Background Information

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Project Overview

CTU/Boulder Flycasters will implement habitat improvements and angler access enhancements along a half-mile reach of Boulder Creek between Nederland and Boulder, on a property popularly known as Rogers Park. The precise location is between 9.1 and 9.6 miles from the bridge as you enter the Canyon from Boulder. It is between highway mile markers 32 and 31 as you head towards Nederland. The reach, located on public property owned by Boulder County Parks and Open Space and the Colorado Department of Transportation (along Highway 119), offers an important fishery and riparian resource in close proximity to a substantial urban population. However, the current resource is limited in several important ways: limited aquatic habitat variety, an altered flow regime, unstable and eroding banks, an overly wide channel for the present flow regime, minimal overwintering pool habitat, and limited angler access. This project will address each of these limiting factors through:

• Low flow channel improvements - cut/fill/grade to create an effective low flow channel designed to accommodate the modified late summer and winter flow regime from Barker Reservoir.
• Creation of riffle/pool/glide sequences, mimicking more natural riverine conditions and improving habitat for aquatic life - in essence, returning the river to a natural state.
• Stabilizing eroding streambanks and revegetating with appropriate native riparian species.
• Constructing instream habitat features using available natural materials (for example, boulder clusters) to create scour pools and otherwise improve habitat conditions for fish.
• Establishing four improved stream access points to facilitate safe angler use of Middle Boulder Creek.

Work on this project will take place in three stages. First, final detailed site design and permitting will be completed. Secondly, construction (channel improvements, habitat features, bank stabilization, access points) will be conducted consistent with the final permitted design. Finally, CTU/Boulder Flycasters will revegetate the area using native riparian plants.

In completing this project, we will work with Ecological Resource Consultants, a small Colorado environmental engineering firm that has a track record of success with stream improvement projects including projects on the Eagle, Fraser, San Miguel and Blue Rivers, and Bear Creek near Evergreen. ERC will complete final site design and obtain all necessary permits, and will provide or coordinate contractor work (such as the channel improvements). CTU/Boulder Flycasters will provide volunteer support on appropriate activities such as post-construction stabilization and revegetation.

Goals of This Project

This project has four goals:

• Establish an ecologically-functional stream channel with appropriate pool/riffle/glide sequences, to enhance aquatic habitat and improve the channel’s functionality in association with the surrounding riparian habitat.
• Create instream habitat features using natural materials, to enhance holding water for the resident fish population and provide suitable overwintering pool habitats which are now lacking.
• Improve stream and riparian condition by stabilizing eroding banks and planting native riparian vegetation.
• Enhance angler access and opportunities in proximity to an urban Front Range population.

As described above, the project will address each of these goals through on-the-ground improvements.

Preserve Habitat for Other Wildlife

In addition to improving the trout habitat and public stream access, the project will also benefit the overall ecosystem surrounding the Middle Boulder Creek.  The final site design will carefully consider effectively interconnecting the wildlife habitats of this aquatic and riparian corridor by re-establishing native plants along the stream.  This is biologically important to wildlife preservation as riparian habitats support the life cycles of more than 65% of Rocky Mountain species.  The payback will extend way beyond just fish and anglers.