Fossil Trace Golf Course
Submitted by: American Civil Constructors

Located in Golden, this aggressive new golf course is a historic site whose excavation turned up five dinosaur tracks and palm frond fossils on the 12th and 15th greens. As a result, ACC Golf maintained the integrity and uniqueness of the site throughout construction, adding a small museum to the course, with casts of several dinosaur tracks.

ACC preserved a number of existing rock formations and incorporated them into play throughout the course. Multiple ponds and waterways were built, including wetlands for the area's extensive wildlife. ACC moved more than 1.1 million cu yds of dirt on this challenging course.

Twenty-ft-tall pillars of sandstone emerge from the 12th fairway, reminding each player of the trace fossils of palm fronds and triceratops footprints located adjacent the 12th green.

Since the area is also a former clay mine pit, several massive relics of clay mining equipment were left in place throughout the course as a reminder of the rich history of the property. Because of the history of the site, ACC was tasked with over-excavating, lining and installing fly ash over the 20-acre landfill portion of the project.

PROJECT TEAM
Owner:	City of Golden
Architect:	James J. Engh
General Contractor:	American Civil Constructors
Cartpath:	McCaslin Brothers
Surveying:	KRW Consulting
Sod:	Pro Landscape and Nursery
Pond Liner:	Colorado Lining
Earthwork:	Satellite Electric and Tarco

Gold Hard Hat (tie)

Sheldon Lake Drainage Improvement Project
Grimm Construction, The City of Fort Collins and Sear-Brown

Following the severe flood of 1997, the City of Fort Collins raised its rainfall criteria, updated its master drainage plans, and identified a number of new projects - one of these is the Sheldon Lake Drainage Improvement Project.

The initial purpose was to remove more than 250 structures from the 100-year floodplain by increasing detention in the lake and golf course.

Improvements included enhanced water quality in the lake, habitat structures for game fish, repaved streets, new curbs and gutters, a signature hole on the golf course, a new detention pond and an extensive stormwater system under a major arterial street. Stonework with an artist's touch added to the appearance of the lake and golf course.
Concrete walks also function as weirs, providing additional drainage controls.

The most critical challenge on this project was removing more than 100 years of accumulated sediment at the bottom of the lake. First, more than 20,000 fish were removed and relocated. Then after the lake was drained, a two-month process began to scoop the sediment into 32 dump trucks, which performed 4,300 hauling trips.
Approximately 54,000 cu yds of material were used to revegetate a natural area, saving landfill space.

By accurately timing the various critical activities, city departments saved money by sharing costs and coordinating construction efforts. Timely construction of the project - $4.3 million in five months - allowed access to the areas for the summer season.

The new golf course detention pond required raising a green and re-constructing three tee boxes. Golfers temporarily gave up two strokes but now appreciate the new challenges added to the course. Park visitors are enjoying paddle boats on a clean lake, new pedestrian and bike paths, and the view from new stone overlooks on the shore.

PROJECT TEAM
Owner:	City of Fort Collins
Engineer:	Sear-Brown
Construction Manager at Risk Contractor:	Grimm Construction
Subconsultants:	EDAW Terracon Western Obermeyer Hydro Miller Ecological Consultants Ernst Engineering Water & Earth Technologies Colorado Resource Management Colorado Division of Wildlife Colorado State University Subcontractors: Bemas Construction Express Concrete Leisure Time Associates Lafarge Western

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