by Lorraine Masonheimer

The fledgling blades of native grasses clinging to the side of the eroding WinterBerry hill just received a lifeline. In June, the Metro District Board of Directors approved a $20,000 hillside erosion project for the WinterBerry community located at Monarch Boulevard and Buffalo Trail.

The twenty-five homes affected back to Buffalo Trail from Rock Cress Way to Winter Ridge Road. The project will introduce non-irrigative native grass seed, soil amendments and a blanket to control erosion to 2.85 acres of nearly sterile ground.

American Civil Contractors (ACC) will plant the grass seed using Flexterra® FGM and Sustane®; two products many states use for vegetating rough terrain. The grass will begin to root within two months and mature in three to seven years.

Charlie Fagan, Metro District Parks and Open Space Manager, will continue to monitor the hillside and make adjustments as needed. “Our immediate goal is to provide a better environment for roots to grow. As the grass matures, the hillside will receive more trees and shrubs as part of the District’s on-going multi-year improvement project,” Fagan said.

Completion of the WinterBerry hill erosion project should provide a solid foundation for future landscaping. The project is expected to begin within the next few months and will take one week to install.

For additional information about the project, contact the Metro District at 303-688-8550 or email .