As shown in the Venetucci Farm Focus Area, the Fountain Creek Watershed Assessment for River Stability and Sediment Supply study (WARSSS) identified this reach of the creek as high priority due to the amount of sediment being contributed to the creek and the destruction of adjacent infrastructure on Southmoor Drive in Fountain, Colorado contributing to the urgency for completion. This project includes a grade-control structure, project 1-2-3 located approximately at river reach 2450+00 and project 1-2-3 located at approximately river reach 2440+00 in the Venetucci Farm Focus Area (Table 5 and Figure 3), (FMO, 2019)*. The grade-control structure will stabilize the channel and reduce channel bed erosion preventing head cuts from migrating upstream. At this site a constricted channel, again the result of anthropogenic influence upstream, flows normal to the cliff face eroding the friable shale unit at the base of the escarpment. Realignment of the channel will restore a significant portion of the bank that has threatened the adjacent Southmoor Drive roadway and building and stabilizing the embankment adjacent to Southmoor Drive will provide protection for local infrastructure.

Benefits of the Southmoor Drive project are consistent with Monetary Mitigation Fund (MMF) project requirements per condition six of the Permit by reducing sediment input to the main channel of Fountain Creek and the protection of infrastructure. Preliminary project costs are estimated to be a total of $6,000,000 with $600,000 provided by the City of Fountain and $700,000 expected to be received from grant funds (Table 6). The additional funds will be provided by the Fountain Creek Watershed District.*

*Updated November 2024.

•  Fountain Creek Watershed Assessment for River Stability and Sediment Supply study (WARSSS) 
•  Fountain Creek Flood Management Opportunities Study
•  Project description from Capital Improvement Plan 2023