WDTU Projects Page

Clear Creek Renovation:

May 2008

FINALLY!!
After 4 years of planning, negotiating, pleading, and downright begging, construction on the Golden Mile stream restoration project got underway. In the middle of March, with flows still at an acceptable level, Frontier Environmental Services got their crews in the water and were able to complete about 750 feet of restoration work---essentially, from the Golden Kayak Course to the 6th Avenue bridge. In addition, on two consecutive Saturdays in March, a crew of WDTU members helped plant willows along the south side of Clear Creek, in hopes they will take and provide necessary shade to the water as summer descends upon us (see photo feature in this issue).
Rumor has it that fish are moving in, as evidenced by the increasing number of anglers already using the site. Seriously, though, it was a proud moment for WDTU members. Miles Williams, project director, deserves a huge round of applause for hanging in and making this dream a reality.
The contractor was only able to complete Phase I, up to the bridge. There are still several hundred feet to go. Unfortunately, the management at the Canyon-Side Condominiums still hasn’t agreed to allow us to develop the stream on their property, so we stopped work. So, rather than waiting for them, we’ve decided to bypass that property and finish the stream remediation further upstream. When it’s completed, hopefully this winter, the remediation project will extend to the newly constructed foot bridge in the Jefferson County Open Space property.
During the April Chapter meeting, a new format was tried for the monthly program. Rob Medina provided two movies that dealt with important conservation issues in Colorado. The first was called “The Land Out of Time”, and was a documentary on what is currently happening on the Roan Plateau. I was standing in the back of the audience during the showing, and heard a couple of members commenting on how the movie was too political and/or too critical of the current Administration. And, in truth, the movie was critical of the Administration. But, the Chapter’s intention was not to play the role of a political critic, but to merely point out what was going on at the Roan Plateau. And, if the 1980’s are an example, we need to get used to what is going on because there is likely more to come. It is no secret that this conservative Administration’s philosophy is that resources on the public lands are better placed in the private sector. There is nothing evil about that philosophy; it’s just unfortunate that those in charge don’t care about the environmental consequences of transferring those resources for development. Unfortunately, for us, the Roan is home to an endemic population of Colorado Cutthroat Trout. In preparing the Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Roan leasing program, the Bureau of Land Management acknowledges that this population will likely be extirpated. CTU believes that this is an unreasonable cost of development. CTU is currently working with our Congressional delegation to see if there is a reasonable alternative that would lengthen the period of development, and have it done in a way that would possibly allow the population to survive.
While any documentary of this nature has a “political” flavor to it, it is also factual. You can decide for yourself if it is an issue worthy of your time and consideration. But, it is what TU is about: the conservation of cold water fisheries. Our hope is that you will choose to contact your Representatives and Senators, encouraging them to take appropriate action.
Gary W. Frey

Sep - 2007-

The first phase of our work on Clear Creek, dubbed "The Golden Mile," will begin about 100 yards above the top of the Golden kayak course, and proceed upstream for 2500 feet to the boundary of the Grant Terry Open Space Park. For those unfamiliar with the city of Golden, Clear Creek runs east through the city, just south of 10th Street. Our project site is easily accessed by finding the intersection of Washington Ave. (the main street in Golden) and 10th Street, then driving west on 10th Street to the end. Lions Park, on the north side of 10th Street, is directly across from Golden's kayak course on Clear Creek. A paved bike and walking path on the north side of Clear Creek provides easy access upstream to the project site.

Frontier Environmental Services will use approximately 1500 tons of granite to excavate at least ten pools, and construct two 300-ft. boulder fields, six J-hooks, and 4 cross vanes in the 2500-ft. stretch. This heavy equipment work will hopefully be done before runoff, and will require approximately six weeks.

Work will begin as soon as final contracting and permitting is complete. Negotiations between CDOW and its federal counterpart, and contracting between WDTU and both Golden and Jeffco are in final stages, and finalization should
allow us to be in the water at least by mid-March.

As soon as the heavy equipment work is complete, it will be up to WDTU volunteers to do minor shovel work and cleanup, then plant many willow cuttings and other plants to re-vegetate any denuded areas of the stream bank. We plan to do much of this planting in late spring and early summer. Also, we have a memorial bench for our old friend John Connolly which must be installed this summer. Stay tuned!

Our DOW contract requires us to complete this first phase by February 2009. With successful completion of this work, many of us hope that WDTU and its current restoration partners will again enthusiastically join forces to push the Clear Creek restoration effort further upstream. We are planning on doing the major rock rolling with heavy equipment in the late fall of 2007.

Other information related to Clear Creek "Golden Mile":