local weather Click for Sun Valley, Idaho Forecast
 front page
 classifieds
 calendar
 last week
 recreation
 subscriptions
 express jobs
 about us
 advertising info

 sun valley guide
 real estate guide
 homefinder
 sv catalogs
 

 

 hemingway

Produced & Maintained by Idaho Mountain Express, Box 1013, Ketchum, ID 83340-1013 
208.726.8060 Voice
208.726.2329 Fax

Copyright © 2002 Express Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is prohibited. 


For the week of August 14 - 20, 2002

News

Lion’s Park restoration under way

Stream bank being restored to more natural conditions


By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

Final permits are pending, but the Wood River Land Trust and the city of Hailey have begun restoring the stream bank at Lion’s Park to more natural conditions.

The land trust, in cooperation with Hailey, federal and state agencies and the community, is working to restore riparian ecosystems at Lion’s and Heagle parks as part of its Hailey Greenway Enhancement Project.

Wood River Land Trust Stewardship Coordinator Stef Frenzl, right, and Stewardship Assistant Joselin Matkins explain a river restoration project the land trust is working on at Lion’s Park in Hailey. Express photos by David N. Seelig

The entire project involves working collaboratively to revive existing parks, create new parks along the river and work to protect the private lands adjacent to the Big Wood River.

A $395,000 federal grant enabled work to begin this summer at Lion’s and Heagle parks. Work on the projects should be finished before the snow flies this fall.

So far, work at the Heagle site has consisted of decommissioning the old city sewer plant. But several weeks ago, crews began removing dirt from a steep stream bank at Lion’s Park.

So far, about 2,000 cubic yards of material have been removed. Another 3,000 to 4,000 cubic yards will go, said Wood River Land Trust Stewardship Coordinator Stef Frenzl.

Thus far, pending a permit from the city of Hailey, soil has been removed from above the high water mark. A silt fence was installed to protect the river from tumbling dirt, Stewardship Assistant Joselin Matkins said.

The artificially steep streambank along the Big Wood River at Lion’s Park in Hailey. is being removed to allow easier access and to allow for more natural river conditions. Express photos by David N. Seelig

For decades, the Lion’s Park site has been used as a place to dump dirt and other materials. As a result, a steep bank of dirt encroached on the Big Wood River and created a deep, straight channel.

The goal, Frenzl said, is to taper the stream bank 80 to 90 feet and create conditions that more closely resemble a natural river corridor.

"Native vegetation will be planted to enhance wildlife habitat and the park’s aesthetics," according to a project update posted on the land trust’s Intenet site. "Rock structures and root balls will also be installed to promote fish habitat and help slow the river."

The efforts are designed to help slow the river and enhance riparian habitat.

"In all, the improvements will benefit plants, animals and people alike," according to the update.

The second phase of the project involves construction of a holding pond just south of Heagle Park, partially on the site of the old Riverside sewage treatment plant. The approximately one-acre pond would help to slow the river’s flow, help the river drop debris it carries during high flows and create a riparian area in and around the pond.

The holding pond would function similarly to the Hulen Meadows pond north of Ketchum.

 

Homefinder

Mountain Jobs

Formula Sports

Idaho Conservation League

Westridge

Windermere

Edmark GM Superstore : Nampa, Idaho

Premier Resorts Sun Valley

High Country Property Rentals


The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.