Crews from the Town of Vail will begin a targeted in-stream restoration project on Aug. 10 on a section of Gore Creek near the Vail Nature Center. Work will involve the use of heavy equipment on a limited portion of the nature center site as well as within the creek channel.   

Vail Nature Center trails will not be accessible during portions of the project, and the creek will be closed to fishing, tubing and wading from the Ford Park pedestrian bridge upstream to the Vail Golf Club. Work is expected to take place through the end of September. Users are asked to observe closures and avoid the construction area. 

The project will improve in-stream habitat through the creation of deep pools, riffles and a deeper low-flow stream channel where a wide and shallow channel currently exists. The work will also include creation of a wheelchair-accessible fishing platform near the Vail Nature Center bridge. 

The reach of stream is near the section of creek that was impacted by a 2021 accidental algicide spill and is in need of in-stream habitat improvement. “This section of creek has high potential to become outstanding habitat for trout and aquatic invertebrates because of its robust riparian vegetation and mature tree canopy,” said Pete Wadden, watershed specialist for the Town of Vail.  

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and Town of Vail staff identified the section of Gore Creek as an optimal location for the work in 2024. The project will cost $617,000 with funding provided by the Colorado Natural Resource Defense Fund, a CPW Fishing Is Fund Grant, Eagle River Trout Unlimited and the Town of Vail.  

The town’s environmental sustainability team is managing the project. For details, contact Wadden at 970-479-2144 or at pwadden@vail.gov.