ERC Sprints Ahead of Spring Run-Off

Even as our good friends at Ecological Resource Consulting drove the last of the heavy machinery out of the river, the water levels were rising due to melting snow. The flow was below 50cfs for most of the construction phase. In the 10 days since then, the flow has more than tripled.

Interested in monitoring flows yourself? Use this link from the Colorado Division of Water Resources. I haven’t visited the ranch when the flows are this high – 172cfs today – but would guess that it is more or less unfishable above 100cfs.

While the in-stream work is done, there is still plenty of work remaining on the banks. Planting crews have been on-site since Monday. They started by harvesting several of the willows in the area. This is a process where stalks are cut from an existing plant and soaked in water until the roots are regenerating. The stalk is then re-planted on a stream bank to help strengthen it.

In addition, crews are seeding, laying fabric and installing new fencing. A truck load of potted, five gallon shrubs was delivered. All of the shrubs should be planted by early next week. Work is progressing well!

Rick Matsumoto
Communications Manager

ERC Under-Promises, Over-Delivers

In spite of a two week delay in getting started due to snow conditions, Ecological Resource Consultants (ERC) completed the heavy construction work a few weeks ahead of schedule!

Over 650 tons of boulders and riprap were delivered to the stream and strategically placed to create prime habitat for trout and prevent erosion of the banks. This first photo shows the trackhoe placing large boulders to create slack water in one of the bend pools. The pools are very deep to allow fish to survive the low flows typical of winter at the ranch.

This second photo shows a stretch of bank reinforcement near the downstream end of the BPR property. Erosion was a big issue the river was cutting into the hillside and causing severe erosion problems. Sections of the hillside were literally sliding down into the river. ERC reinforced the bank and placed medium-sized boulders in a long line to gently redirect the river’s current away from the bank.

The construction work was just completed and the weather wasn’t very good, but I grabbed my 5-weight and drove out to the ranch on May 10th. The new structure looked fantastic and I was sure there were several large trout in each hole. But after several hours without so much as a strike (I refuse to count the one that tried to eat my indicator), I had to conclude that it was just too soon for the fish to have come back.

It was disappointing, but it won’t be for long. Any fisherman with eyes can spend five minutes on BPR and see that it has the structure to be an outstanding fishery. The guys at ERC – Troy and Dave in particular – are to be commended. Stay tuned for a posting regarding volunteer days, most likely in July!

Rick Matsumoto
Communications Manager