9496

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

Location:

Legal: T41 N. R6E. Sec. 10 & II
The restoration site is located approximately 3 miles fi'om
the town of LaGarita, Colorado in Saguache County.

Landowners:

Public Lands Managed By: Bureau of Land Management
1921 State Street
Alamosa, CO 8110 I
Contact: Mike Cassell [phone]

Restoration
Objectives: Improve grazing management, enhance fish and wildlife habi-
tat, and increase recreational opportunities.

Directions: From the store in LaGarita, travel west approximately 1.5
miles. Turn south on County Road 38A and travel 2 miles. LaGarita Creek cross-
es the road at this point. There is a parking area and walk in access to the site.

Goals: The BLM acquired the LaGarita Creek property in 1987. This
parcel encompasses 1375 acres including about 1.25 miles of the creek. The area
had been heavily grazed and was in a degraded state. The BLM initiated restora-
tion efforts to bring back the creek to a more acceptable condition.

Methods: A coordinated resource management plan was designed to
address the issues of improvements to tisheries, recreational opportunities,
wildlife habitat, and riparian and upland vegetation. The plan involved a 4 to 5
year rest from grazing and included a change from the previous grazing system.
In addition, banks were stabilized with anchored logs supplemented with wil-
low/aIder plantings. Banks were regraded and seeded with a wetland seed mixture
in areas where the stream was deeply entrenched.
Submerged shelters such as trees were placed in the creek to provide
cover and add to bank stability. Single and double-winged detlectors were used to
direct and increase stream !low in the channel. The Collegiate Peaks chapter of
Trout Unlimited performed most of the work and can be credited with the success
of this project.

Results: Overall quality results are evident throughout the restoration
area. Channel morphology has improved and the creek now contains attributes
that are conducive for fish habitat. The stabilized banks are helping to prevent
erosion from occurring. The rest from grazing has given the vegetation a chance
to rebound and alder and willow trees have established on the banks of the creek.
The BLM hopes to sustain the present healthy condition through continued man-
agement and monitoring.

4 Driving Guide . Arkansas Watershed -