This week, Summit County’s design-build team of Ecological Resource Consultants/Tezak Heavy Equipment (ERC/Tezak) continues major construction operations on the Swan River Restoration project site.

It’s an exciting time for the project as the new Tiger Road crossing structure was installed last week and the initial site revegetation work is underway. Last week, crews installed the new prefabricated Contech Conspan crossing structure in Tiger Road and finished pouring the bridge footings. Excluding the express footers installed the previous week, the crossing itself was delivered in 21 pieces. Later this week, crews will work to start backfilling the crossing. Because the backfill can only be placed and compacted eight inch lifts, this work will take some time. For this reason, the temporary detour will remain place around the work zone for about another two or three weeks while this work is occurring. Please continue to exercise caution and courtesy while passing through the construction site.

ERC/Tezak’s landscape restoration subcontractor, Western States Reclamation, also mobilized to the project site last week. The newly applied seed and mulch (very visible green color), as well as the erosion control blankets installed along the newly constructed stream banks represent the initial revegetation work on the project site. The riparian and upland areas are being seeded with native seed mixes selected to facilitate the restoration of a native plant palate across the site. In addition, the newly placed soils are being amended with nutrients in the form of fertilizers and biochar in order to help give the seed, as well as next year’s seedlings, an added boost while they work to become established in Summit County's challenging growing environment.

Last week, a majority of the Swan River partners gathered onsite to review this year’s work and discuss next steps for the project. Though Summit County is taking the lead on the work right now, it would not be possible without the partnership and collaboration from all of our project partners including the town of Breckenridge, U.S. Forest Service, Colorado Water Conservation Board, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Colorado Division of Mining, Reclamation, and Safety, Colorado Trout Unlimited, Blue River Watershed Group, Friends of Dillon Ranger District, National Forest Foundation, and many others. Enthusiasm among the group remains high and all are eager to continue collaborating on the restoration of the Swan River valley. 

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.