As the year comes to a close, we as a shop have a lot to be thankful for. For one: you, our customers, friends and family have given us the opportunity to continue to provide anglers on the front range of Colorado, as well as all over the country the best fly fishing gear, with the best customer service around. We will be celebrating 70 years in the spring, and we couldn’t do it without our amazing community. As you know, you will also be adding a second location in our 70th year. We couldn’t be more excited to be opening Anglers All Denver in the Country Club Neighborhood in 2024.
This time of year also marks our annual fundraiser for Colorado Trout Unlimited and their mine reclamation projects. Over the past 4 years we have been able to raise over $75,000 with your help to directly fund mine cleanup projects that positively affect cold clean water for the South Platte River, and all of its tributaries. We are at it again this year! Anglers All will match up to $10,000 in donations to clean up a mine site on Lion Creek, a tributary of North Empire Creek and the West Fork of Clear Creek. A link to this donation page can be found HERE.
In 2021 we raised $20,000 to go specifically to the Grizzly Gulch Mine Project on the headwaters of Clear Creek. In September of 2023 this work was completed. The following is a quick summary of the work and its future impacts.
The History
The Grizzly Mine is located within the Headwaters of Clear Creek, approximately 6 miles southwest of Silver Plume in Clear Creek County, Colorado. Grizzly Gulch, a perennial tributary, joins Stevens Gulch to form Quayle Creek, which flows into Clear Creek at Bakerville. The Grizzly Mine operated intermittently from the early 1870s until a fire in 1956. While gold and silver were likely the impetus for the Grizzly Mines’ start, the National vein proved richest in silver and (later) lead. Over decades of on-again/off-again production, the mine finally played out when re-evaluated in 1977-78 as anticipated production costs were estimated to far exceed the value of any remaining ore. During spring months, when groundwater expression is at the average seasonal peak, surface water discharge from the adit would sheet-flow across the site, interacting with waste rock and tailings, a likely source of impaired sediment to Grizzly Gulch during high flow and precipitation events.
The Plan
TU prepared a Preliminary Assessment/Site Inspection (PA/SI) for USFS, dated January 2020. Identification of the source, nature, and extent of contamination at the site was based on samples of surface water and soil collected by USFS and TU as part of a site investigation conducted in August 2019, which indicated the release of a single Contaminant of Concern (COC) present in elevated concentrations: lead.
The Removal Action Objectives to mitigate contamination present included:
- Mitigating exposure of recreational users to toxic heavy metals (lead) at the site
- Eliminate offsite transport of lead and other contaminants due to weather events and vehicle use
- Enhance recreational management (especially vehicle access and parking) to ensure sustainable, long term management of the reclamation and visitor use
- Restore Grizzly Gulch to sustainably-provide ecological services in Grizzly Gulch and the upper Clear Creek drainage
- Protect cultural resources identified at the site
The Work
TASK 1 - The initial step on-site was hauling and installing 175 feet of silt fence along the east bank of Grizzly Gulch before mine waste excavation to minimize potential runoff and sedimentation during reclamation activities. The dilapidated, unstable structure below the upper access road was collapsed for safety reasons using the excavator and left in place. The corrugated pipe in the repository area was cut, compacted, and hauled off-site for disposal/recycling.
The repository cell was constructed in two phases. The first phase encompassed the northeastern portion of the repository cell, adjacent to the loadout structure, and measured approximately 12’ W x 60’ L x 26’ D (690 CY). The loadout structure was then demolished with the excavator. The steel siding and interior steel were separated from the wood, compacted, and hauled off-site for disposal/recycling. The second phase of repository cell construction encompassed the southwestern portion, with similar dimensions as phase one, providing an additional area of ~700 CY. A cut was made into the unimpacted upslope area adjacent to the repository to construct a large enough repository cell to hold the mine waste to be excavated on-site.
TASK 2 - Mine waste was primarily excavated from a 5,500 SQ FT area encompassing the east bank of Grizzly Gulch and the lower access road, which was originally constructed out of mine waste. A loader was used to haul, consolidate, and compact the mine waste in the repository cell. Additional mine waste was hauled, consolidated, and compacted on top of the repository cell, abutting the existing hillside and graded to blend into the natural upslope topography.
TASK 4 - IMCS purchased and hauled biodegradable erosion control fabric (4 rolls) and installed two strips to stabilize an erosive mine waste slope (~425 SQ FT) abutting Grizzly Gulch on the west streambank. To prepare for the stream corridor work, locally harvested 2-3’ boulders were staged near Grizzly Gulch. To address downcutting and erosion along a steep ~70 LF section of the west bank, several boulders were set into the streambank just below the surface water level of the creek, and willows were transplanted into excavated holes behind and between the boulders along the streambank. The excavator bucket was used to compact the boulders into the streambank. During the excavation of the east bank mine waste, a floodplain was reestablished along ~100 LF of Grizzly Gulch. After the initial rough grading of the floodplain, 3-4 cross vane structures were installed in-stream, anchored into each streambank with footer rocks/boulders, and set just below the surface water level of the channel. The excavator bucket was used to compact the structures into the channel. Cross vanes were chosen in order to create a cascade and step-pool stream morphology. Two root wad structures were then installed on the east streambank at the midpoint and eastern limit of the stream restoration reach between the cross vane structures.
The cross vanes and root wad structures were installed to dissipate flow velocity and energy during peak runoff, protect the streambank, and improve in-stream aquatic habitat. Willows were then transplanted into excavated holes between the cross vane and root wad structures along the entire reclaimed east bank to provide additional bank stabilization.
TASK 5 - Due to the small site footprint (i.e., minimal space between the forested upslope area and abutting reclaimed repository area) and low runoff potential through the forested area downslope to the repository, rather than installing a 200 LF drainage channel immediately upslope of the repository, the upper access road was utilized to control surface water runoff. At the upper portion of the access road, a water bar was installed to direct surface water flow to the earthen/partially rock-lined (locally harvested d50 6”) drainage channel on the south side of the access road, which connects to the adit discharge drainage channel downslope.
TASK 6 - IMCS purchased and hauled to site 4-6-2 Richlawn (1,750 lbs), ProGanics Biotic Soil Media (2,000 lbs), compost (235 CY), woodstraw (40 bales), wattles (160 LF), and buck and rail fencing (320 LF). TU procured 14 lbs of native seed based on site elevation, sun exposure, and moisture (i.e., 10 lbs of high altitude grasses, 2 lbs of high altitude riparian, and 2 lbs of montane erosion control grasses). All materials were installed on site to complete restoration.
A special thank you to Katrina Hettinger, the Project Manager on the Grizzly Gulch Project, Colorado Trout Unlimited for helping to raise money, secure funding and complete the project, as well as all of you for your generous donations to help make this project and others happen!
For more information on this year's Lion Creek Project, stay tuned, and follow us on instagram @anglersall. To donate, visit this Colorado Gives Day Page. If we can answer any questions, give us a ring at the shop. 303-794-1104.
