Summit Cove Loop Project Updates

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Aug 16

[ARCHIVED] Swan River Restoration Project - Construction Update for Week of August 16, 2016

The original item was published from August 16, 2016 9:55 AM to August 16, 2016 9:55 AM

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 continue to work on the downstream end of the project area, including installation of a temporary Tiger Road detour to be used while the new crossing is installed next month.
Temp Detour
Crews have also placed boulders and woody debris in portions of the channel, which will provide important aquatic habitat for fish and other wildlife. This past week, we already observed fish in the channel, who are finding their way upstream through the temporary diversions. Hopefully these hearty swimmers are a good sign of what to expect once the work is complete! 

Woody Debris
Crews continue working on the upstream tie-in point at Rock Island Road. As discussed in previous blog posts, groundwater currently flows out of the gravels, feeding the new channel. This condition will likely continue until future upstream channel restoration phases are completed. However, the new upstream channel tie-in point will convey water seasonally during spring runoff and into early summer, as it did prior to the restoration work. During low flow times of year, groundwater will be the primary source of in-stream flows.
Upstream
Last week, Summit County staff also hosted representatives from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS). CPW and USFWS are two important agency project partners and it was great to have them visit the project site while it is under construction.
USFWS CPW
See if you can find the group in the photo below.
Restoration Area

As always, please understand that this is an active construction and restoration site and we ask you avoid entering the project area while restoration work is ongoing. Rock Island Road remains open, but the site itself is closed to the public. Please obey all signs posted to help protect you, the restoration site, and construction crews.

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.