Geological Society of America

T100 2YC and 4YCU Geoscience Student Research Exhibition (Posters)

Monday, 16 October 2023
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Hall B

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE RESILIENT ST VRAIN PROJECT: HOW GEOMORPHOLOGY AND MACAROINVERTEBRATES PROVIDE INSIGHT TO FLOOD MITIGATION EFFORTS IN NORTHERN COLORADO

Paper number: T100-8
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Authors

Danielle Matthews Presenting Author
University of Denver, Lakewood, CO
Sharon Bywater-Reyes
University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO
Sara Agard
Central New Mexico Community College, Albuquerque, NM
Keaton MacMillan
University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO
Sarah Holland
University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO

Abstract

The St. Vrain Creek flood of 2013 was a catastrophic 100-year flood that displaced hundreds of people and caused billions of dollars in collective damages, wreaking havoc on the people of Longmont, Colorado. In response, in 2016, the city of Longmont started a multi-year restoration project called The Resilient St. Vrain Project (RSVP). The purpose of this proposal is to repair and revitalize the St. Vrain floodplain, bridges and trails.

Over the course of our 11-week internship, we have monitored changes occurring within the St Vrain Creek channel through satellite mapping, charting flow frequency, as well as conducting sediment and macroinvertebrate surveys. This gave us the opportunity to observe how vegetation, bug life, and water flow impacted the river prior to, and after, restoration. We characterized sediment deposits along the creek using the Wolman method and then examined macroinvertebrates to infer water quality from upper (restored) to lower (controlled) stretches of the river. After plotting our findings, we were able to identify patterns of change, which enabled us to contribute to the RSVP knowledge base as well as identify what may be necessary for future restoration activity.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 55, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2023AM-394996

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