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.