
SURFACE WATER
RIVERS, LAKES & COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS

Blue River
Town of Breckenridge, CO
River & Lake Restoration
Ponca
State Park | Blue River | Green
River | Lake Stevens |
Los Angeles River
The Blue River, a major headwaters tributary to the Colorado River, was mined for gold from the turn of the century until 1940. As a result of this activity, the original river channel and surrounding floodplain had been destroyed.
Tetra Tech was retained to develop and implement a restoration plan
for a 6,000-foot-long reach of the river. Project goals included the
creation of wetlands; creation of fish habitat; returning perennial
flows to the river; and improving the visual qualities at the north
entrance to the town. The project included a hydrologic monitoring
program, analysis of hydrologic data and channel stability, design
of the reclamation plan, and construction oversight. Design of the
channel restoration involved an analysis of existing channel stability
and sediment transport conditions. From this information, the
design of measures to stabilize the river was performed and included
alteration of the cross section; alignment and profile of the channel;
use of boulder grade controls to dissipate energy and reduce erosive
velocities; establishment of vegetation in the banks and floodplain;
and the selective use of boulder bank protection in high stress areas.