Project Overview

The 22-acre core of Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park was originally developed in the mid-1920s as a hydroelectric plant to provide power to the City of Loveland, 10 miles away. Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) staff constructed beautiful stone shelters on the site in the 1930s, which were used by the public. During a devastating flood in 1976, the course of the Big Thompson River changed, ultimately destroying the power plant and many of the original site features.  After that flood, the river was put back in its previous location, the power plant was rebuilt, and a more elaborate park with an urban character was constructed.  In September 2013 the river flooded again, scoured a new channel in the same location as the 1976 flood, destroyed most park features, and rendered the rebuilt power plant inoperable. Parking lots, trails, picnic and play areas, one of the historic CCC shelters, a bridge, ornamental landscape plants, and approximately four feet of earth were washed downstream.

The landscape architecture firm collaborated with City staff and led two multi-disciplinary consulting teams for two phases of design and construction, with the vision of creating a different kind of park than existed previously – a park that gracefully integrates public use into a restored, high-functioning, natural ecosystem.  The new park features a realigned and restored river, providing outdoor recreation experiences for users of all ages and abilities.  Features include trails, bridges, historic structures, picnic areas, fishing and river access, instream features for boaters and aquatic habitat, and historic/environmental education.  After the original design teams’ project was complete and the park was opened to the public, a beautiful weathering-metal sculpture was added to one of the river overlooks through the Art-in-Public Places program. The City also installed a play area using natural materials.

The project had extensive outreach to, and input from, nearby landowners, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), US Forest Service, Larimer County Natural Resources, Loveland citizens, and Colorado Parks & Wildlife. In September 2018, soon after the park opened, the project was awarded the Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers (CASFM) Project of the Year Honor Award.

Context and Special Factors

This project has several unique attributes, including:

Reconstructing the river channel.  Soon after the flood, CDOT moved the channel back north, away from where it had scoured most.  The landscape architect recommended eliminating the sharp bend and relocated the channel to where it naturally wanted to flow. The design required intensive modeling to protect key features from future floods while also creating a great river ecosystem and fishery. Rock structures create pools, riffles, and cover for fish and aquatic habitat; floodplain benches accept frequent overbank flows and increase the floodplain capacity; and riparian and wetlands complexes provide habitat and filter stormwater runoff from parking lots and adjacent US34.  Buried rock structures and rock walls are necessary to fix the main channel in the desired location, and to protect US34 and parking areas from being eroded in future large floods.

A unique design for accessible river access.  Perched decks to provide accessible fishing and river experiences have been the norm in Colorado.  The landscape architect advised the client that fishing is not productive when rivers are running at very high flows and velocities, and that standing 10 feet or more above a river when water levels recede is not a very gratifying experience.  The solution was creating a rock and concrete fishing platform that could be inundated in high flows, when fishing is not good, and river access is dangerous.  When the water recedes, a platform appears for access immediately adjacent to the river.

Greatly variable river flows. The site was designed for annual and periodic variations in the river flows. All major improvements (except the fishing platform, which is flooded in a greater than 2-year event) are located above the 10-year flood elevation, and the bridges, restrooms, and parking areas are above the 100-year flood elevation.

Integrating the layered history of the site into the design.  As part of this project, the foundation of an original 1860’s cabin was exposed, and story of Louis Papin told. Remnant structures of the 1920’s electrical generators became a focal point at the entry. Two remaining CCC era structures were restored and are being used for interpretation and picnicking.  A building constructed in the 1930’s for outdoor education for female high school students was restored and is still used for educational programs.  Boulders are strategically placed along the walk to the fishing platform to mark the water levels during the 2013 and 1976 floods, and the other flood elevations. Exhibits inform visitors of the site’s history and lessons learned over the last 100 years, such as the power of water, and the importance of functioning ecosystems.

Roles

The design teams included landscape architects, civil, structural, and hydraulic engineers, architects, electrical/lighting designers, and native plant restoration experts, and City staff.  The landscape architect assembled and led the teams, organized and facilitated the public engagement activities, had design oversight for all elements of the project, developed the overall grading, drainage, and layout plans to a design development level, and prepared enlargement plans and details for special use areas. The landscape architect also had overall responsibility for quality control and submittals for local government approvals, designed picnic shelters and premanufactured restroom customizations, and incorporated the recommended design for landscape restoration, which was developed by a specialty consultant.  The civil engineering firms developed the river hydraulic models, CLOMR/LOMR submittals to FEMA, and designed river stabilization and drainage features, parking lots, and bridge abutments.  The architect as responsible for restorations to the existing historic structures, and the electrical designer provided the design for power and lighting. City of Loveland staff handled environmental permitting, developed the interpretive signs, and managed the construction, with assistance from a project manager from the civil engineering firm.

Environmental Sensitivity and Sustainability

The river is no longer a static rock-lined channel.  New riparian and wetlands complexes provide wildlife habitat and filter stormwater runoff from adjacent US34.  The grass uplands and forests provide forage and cover for wildlife. Native plant materials were sourced from within 500 miles and adapted to the specific latitude and elevation of the site. Seed mixes were designed to reduce wildfire risk.

The parking and paving quantities were reduced, limited to that which fits within linear benches on the steep slopes without infringing upon the river. Storm water from the parking lots flows into water quality ponds that filter pollutants before being released into wetland benches along the river.  Concrete and storm drain piping quantities are reduced compared to other projects by eliminating curbs and allowing sheet flow. Lighting is low energy use, dark-sky compliant and limited to low-level security lighting in strategic locations to minimize impacts to wildlife. There is no potable water use, and all rock was harvested from the site.

Significance

Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park is significant to the public because it demonstrates how a park can be natural in character and still be beautiful and highly functional. It connects people to nature and history, and educates them on the importance of water and ecology of this life zone.  It also educates thousands of visitors who travel on US34 to visit Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. The site is at capacity every weekend when it is open – spring, summer and fall.

The project is significant to the profession because the landscape architect led a project with very complex engineering requirements and had design oversight throughout.  It is a model for how to: provide an authentic river experience for people with disabilities; successfully restore a complex native landscape; succinctly incorporate historic features and interpretation; and minimize the visual impact of new structures and improvements.