structures in the bypass channels.
  

Vegetation for the project was obtained from three sources: 1) collection of seed from onsite native species; 2) nursery-propagated species; and 3) collection of native tree and shrub cuttings from offsite.  Seeds of native sedges, rushes and grasses were collected onsite during Phase I.  Additional sedges, rushes and leadplants were grown at AWC's nursery facilities in Fort Lupton, CO.  Willows and cottonwoods were harvested from local sources with the help of youths from the Denver Area Youth Services.

Phase three of the project was completed in the summer of 1995 and included hydrologic testing of the water distribution system, adjustments and modifications to grades and structures, and the implementation of the wetland planting plan.  The planting plan includes a 1.9-acre sedge/rush zone, an 8.4-acre willow/shrub zone, a 0.8 acre cottonwood/shrub zone, and a 1.8 acre leadplant zone.

Project after the first growing season.

Project during 1999 growing season.