During the meeting held by the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) on Tuesday, April 7, the board unanimously approved a grant agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to provide technical and financial assistance to the county for the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program No. 5097 for the implementation of recovery measures, with the county sponsoring an amount not to exceed $106,295.
“The EWP Program offers technical and financial assistance to help local communities relieve imminent threats to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms and other natural disasters that impair a watershed,” the program’s website explains.
Public Works Director Mike Torres presented the matter to the BoCC, noting that it was not discussed earlier in the day at the BoCC’s work session.
Torres explained that the request is for a “sponsored cost,” describing it as “pretty much” a local match.
He noted the ask is for 25 percent of the project’s construction costs.
County Manager Longinos Gonzalez explained that this aspect of the agreement is only for the county’s supported part of the project, dealing with river restructuring along County Road 500.
He noted that the state will provide a 12.5 percent match, as well, and that the county would get reimbursed for those costs.
Gonzalez clarified that this portion of the project is only dealing with county land and not any private residences.
Torres explained that the total construction cost for the project is $827,362, with 75 percent of that being funded by the NRCS, at an amount of $620,521.50, leaving 25 percent of the project costing $206,840.50.
“So, that’s if all the projects were to be funded,” Torres said, explaining that the county is not going to fund that much and that his request is capped at $106,295.
Gonzalez also clarified that by the BoCC approving the agreement, the county is still not obligating those funds at this time.
Torres explained that a lot of work has been done in communicating with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Bureau of Reclamation in order to get everyone on the same page about what is being done with this project.
Torres commented that the issue on County Road 500 has been a problem “for years.”
He also explained that the county budgeted $1.3 million for capital outlay projects this year, and that with the Pines Drive resurfacing project coming in way under budget, there is an additional $500,000 that could be put toward this project, “just because it’s in such dire need.”
County Attorney Cathleen Giovannini explained that the ask is for $106,295, but that it is almost certain the state is going to reimburse 12.5 percent of the county’s costs.
Torres noted that if the state grants come through, that would leave the county’s cost for the County Road 500 project at roughly $52,000.
He also mentioned there are other projects throughout the NRCS, but that the only one being referenced during the meeting is the County Road 500 project to build up the riverbank.
>