Running Wild Ranch

In 2023 Freestone Aquatics was contracted to perform all duties associated with the Running Wild Ranch Aquatic Habitat Restoration Project. The primary objective of the project was to restore aquatic resources of the 1.25-mile reach to a state similar in performance and function to the historic upper Colorado River and other rivers of similar size, gradient and flow regime while considering the new flow regimes of the river incorporating a 2-stage channel design. Equally as important, the project also aimed to enhance recruitment and retention of Rainbow and Brown through all flow regimes, while improving floodplain connectivity. Freestone included various treatments in the design and ultimately constructed a multitude of riffle enhancements, pool enhancements, boulder clusters, created and enhanced gravel and point bars as well as post assisted log structures (PALS). In addition, cobbles were disturbed to promote cobble migration and riparian plant communities were also a dominant design feature via point and gravel bar willow staking and relocation of willow sod mats. The finished product was that of light fingerprint left on the system using process-based approach. The careful enhancement of riffle-pool sequencing has resulted in greater numbers of both Brown and Rainbow Trout residing year-round. Similarly, tremendous results were observed after a single higher than average runoff event in all of the new depositional zones which received the expected fine inputs and established juvenile willow growth.

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