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South Platte River Program Notes by Ben UdxJoaa, P.L, Chief South PIa1to River i'nlsI>m lAIcal Initiatives Along the Platte City (lIJd COIUtty of De1tver We reported last year that the City and County of Denver launched a major South Platte River initiative. The Mayor of Denver set up a South Platte River Commission with a membership representing a variety of federal, state and local org/'ni7JItions with interests in technical, neighborhood redevelopment, political, fiscal, environmental and other issues. This initiative also involved a number of staff working groups that have addressed minimum river flows for a fishery and in-river recreation, trails and recreation along the river, water quality, wildlife, local flora and fauna, rafting and kayak:ing, aquatic habitat, open space needs, river stability, etc. As a result, the river's potential is being examined from a holistic perspective. The District continues to support Denver in its efforts to improve the river. and its various functions in the city. Much of the District's work revolves around rontine and restorative main\ellance and in assisting Denver with its capital improvement projects along the river. The detai1s of several projects are reported later in this article. Admru COIUtty We also reported before that Adams County began a comprehensive look at the South Platte River corridor as an open space and recreational resource. Under a grant from GOCO the county has completed an inventory of the open space resource and recreational needs of the county and of the cities within the county. The county has also developed an open space and recreation plan for the river corridor, which is being fina1i7M at this time. Maintenance Activities Rmdine MIIintemmce / In 1997 the South Platte River routine maintenance included an equivalent of ~ . 9 miles of tree trimming and pruning along the river trail, . 59 miles of trail edge mowing, and . 163 miles of trash and debris pickup and removal along the river. Approximately 90 truckloads of trash and debris were removed and taken to a landfill. Local government personnel and volunteer groups picked up and removed additional trash from the river corridor. Trash is also removed from trash receptacles maintain"" by park personnel along all recreational trails. Although this type of routine maintenance often is not noticed or recognized by the public, without it the South Platte River corridor within the District would have an entirely different "look" and "feel." This type of maintenanCf' we believe is essential for the preservation of wildlife habitat, and provides the public with a more pleasant experience whenever visiting the many trail and pocket park facilities that now exist along the 41 miles of the South Platte River between Chatfield Reservoir and the Weld! Adams County line. Restortltion MaintentllfCe The restoration maintenance program in 1997 continued to repair erosion damage along the combined recreation and maintenance trail; repair the trail and maintenance access bridges; cut and remove large nwnbers of dead Siberian Elm and live Russian Olive trees; and stabilize, rehabilitate, and revegetate approximately 2000 feet of river banks. We reported last year that we have completed the removal of infected dead Siberian Elm trees along the South Platte River through Denver and southern Adams County, with a totaI of 1,500 trees en! and chipped. In 1997 300 more dead trees were removed because of the continuing epidemic of Dntch Elm disease. In addition, at the request of South Suburban Parks and Recreation District and the Colorado Water Conservation Board (as a follow up on a request made by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), we have removed and chipped over 650 live Russian Olive trees that have invaded the riveIbanks in Arapahoe County. We hope to introduce Plains Cottonwood live poles in many of the areas where 6 the dead Siberian Elm and live Russian Olive trees were removed. Over time we hope to return the tree cover along the South Platte River to a more representative indigenous state, replacing many of the exotic, invasive, species now populating its banks. One of the obstacles we face with the reintroduction of native riparian species along the river, such as cottonwood trees, is the overabundance of beaver. Outside of an urban area where there may be a much wider and abundant corridor for tree growth, the river corridor through this urban center is narrow and can ouly support a limited number of plants. Beaver, which have no known predators in this corridor, enthusiastica11y harvest our plantings for food and shelter. The only way we can keep new and old natives from being chewed off is by protecting them with wire mesh baskets, which add considerably to the cost of tree replacement. We continue to hope that the Sate of Colorado and the cities and counties within the District along the South Platte River begin some form of beaver control program. Since the river corridor is not the District's property, we do nnt feel it is appropriate for us to take a lead in such an effort. The District is now financially assisting Denver Parks and Recreation Department (37.5% cost share) to replace two rapidly deteriorating timber pedestrian bridges. These timber bridges will be replaced in the spring of 1998 with wider steel ones that will need less maintenance and will be more resistant to vandalism. They will also meet ADA access requirements. Over the next three to five years we hope to continue to work with Denver to replace four more deteriorating timber bridges along the South Platte River. The restoration project along the west bank of the river just downstream of l60th Avenue in the City ofBrigbton is complete. The City has preserved the rivetbank as a relatively undisturbed natoral area. Many of the large trees previously in danger ofbeing uprooted by bank erosion are more protected by a stabilized bank. Annther restoration project constructed this year involved the