Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park

Summary

Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park is a park and natural area along the Big Thompson River and US34. The park was destroyed in 2013 by a devasting flood. This reconstruction was the opportunity to create a more resilient river and public park that is appropriate for its setting in the Foothills Life Zone of the Rocky Mountains. The park features a realigned and more natural river, native aquatic and terrestrial habitat restoration, trails, picnic areas, river access, and educational exhibits and structures. A unique platform provides an authentic river fishing experience for users of all abilities, overlooks and benches are located along the trails, and visitors can learn about the history and ecology of the site. Remnants of a 1920’s hydroelectric plant, a settlers’ cabin from the 1860s, Civilian Conservation Corps shelters, and other historic structures provide not only visual interest, but are a reminder that many lessons learned in the past are still relevant today. The park is loved by Loveland residents and visitors, and is at capacity every weekend that it is open.

Narrative

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.

Plant List

Click here for detailed plant lists with volumes and quantities.

PHASE 1:

Uplands zone – Uplands above terraces and wetlands

Achnatherum hymenoides                      indian ricegrass RIMROCK

Agroslis scabra                                      bentgrass

Bouteloua gracilis                                   blue grama

Bouteloua cuttipendula                          sideoats grama

Bromus ciliatus                                       fringed brome

Bromus marginatus                                mountain brome BROMAR

Elymus trachycaulus                               slender wheatgrass FIRST STRIKE

Festuca arizonica                                    Arizona fescue REDONDO

Nasella viridula, Slipa viridula                 green needlegrass

Pascopyrum smithii                                Westem wheatgrass ARRIBA

Triticale                                                 

 

Riparian zone – Overbank terraces and zones between wetlands and uplands

Elymus canadensis                                  Canada wildrye

Elymus lanceolatus                                 thickspike wheatgrass

Elymus trachycaulus                               slender wheatgrass

Nasella viridula                                       green needlegrass

Panicum virgatum                                   swtichgrass

Pascopyrum smithii                                Westem wheatgrass

Slipa robusta                                           sleepygrass

 

Shrubs and Trees – Location as directed by landscape architect

Acer glabrum                                          Rocky Mtn. maple

Chrysothamnus nauseosus                     rabbitbrush

Comus sericea                                         red-osier dogwood

Prunus virginiana var melanocephala    chokecherry

Prunus americana                                   American plum

Rhus trilobata                                         threeleaf sumac

Ribes cereum                                          wax currrant

Rosa woodsii                                           Wood’s rose

Salix amygdaloides                                 peachleaf willow

 

Trees (as shown on plans)                    

Pinus ponderosa                                     Ponderosa Pine

Populus deltoides                                   Plains cottonwood

Populus X acuminata                              lanceleaf cottonwood

Psuedotsuga menziesii                           Douglas fir

 

 

Cuttings/Poles – On riparian floodplain as directed by landscape architect

Populus deltoides                                   Plains cottonwood

Populus X acuminata                              lanceleaf cottonwood

Salix amygdaloides                                 peachleaf willow

Salix bebbiana                                       Bebb’s willow

Salix irrorata                                           blue-stem willow

Salix lucida var caudata                          Shinning willow

                                                               

Coir Lift Cuttings – average 1 per every 18″

Salix amygdaloides                                 peachleaf willow

Salix bebbiana                                         Bebb’s willow

Salix irrorata                                           blue-stem willow

Salix lucida var caudata                          Shinning willow

 

Phase 2                                                

Upland Seed Mix – Uplands above terraces and wetlands – Native Grasses

Achnatherum hymenoides                      indian ricegrass RIMROCK

Agrostis scabra                                       bentgrass

Bouteloua gracilis                                   blue grama

Bouteloua curtipendula                          sideoats grama

Bromus marginatus                                mountain brome BROMAR

Elymus trachycaulus                               slender Wheatgrass FIRST STRIKE

Festuca arizonica                                    Arizona fescue REDONDO

Nasella viridula / Stipa viridula               green needlegrass

Pascopyrum smithii                                Westem wheatgrass

Triticale                                                  

 

Native Grass-Like Plants and Flowers  

Carex nebrascensis                                 Nebraska sedge

Carex praegracilis                                   Clustered Field Sedge

Distichlis spicata                                     Inland saltgrass

Eleocharis palustris                                 common spikerush

Helianthus nuttallii                                 Nuttal’s sunflower

Juncus torreyi                                          Torrey Rush

Panicum virgatum                                   switchgrass

Shoenoplectus acutus                             hardstem bulrush

Shoenoplectus tabemaemontani            softstem bulrush

Sorghastrum nutans                               Indiangrass

 

Native Shrubs and Trees (gallon container unless otherwise specified

Acer glabrum                                          Rocky Mtn. maple

Chrysothamnus nauseosus var nau        rubber rabbitbrush

Comus sericea                                         red-osier dogwood

Prunus virginiana var melanocephal      choke cherry

Prunus americana                                   American plum

Rhus trilobata                                         three leaf sumac

Ribes cereum                                          wax currrant

Rosa woodsii                                           Wood’s rose

Pinus ponderosa                                     Ponderosa pine – quart

Populus deJtoides or P. X acuminat        cottonwood – 5 gallon

Populus deltoides or P. X acuminat        cottonwood – ball & burlap

Pseudotsuga menziesii                           Douglas fir  – quart

Salix amygdaoides                                  peachleaf willow

Populus deJtoides or P. X acuminat        cottonwood – cuttings

Populus deltoides or P. X acuminat        cottonwood – poles

Salix amygdaoides                                  peachleaf willow – cuttings

Salix bebbiana                                         Bebb’s willow – cuttings

Salix exigua spp. Interior or exigua         Coyote willow – cuttings

Salix irrorata                                           Blue-stem willow – cuttings

Salix lucida var caudata                          Shinning willow – cuttings

 

Documents and Media

Planning Docs (if applicable):

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