VAIL, Colo.—The U.S. Forest Service plans to restore a two-mile stretch of Piney River north of Vail that’s popular with hikers, campers and anglers.
Over the years, campers have carved out about 22 campsites within 100 feet of the water. Forest Service fisheries biologist Brian Healy says campsites that close can cause erosion. Campers also have been using trees for firewood.
Restoration work would involve revegetating trampled campsites too close to the water, building new campsites further away, placing beetle-killed pine trees in the river to recreate the pools and insect habitats that would have naturally been created by fallen logs, and planting willow shoots and trees.
The Forest Service says work could begin as early as this fall or next year.
