South Platte River Re-Restoration - Field Sport Concepts LTD.Field Sport Concepts LTD.

The Middle Fork of the South Platte River is located on the eastern side of the Continental Divide in Park County, Colorado. It’s a flashy, snowmelt-driven system with half of the annual streamflow occurring in May, June, and July.

When FSC affiliate Trout Headwaters, Inc. was called in to assess this recreational fishing property, it was clear that a failed restoration attempt had created additional problems for the landowner. THI first worked to repair to restore a self-maintaining, channel morphology to the stream. Judicious use of bioengineered vegetative treatments provided the foundation for long-term stability and increased productivity of the channel.

Borrow-site willows were transplanted to on-stream locations to provide immediate shallow-water fish cover and vegetation. Longer-term streamside plantings such as willow bundles provided cover, and selective use of on-site conifer and juniper trees served as bank revetment in areas of lower erosive force. Additional treatments provided moisture retention for the willow, immediate fish cover, and debris capture.

Suitable reaches with good potential for regeneration of riparian vegetation were planted with native grasses, forbs and willows to increase biodiversity, add shade and cover, and provide ideal edge habitats for trophy fish.