Swan River Restoration Project
SWan River RESTORATION: Reconnecting and restoring a dredged river
Swan River Reach A Before Restoration with Dredge tailing piles spanning the river corridor
Reach A after restoration work was completed. This reach has seen an influx of wild fish, native plants, and animals, and recreationalists.
Up Tiger Road, between Breckenridge and Keystone, is the site of the historical Bucyrus dredge boat which removed gold from the riparian corridor of the Swan River at the end of the 19th century and into the early 20th century. This dredge along with many others are part of the rich mining history of Colorado. While the history surrounding gold mining in Colorado is incredible, the effects on the Swan River corridor and much of our land around Summit County have resulted in serious environmental consequences.
BRWG spearheaded the restoration of two dredged stretches of river along the Swan River which you can recreate alongside today. These efforts turned a mile and a half of dredged rock piles into restored riparian habitat, naturalized the stream channel, brought back aquatic invertebrates as well as native fish and trout, and bird species like the American Dipper which rely on healthy streams for their survival.
These stretches of river are used today by recreational group, fisheries researchers, and educators. The newly restored area provides excellent educational opportunities for groups partnering with BRWG to bring youth and STEM candidates into the field to learn about restoration projects, fisheries, native and non-native species, and the Swan River's diverse ecology
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Despite these gains, we still have a lot of work to do. There are still two more stretches of river to restore before the Swan River corridor has its connectivity and health restored to the condition it was in before dredge mining impacted its flow
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Revitalized section of the Swan River
Just upstream of the restored stretches of the Swan, there is another mile and a half of degraded stream which needs your help. Tailing piles like the ones below span the historical riverbed forcing the river underground and preventing fish and wildlife from thriving.
The aerial image below shows the stretch of river that we are working to restore next. While this project seems daunting, with tailings piles over 50 ft tall and hundreds of feet wide in places, the success of our restoration project downstream, demonstrates that with our communities help we can achieve this goal.
Aerial image of the dredge impacted sites which need to be restored.
Help us finish this project by donating or becoming a member today!
We need your support to ensure the Swan River's continuity is restored, joining the upper and lower sections of the Swan for the first time since mining began over a hundred years ago. By removing the dredge mining waste and restoring the natural flow through this section, fish and wildlife, native plants, and aquatic invertebrates will be able to complete their passage up and down the riparian corridor unimpeded. Activities such as fishing, birdwatching, and hiking will benefit from increased access, and the overall water quality throughout the Swan River will be improved.
Tailings piles left by dredge mining. Many are more than 50 ft tall and 500ft wide, spanning the entire riparian corridor and forcing the Swan River underground.
Swan River Cutthroat Fish Conservation Project: Part of the Swan River Restoration Project includes protections for native Cutthroat Trout on the North Fork of the Swan River.
Brook trout and other non native fish species compete, interbreed, and/or prey upon native cutthroat trout. In order to save our only native trout species, methods such as non-native exclusion structures, screens, stocking, and more have been used with success to help alleviate the pressures put on these fish. BRWG is currently working to procure funding for improving the existing fish barrier on the North Fork of the Swan to help save an existing population of Colorado Cutthroat Trout. Learn More
- Restore stream and floodplain functions to over three miles of the Swan River and surrounding areas
- Reconnect the North, Middle and South Forks of the Swan River with a natural, stable stream channel and enhance the adjacent riparian and upland areas.
- Restore a self-sustaining trout fishery and create habitat for a diversity of native wildlife.
- Provide educational opportunities and demonstrate restoration techniques for streams degraded by historic dredge mining.
- Enhance public open space and opportunities for water and trail based recreation activities.
The restoration area is divided into 4 construction reaches: A, B, C and D.
This collaborative effort, spearheaded by BRWG, led to the completed restoration of reach A in 2017 and Reach B in 2020. Monitoring results have shown the new channel is responding appropriately to new flows; soils and plant materials are becoming established; and stream habitat (e.g., riffles, pools, stream bed substrate, etc.) is functioning and developing as intended. Alongside Trout Unlimited, BRWG is excited to begin restoration efforts on the second half of the project.
For Project Plans, Videos, Reports & Photos, go to:
Summit County Swan River Restoration Project Page
Preliminary Design Report from 2013, download:
