River Restoration

 As a member of the Eagle River Watershed Council I make a point to volunteer for many of their projects each year. More importantly I learn something new each time and meet some great people in this valley.


Yesterday a team of seven planted willow cuttings along the Eagle River in Edwards. Over the past couple of years, The Council has taken the lead with numerous sponsors and donors to restore eroded banks of the Eagle River.

Improvements include restoring river banks, creating boat ramps, assisting with the speed of flows in the creek and overall providing a better habitat for fish and riparian wildlife.

The banks in this area looked more like cliffs and the creek was getting wider from erosion. That type of destruction does not allow plants to thrive or create healthy waters for fish and boating. Plants help stabilize banks, shades water to prevent temperatures from getting to high and can also provide food and shelter for riparian critters.

Today, Thanks to B&B Excavating the banks are graded out and seeded. The Watershed Council has gathered willow cuttings and over the past few weeks have been propagating them into the river bank. Thousands of cuttings have been planted. Willows are excellent species for creek banks, they are very hardy plants that thrive on wet soils. The success rate of all these cuttings is about 70%.

The project is nearing completion. You can get a better look at everything that has been done or yet to be done in Edwards this coming week. Visit http://www.erwc.org/ to sign up for out River Float this Friday afternoon. River guides are from the US Women's and Men's White Water Rafting Teams!

As we develop our river restoration plan on the Gore through Vail Golf Club, I see us doing some of the same practices. It is a cheap and very effective way of restoring a natural habitat.