9496

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9496
• Author: Colorado Riparian Association
• Title: Editor
• USFW Year: Series
• USFW - Doc Type: no date
• Copyright Material: NO

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Location:

Land Owners:

Restoration
Objectives:

The project begins at the headwaters of Straight Creek,
which is just north of the Eisenhower Tunnel West Portal.
The creek f10ws approximately eight miles west to a
conf1uence with the Blue River below Dillon Reservoir. The
conf1uence is next to the Silverthorne Factory Outlet Stores.

u.S. Forest Service
Dillon Ranger District
Silverthorne, Colorado
Contact: Kathleen Phelps, USFS, [phone]
Leased to: Colorado Department of Transportation,
District # I
18500 E. Colfax
Aurora, Colorado 800 II
Contact: Terri Tiehen, CDOT, [phone]
Or Wes Gon: Eisenhower Tunnel, [phone]

Slope rehabilitation and water quality mitigation

Description: This area is leased by the Colorado Department of
Transportation (CDOT) from the U.S. Forest Service in order to operate this
stretch of Interstate 70. Habitat damage, sediment loads, and clogging of Dillon's
water intake structures have resulted from severe slope erosion and sanding of
1-70.

Directions: The restored section of Straight Creek begins at the west side
of the Eisenhower Tunnel and continues along the south side of 1-70 to the
Silverthorne Factory Outlet Stores. A USFS access road to the creek is located on
the lower portion of the watershed.

Goals: Straight Creek serves as the water source for the town of Dillon
and therefore improvements to water quality were a primary goal of this restora-
tion effort. The headwaters of the creek coincide with a steep mountain pass that
receives heavy year-round use and is consequently subjected to constant sources
of degradation. As the primary conduit from Denver to the major recreational
areas on the western slope, the amount of tratTic has continued to escalate over the
past several years. This increase in use has resulted in a significant increase in the
amount of sediment loading to the creek. Highway sanding, in conjunction with
severe slope erosion due to the steep gradient, has led to habitat damage through-
out Straight Creek.

26

Driving Guide . Colorado Watershed