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
Posted by mudcrutch 