The Rotary Club of Cheyenne in partnership with the Laramie Country Conservancy District (LCCD), Crow Creek Revival (CCR) with its local sponsors and Frog Creek Partners, LLC proposes to expand the clean water project to purchase, install and maintain four additional Gutter Bins as part of phase 2 of our clean water commitment to help prevent future contamination of Crow Creek as it passes through Cheyenne, Wyoming.
The Crow Creek Revival Project (CCR) is a multi-partner committee, led by the LCCD, to promote, enhance, restore, and revitalize the ecological value and function of Crow Creek for public enjoyment and community health. Phase 1 of the three-phase restoration project includes the 1.2 stream miles between Missile Drive and Martin Luther King Park at 16th Street. This stretch of creek is adjacent to the downtown revitalization project known as West Edge. West Edge comprises a majority of the area south of 23rd Street and west of Central Avenue. CCR is not approaching their vision as just another stream restoration project, but a revival of the very resource Cheyenne was founded upon, Crow Creek.
A critical part of the CCR is to stem the flow of pollution from Cheyenne's streets to improve the health of Crow Creek. Unless we prevent pollution from entering Crow Creek, the revitalization efforts will be unsuccessful. The CCR committee has expressed their apprehension in spending over a million dollars in stream work only to be inundated by sediment, municipal pollutants, and trash influx during every storm event. Also, the City has limited resources and initiative to take the necessary actions to limit pollution entering Crow creek, even though the City must comply with EPA Clean Water Act regulations.
Frog Creek Partners have developed a patent pending Gutter Bin™ stormwater filtration system. This system is a catch basin filter insert that can help solve the pollution problems in Crow Creek. The Gutter Bin captures many kinds of municipal pollution including trash, sediment, and hydrocarbons. It is a cost-effective device that maximizes regulatory compliance and minimizes operating costs by preventing clogged storm sewer lines. The Gutter Bins are accompanied with a Clean and Measure Pollution Service (CAMPS). CAMPS is an ongoing maintenance program where each Gutter Bin™ is cleaned and measured monthly or upon determined schedule. The empirical aspect of the Gutter Bin will help the City with future regulatory mandates within their MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) permit because of the ability to quantify the amount of pollution capture per bin.
Additional additional effected areas have been identified, of which the above partnership hopes to install Gutter Bins in 4 of those. This project will be sustained in the years to come by continued support by the LCCD, the CCR, the City of Cheyenne, Frog Creek Partners as well as the local Rotary Clubs. This is a long-term commitment to revitalize the Crow Creek area and keep our water resources clean. An additional benefit to the local community is that Gutter Bins are manufactured in Wyoming therefore helping support the local economy while also providing a global benefit to clean water.
In meeting with Frog Creek Partners and representatives from the LCCD and CCR, the Rotary Clubs feel that by using this grant to purchase additional Gutter Bins, we can make an impact not only now but for future generations of Cheyenne and Laramie County citizens. We believe that this is just the beginning of this project as more partners sign on to purchase more Gutter Bins. Recently the Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce has challenged other local businesses and other stakeholders to fund and install additional Gutter Bins in the areas feeding directly into Crow Creek. Funding and expenses for those will be secured outside the parameters of this grant or the Rotary Club. Clean water is not only important here in Cheyenne but in the world. As we are successful in reducing the pollutants that seep into Crow Creek by our stormwater system, this technology can then be used in other parts of the country and the world.
A committee was formed last year between all Rotary entities in Cheyenne to administer this project and to continue to promote and help the CCR committee in achieving their objectives. Rotarians will continue to be involved in all phases of this project. Therefore, we seek to purchase, install and maintain 4 Gutter Bin catch bins for a cost of $3,380. The Rotary Club of Cheyenne will provide the initial $2,380 to be matched by $1,000 in district funds.
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