Access to the South Platte River in Waterton Canyon and a segment of the Colorado Trail will be closed four months this year and most of 2011 to facilitate dredging work at Denver Water’s Strontia Springs Reservoir. The closures will be in effect Aug. 2 to Dec. 3, 2010, and Feb. 28 to Dec. 31, 2011.
The reservoir contains more than 1 million cubic tons of sediment that over the years has washed in from the erosion caused by forest fires and subsequent heavy rains. The sediment creates problems with operation of the reservoir and causes water- quality issues at the Foothills and Marston treatment plants below.
Neither the parking area at the canyon entrance nor the canyon itself will be accessible during the closure.
In memoriam.
Former Colorado Division of Wildlife director Jim Ruch died Friday of cancer at his home in Ojai, Calif.
Ruch was DOW director from 1984 to 1988 and oversaw a management review that reorganized the agency into branches such as terrestrial, aquatic and support services that remain in effect. Ruch also was responsible for programs such as Fishing is Fun, Ranching for Wildlife and Watchable Wildlife.
Karl Licis, Special to The Denver Post
