Trail Creek

Drone Overview

ICON Engineering is working on two stream and watershed restoration projects along Trail Creek in the Gunnison National Forest.

Project 1

At the intersection of Trail Creek and Forest Service Road 748, ICON is collaborating with the National Forest Foundation (NFF) and the United States Forest Service (USFS) to design a new stream crossing that supports aquatic organism passage. The current crossing is undersized, lacks resilience, and hinders the movement of aquatic species. Using Stream Simulation Methods, ICON will work with NFF and USFS to design an improved crossing at this location.

Project 2

Just downstream of Project 1, ICON is partnering with Trout Unlimited (TU) and the USFS to restore the valley impacted by historic mining at the former Forest Hill Mill site. The Forest Hill Mill processed ore from the Taylor Park Mining District, producing gold, silver, copper, and lead. Although mining and milling are no longer active, the site still bears the effects of these activities. Mine tailings and millings have been carried by water from the mill site to the Taylor River, degrading vegetation and water quality in the valley. To address these issues, ICON, TU, and the USFS will remove and remediate mine tailings and millings. They will also use Low-Tech, Process-Based Restoration techniques to restore the most severely impacted historic wet meadows.

Project Photos

Project Drone Panoramas

October 26th, 2024

Site Videos

Trail Creek 1:

Trail Creek 2:

Trail Creek 3: