Access to the South Platte River in Waterton Canyon and a segment of the Colorado Trail will be closed Monday through Dec. 3 and Feb. 28-Dec. 31, 2011, to facilitate dredging work at Denver Water’s Strontia Springs Reservoir.
Neither the parking area at the canyon entrance nor the canyon will be accessible at those times.
The reservoir contains more than 1 million cubic yards of sediment that 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.
A contractor will remove at least 625,000 cubic yards of the sediment — said to be enough to fill Invesco Field at Mile High to a height of more than 200 feet. The closure will be enacted to accommodate the construction equipment and ensure public safety.
Waterton Canyon is a popular area for fishing, hiking, mountain biking and other outdoor activities. With the closure, the nearest access to the Colorado Trail is the Indian Creek Loop Trail, off Colorado 67 west of Sedalia.
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