Agenda Date: 8/6/2024
Subject:
Title
Resolution 87-2024: Approving an Intergovernmental Agreement with Mile High Flood District, regarding maintenance of drainage and flood control improvements for the High Line Canal
Body
From:
James L. Becklenberg, City Manager
Prepared by:
Sarah White, Water Resources Manager
Presentations:
N/A
PURPOSE:
Does council support approving an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Mile High Flood District (MHFD), and the cities of Littleton, Greenwood Village and Denver, for MHFD to maintain select reaches of the High Line Canal (HLC) within each jurisdiction?
LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:
Safe Community; High-Quality Governance; Sustainable Community with Natural Beauty
DISCUSSION:
Since 2021, the city has participated in a multi-jurisdictional agreement to maintain portions of the HLC. Under the agreement, MHFD performs maintenance on particular stretches of the HLC that lie within Littleton. Management by MHFD allows for cost savings by providing services in a larger quantity, and management by an agency with extensive experience in such work. The activities consist of debris and trash removal, noxious weed management, tree assessment and trimming/removals. If approved, 2024-2025 is intended to be the final year of this agreement, Denver Water transferred 45 miles of the HLC ownership to Arapahoe County in 2024 and Arapahoe County municipalities are expecting discussions with Arapahoe County about future maintenance arrangements to commence soon.
Moving forward, the new Collaborative will develop a natural resource management plan that will establish procedures and guidelines to for operations and maintenance. This plan will be essential for efforts to enhance the environmental health of the corridor, detail best management practices, guide research taking place along the Canal and further support the Canal's transition to an ecological and recreational resource.
Prior Actions or Discussions
In 2019, the city ent...
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