River restoration focuses on penetrating radar

Discussing potential funding sources and how to receive the funding was the primary topic for the River Restoration meeting held last Thursday. The meeting was held a week after their monthly meeting to smooth out plans for the geothermal penetrating radar (GPR), sand bar removal and intended funding sources.

Joe Parsons and Glen Leavengood, from the Saratoga Encampment Rawlins Conservation District, expressed their concerns about the committee focusing attention on the sandbar removal—which is considered dredging and is not qualified as an “approved scientific” Best Management Practice. “I think that’s a city council deal (the sand removal). This committee, in my opinion, needs to stay focused on a long term solution,” said Parsons.

The focus then turned to the GPR to determine bedrock depth and to locate utilities.

In terms of finding existing funding for the GPR, Stacy Crimmins, chief executive officer for the Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce, suggested looking into the Laura Jane Musser Fund. She thought their Environmental Initiative Program would be applicable for the restoration project. The Environmental Initiative Program grant could provide up to $35,000 in planning services for the restoration project. Another idea was looking into different crowdsourcing websites.

Jeff Streeter, project manager for the Platte Valley Trout Unlimited, suggested seeing if local energy companies would have the resources to provide the town with the GPR pro bono.

In order to receive funding for the GPR, the committee discussed the difference between grouping with an existing 501(c)3 (nonprofit organization) versus becoming a Watershed Improvement District (WID).

A WID allows residents to have a more hands-on role by having elected officers who make decisions. It would help involve residents that are upstream and downstream from the town. However, this would take some time, according to Leavengood. “We have to delineate all the land that’s going to be within the district and all of the owners of the land.”

The next meeting will be held April 15 at 1 p.m. in the Saratoga Town Hall.