This week, Summit County’s design-build team of Ecological Resource Consultants/Tezak Heavy Equipment (ERC/Tezak) continues major earthwork operations on the Swan River Restoration project site. Crews are working to complete construction of downstream segments of the new channel, backfill and abandon the old channel, and put the stream in its new alignment.

Last week, crews temporarily cut the completed upstream portions of the channel into the downstream sections with the goal of identifying any locations where the channel might lose water into the cobble substrate. As was expected, the new channel did not lose much water vertically (down, into the cobble), but the channel did lose water in several locations laterally (into the side of the channel).

This week, crews are working to address the areas of lateral water loss, complete the final downstream channel stretches, and backfill the old channel. By midweek, water should be flowing in the new channel, through the new crossing, and connecting with the existing Swan River channel downstream. This is a very exciting time for the project, as for the first time since the project started the Swan River will be permanently flowing in its new alignment!

Next week, crews will primarily focus on finish work for the year, including this year’s remaining landscape re-vegetation work. We are also excited to have recently been awarded a $59,000 grant from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, which will significantly bolster next year’s riparian revegetation planting program with more and larger plantings. More information on the final site revegetation plan will be discussed in the future.

Work is scheduled to continue through November 2016, followed by a winter shut-down period, before recommencing in spring 2017. Additional information about Swan River Restoration Project is available at RestoreTheSwanRiver.com as well as on the Open Space and Trails Special Projects web page. If you have additional questions about the restoration project, you can contact Summit County Open Space and Trails Director Brian Lorch, or Open Space and Trails Resource Specialist Jason Lederer, or call 970.668.4060.