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<br />slide areas of the road would have to be repaired, and a temporary bridge may be required across <br />West Willow Creek. In addition to a dozer to restore the road, a dump truck, backhoe, <br />excavation, or heavy winch equipment may be required. Several timber cribbings could possibly <br />be restored. Approximately $25,000 may be needed to complete the project. <br /> <br />Channel Improvements <br />During flood events, Willow Creek will be highly erosive. In addition, many stream areas have <br />been disturbed by mining or road building activities. Therefore, general channel improvements <br />were recommended for Upper Willow Creek. In other mountain streams similar to Upper <br />Willow Creek, the installation of vortex weirs, and the planting of willows to stabilize banks <br />have proven to be the most successful measures to stabilize banks and decrease high sediment <br />transport and erosion rates. The vortex weirs would be constructed of large boulders with <br />adequate foundations placed on spacings of about 3.5 to 4 times the bankfull width. Both <br />measures would also improve aesthetics and potential fish habitat in the stream. <br /> <br />Further evaluation is needed to determine the most beneficial locations to improve stream <br />conditions with willow planting and vortex weirs. Willow re-vegetation would be beneficial <br />throughout the area. Upper Willow Creek between the flume and the confluence have many <br />potential locations, and current fish populations could benefit from re-vegetation of smaller <br />disturbed areas in East Willow Creek. High velocities and bank erosion could be reduced <br />between cross-section 20 (below the confluence) and cross-section 25 on West Willow Creek <br />using vortex weirs, as well as in the area of the mining museum restoration (described earlier). <br />East Willow Creek from the confluence through North Creede could also be improved with <br />vortex weirs, although channel reshaping may also be beneficial between cross-sections 12 and <br />14. Upstream sediment sources could also be protected with willow and vortex weirs. <br /> <br />Sediment Source Controls <br />Locations of potential sediment sources were mapped, and many of these sources in the Willow <br />Creek watershed should eventually be addressed. However, the most critical sources are <br />probably those of mine tailings or fine sediment sources that are in direct contact with the creek. <br />Locations of critical sediment sources that may be directly available for erosion and transport by <br />Willow Creek were mapped. Further investigation is needed to prioritize these sources and <br />design site-specific control measures. <br /> <br />IX <br />