pathway to water quality report 2013
DESCRIPTION
Pathway to Water Quality Report 2013- revisedTRANSCRIPT
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Revised Report October 15, 2013
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This “Pathway to Water Quality” project implements innovative management prac-tices to protect water quality, reduce erosion, eradicate invasive species, enhance a wetland and establish native grasses and tree species while serving as an edu-cation demonstration project on the Wyoming State Fairgrounds. The project has been implemented over a 3-4 year period. In 2011, the permeable patio was installed in front of the Ag & Natural Resource Building and an ecogrid material was installed under the livestock tie out area. In 2012, a French drain system and a permeable pathway along the North Platte River was installed and the initial work was done on the constructed wetland area including in-creasing the holding capacity, creation of a stream system and interpretative area and establishment of wetland vegetation, trees and shrubs.
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Wet
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This is the wetland after the 2012 project work to expand the area and create a preliminary path-way and emulate a streambed.
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Wet
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This project has resulted in approximately 75-80 percent of the runoff from the Wyoming State Fair Park being captured and diverted to the wetland area to be filtered prior to entering the North Platte River. The Project Part-ners and volunteers have invested nearly $500,000 in enhancing the Wyoming State Fair Park and protecting water quality, while providing an educational opportunity to the more than 40,000 State Fair Park users.
The final Phase of the project was completed during the spring and summer of 2013 and included the completion of the Wetland Interpretative Park.
The wetland interpretative park is completed in 2013 transforming a drainage basin into a functional constructed wetland interpretative park.
This is the area to become the wetland interpretative park in 2011.
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Project partners participated in the volunteer days. Jennifer Zygmunt, DEQ assist with interpretative sign installation.
Tyler Haskins, State Fair grounds personnel hauls benches to the interpretative areas. The State Fair staff were integral to seeing the project through completion.
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Over 300 wetland plants were planted along the streambed areas after construction was complete and the area disturbed by construc-tion activities was reseeded.
Phipps Construction crews worked on install-ing the composite decking materials in June and July. The materials utilized were donated by Natures Composite, Torrington and are made of recycled composite materials.
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Fenc
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• In early spring, five additional cottonwood trees were planted in the wetland area.
• Construction of the patio and walkway was begun in early spring and completed in late July to com-plete the “Wetland Interpretive Park”.
• Additional wetland plants were planted along the “streambed” in the wetland area and hydro seed-ing occurred to re-establish plants where con-struction occurred.
• Five additional interpretive signs were installed to provide information on wetland vegetation, con-structed wetlands, trees role in reducing storm water runoff, wetlands and water cycles, and wet-lands benefits to wildlife.
• With the help of many volunteers, including the Douglas FFA Chapter, over 720 linear feet of split rail fence was installed around the wetland to pro-vide additional aesthetic enhancement as well as protect the area from vehicle, wildlife and live-stock damage.
Curtis Grandstaff, WACD Board of Director hauls all the fence materials to Douglas in early spring while Tyler Haskins, State Fair staff unloads. Grandstaff was integral to coordinating the installation of the perimeter fence. Special thanks to Dennis Thaler, LaGrange for the use of his flatbed to haul the materials and Grandstaff for his time and effort on the project.
Mr. Christensen, FFA Advisor and the Douglas FFA Chapter volunteer their time and energy to help with the wetland fence construction.
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Curtis Grandstaff and Bill Haas of Goshen County, shoot in the fence in June 2013.
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A number of local volunteers, Douglas FFA Chapter, local NRCS and Conservation District staff, WACD and State Fair personnel spent two and a half days installing over 700 linear feet of split rail fence around the wetland in early July.
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2013 Financial Report
Partner Investment
Encana $12,000.00 The Nature Conservancy $ 5,000.00 Wyoming State Forestry $ 355.00NACD Foundation/National Association Past Presidents Association $10,000.00 Wyoming Weed & Pest Council/Converse County Weed & Pest $ 5,000.00 US EPA/ Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality $21,500.00Wyoming Community Foundation $ 2,500.00 Cameco Corporation $ 4,000.00 Converse County Conservation District $25,000.00 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service $25,000.00 Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts $ 4,630.00Natures Composite $ 5,000.00Wyoming Ag in the Classroom $ 5,000.00
Total 2013 Partner Support $ 124,985.00
Project Costs
Engineering $ 4,188.39Project Construction $96,500.00Trees, plants and seeding $ 2,510.25Fencing $10,294.46Interpretative signage/seating $ 7,878.97Educational Tent $ 2,628.79Opening Ceremony Celebration $ 980.79
Total 2013 Project Costs $ 124,981.65
On August 12th the Opening Ceremonies and ribbon cutting at the interpretive park were held. Project partners were on hand to celebrate the final phase of the project. Also on hand were representatives from Wyoming’s Con-gressional Delegation, Governor Matt Mead’s Office, project partners and fair attendees were in attendance during the ceremonies.
A Pathway to Water Quality tent was in place during state fair. In the tent, wildlife track games, stream trailer dem-onstrations, rainfall simulator and other activities were held to educated attendees on water quality. In addition, Pathway to Water Quality promotional items such as Frisbees, beach balls and tattoos were handed out to children who participated in tent activities during the week.
Project partners officially opened the Wetland Interpretive Park during the Opening Ceremonies held August 12.
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2013 Financial Report
Partner Investment
Encana The Nature Conservancy Wyoming State Forestry NACD Foundation/National Association Past Presidents Association Wyoming Weed & Pest Council/Converse County Weed & Pest US EPA/ Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Wyoming Community Foundation Cameco Corporation Converse County Conservation District USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts Natures Composite Wyoming Ag in the Classroom
Total 2013 Partner Support
$12,000.00 $ 5,000.00 $ 440.00$10,000.00 $ 5,000.00 $21,500.00$ 2,500.00 $ 4,000.00 $25,000.00 $25,000.00 $ 4,924.77$ 5,000.00$ 5,000.00
$125,364.77
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Over 50 people gathered on August 12th to celebrate the Opening of the Wyoming State Fair and the completion of the Pathway to Water Quality project.
Project Costs
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Engineering Project Construction Trees, plants and seeding Fencing Interpretative signage/seating Education Opening Ceremony Celebration
Total 2013 Project Costs
$ 4,000.00$97,224.91$ 3,455.81$ 7,834.38$ 7,716.42$ 3,293.02$ 1,840.23
$125,364.77
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Educ
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The Pathway to Water Quality tent, funded in part by the Wyoming Ag in the Classroom Youth in Natural Resource grant program, hosted over 500 youth and adults. Educa-tional activities included stream trailer dem-onstrations, wildlife track games, agriculture production video games, and more.
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Than
k You
!