Willow Creek Stream Restoration at Sterling Ranch

Project Overview

ICON was responsible for the design of over 1 mile of stream restoration improvements for Willow Creek located upstream of Rampart Range Road in Douglas County. Willow Creek, a perennial stream with its headwaters in the Pike National Forest, has been identified as a critical wildlife migration corridor. Years of over-grazing and changes in land use had caused the stream to incise nearly 15 feet and lose all floodplain connectivity. This project included the design of a geomorphic-sized, high function, low maintenance stream system.

The project design has a natural pool and riffle morphology, establishes wetlands and diverse plant communities, and met the goal of increasing floodplain connectivity. Tasks completed by ICON on this project include; geomorphic assessment, high function low maintenance stream design, optimization of wildlife crossing structure, hydraulic analysis, conditional letter of map revision (CLOMR), and development of design deliverables.

Project Outcomes

• Realigning and stabilizing 8,600 linear feet of streambank
• Constructing 33 riffle-pool stream features
• Planting 55 acres of native plant seed
• Planting 50 trees and nearly 2,000 shrubs
• Establishing 2 new acres of wetland habitat
• Creating 18 acres of high-quality riparian habitat
• Establishing a high functioning and more resilient stream corridor