Roaring Fork River Restoration

Over the course of three years, DHM has been working a multi-disciplinary team of engineers, hydrologists, planners, and the Town of Basalt to plan, design, permit, and oversee the restoration of the Roaring Fork River through an important reach within the community. The restoration of a natural alignment of the Roaring Fork River, the restoration of an active and vital floodplain, the establishment and restoration of diverse and native riparian habitat and vegetation, and the connectivity of multiple raw water and ditch systems are all goals of this restoration project. Our efforts extend beyond the river’s edge to the restoration of side channels, critical fish spawning habitat, and the adjacent wetland system. Located within the heart of downtown Basalt, the goal of this project was not only to restore the river systems and riparian systems, but also to more closely integrate the river into the lives of the Basalt residents and visitors. We created passive recreation experiences in these areas, allowing visitors to observe the wildlife supported by these ecosystems. Our team led the significant federal, state, and local permitting for the project and completed all of the site planning, restoration design, and habitat planning. We conducted investigations into the baseline conditions of the natural resources and site which informed our design and permitting approach. A more active riverfront park and event space is in the planning stage and will include created elements within the floodplain zone to be designed and constructed to withstand and recover from flood events.