The Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, celebrated Earth Day with a final volunteer restoration project at Lower Skin Gulch.
On April 23, several organizations, including the Wildlands Restoration Volunteers and AloTerra Restoration Services, conducted the final stages of a post-fire and flood volunteer project at Lower Skin Gulch. Volunteers completed work at the site by planting native vegetation and implementing other erosion-control and bank-stability practices.
Lower Skin Gulch is located on National Forest System lands in the Poudre Canyon at the intersection of Stove Prairie Road and Highway 14. Flooding after the 2012 High Park Fire caused severe erosion and debris flows that damaged the creek, Stove Prairie Road and the main stem of the Poudre River.
Restoration work began in spring 2015. Volunteers have worked hard over the past year to control erosion, plant willows to stabilize the stream banks, spread native seeds, improve the soil through mulch and natural fertilizers, and prevent the spread of invasive plants.
This project was made possible by funding from the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, through Rocky Mountain Flycasters-Trout Unlimited.