One crossing in particular, where Idylwild meets Carter Trail, is also a school bus pick-up spot for the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD). Buses that stop here serve students attending Heatherwood Elementary School, Platte Middle School and Fairview High School. 

The problem lies about 50 feet east of this intersection, where it appears that drainage from BCC property meets a speed control dip on Idylwild.

Water appears to run off from a drainage ditch on BCC property, just behind the number two green. At first glance, the water seems to bring soil and sediment onto the sidewalk as it flows into Idylwild and collects in the speed dip. Several seasons of flooding and freezing have caused obvious water damage to this section of road.

Gunbarrel resident and Courier columnist, Louise Alderson became aware of the drainage problem a few years ago while on her usual morning walk. After an evening rain she noticed that the high school students waiting for their 6:42 a.m. bus were standing in the street east of their stop rather than to the side at the golf cart crossing. The students had to move to avoid sloshing through deep puddles of water collected in the speed dip on Idylwild, where flooding is frequently a problem.

The first time she noticed flooding, Alderson contacted the BCC to bring it to their attention. She also contacted the BVSD transportation department, but nothing was done to correct the problem.

Last fall she notified a neighborhood watch officer that periodic flooding still persisted. Again, nothing was done.

Now that it is spring and the snow is turning to rain, it is apparent to residents near the 19th Tee that again, nothing has been done to resolve the drainage problem. One resident pointed out that leaves which collected in the 
golf course drainage ditch last fall are still there.

When the Courier contacted BCC, the staff was polite and cooperative. One grounds department employee said that they were aware of the drainage problem and verified its location behind the number two green, just before the intersection of Idylwild and Carter Trail. He said, "We have been having a problem with it. We’ve been trying really hard to clean it out." 

The manager of BCC’s grounds department said that although it appears that water runs off from the course onto the street, the reality is quite the opposite. According to the BCC grounds manager, Idylwild and Carter Trail (turning south) actually drain water onto the golf course. For this reason, he said, the BCC has created dikes and ponds in what he described as "an extensive draining program to redirect the water." 

The BCC believes the source of the problem lies not in their neglect, but in poor county planning. According to the grounds department manager, "The county did not plan for storm drainage when the roads around the course were first built." 

When examining the area, it does appear that a dip in the road to slow traffic only exacerbates the problem. Maintenance of the road with the addition of a speed bump and storm drainage underneath could be one solution. 

The Boulder County Department of Transportation claimed it was unaware of a drainage problem. David Webster, supervisor for flood control and drainage, said that a drainage problem at this location would be the responsibility of the BCC. 

The BVSD Transportation Office was also unaware of flooding near the bus stop at Idylwild and Carter Trail. The school district did express concern and was very helpful in providing information. The drivers for routes to all three schools did not return phone calls. 

Periodic flooding on Idylwild and on the sidewalk near the BVSD bus stop has been a problem for several years, but a resolution does not appear to be in sight. Area residents and the BCC are concerned about the flooding, yet no one has taken any action to solve the problem. And although county roads like Idylwild continue to undergo more damage each winter, it appears the county has no plan to address the situation at this time. 

So for the time being "Not I" is the only answer Gunbarrel Greens residents hear.
 

Photo by Dan Maduff

Seasonal flooding at Idylwild and Carter Trail in Gunbarrel Greens has been a problem for years. So far residents’ complaints have fallen on deaf ears.