Southwest - ValleyFloor_TellurideStreamRestoration_Final Report

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Channel Excavation: The channel construction plans proposed an excavator working within the new channel from the downstream and upstream connections with haul trucks travelling along a temporary reinforced road system, moving materials into a 6-acre sorting and storage area west of the project. (This material would be used to refill the deserted channel.) Before channel excavation began, multiple site-specific challenges with the storage area were discovered, including unoccupied (but potential) prairie dog burrows; a still-flowing spring because of high water conditions and concerns about the potentially distressing appearance of a (temporary) 5-foot-tall, 5-acre pile of soil and other excavated materials. Simultaneously, Tezak Heavy Equipment,the equipment operator subcontractor,was concerned about high water levels in the new channel and began additional analysis.They determined that a pair of specialized lighter-weight ground energy haul trucks were needed to replace the heavier haul trucks. Concurrently, the channel construction plans were revised to create a more efficient excavation process. By targeting spoils distribution in higher elevation areas immediately adjacent to the new channel, constructing immediate bank stabilization, and moving additional materials into the already-disturbed area of the upstream tailings mitigation site, the project team came up with a solution that responded to conditions in the field, and eliminated the problems areas of the material storage site. The changes ultimately maintained the project schedule and budget and greatly reduced construction disturbances. After the initial month-long delay, Tezak equipment operators, guided by the ERC field crew,worked with amazing speed and delicate skill.VFPP and the Town decided at this juncture to initiate a film project using time-lapse photography and drones to document construction. By the time cameras arrived and were installed one week later in an upper reach of the downstream channel construction,work had already progressed well into the camera's vision—three weeks ahead of schedule. Channel Construction, Bank Stabilization and Pool &Riffle Features: As channel excavation proceeded,the contractors worked on the ground foot-by-foot side casting vegetation mats, utilizing and enhancing existing river gravel, shaping the new channel, and minimizing disturbance to areas outside the channel. Plans initially called for the removal of 100 mature spruce trees. However, careful consideration in the field during construction resulted in the ultimate removal of only eight mature spruce trees. Members of the public touring the site during construction were impressed with the almost unperceivable disturban— outside the immediate new channel excavation. Contractors worked diligently and expertly to match and adjust engineering plans based on on-sight survey data and adapt daily in anticipation of the final natural sculpting process of flowing water.As designed, nineteen riffle and pool sequences were constructed in the 4,250-foot channel and downed trees and snags were used to create natural aquatic habitat.