BLACK GORE CREEK TRACTION SAND

Sediment Loading & The Sediment Catchment Basin

Black Gore Creek originates in the White River National Forest’s Gore Range on the West Slope of Vail Pass and flows northwest to its confluence with Gore Creek, which is a major tributary of the Eagle River. Interstate 70 closely parallels about 10 miles of Black Gore Creek from its headwaters at Vail Pass to the confluence of Gore Creek near the east end of the Town of Vail. The reach of Gore Creek from Vail downstream to the Eagle River has been designated by the Colorado Division of Wildlife as a Gold Medal Trout Fishery and provides an important recreational and scenic amenity to residents of, and visitors to Vail and Eagle County.

Over the past 30 years, extensive sediment loading into the Black Gore Creek to a significant degree is comprised of used winter traction sand that has migrated down to the creek bed from I-70. Traction sand and antifreeze are spread onto I-70 during the freezing winter months for safety reasons – to decrease traffic accidents.

However, the sediments have severely impaired the stream, which has resulted in losses of aquatic habitat, impacted wetlands, and reduced overall water quality. In addition, the accumulation of sediment in Black Lakes, near Vail Pass, has encroached upon the storage capacity of water supply reservoirs that serve the Town of Vail and are used to maintain in-stream flows. Over time, these impacts could become more severe in Black Gore Creek and in Gore Creek downstream to the Eagle River.

Several photos of the sand deposits in the Black Gore are shown below:

One measure of the impact of the traction sand into the Black Gore is to find and catalogue the condition of the beaver dams. Beaver are active in areas of healthy aspen and willow growth, but are not tolerant of ponds that are continually compromised by the quick accumulation of sediment. The creatures demand relatively deep ponds behind their dams for winter survival. They do not hibernate, but instead, create food caches of willow and plant shoots in their ponds and swim out to retrieve this sustenance during the winter months.

Therefore, the beaver dam study was begun in 2006 (left click to open PowerPoint presentation) and the third survey was completed this August. Surprisingly, 20 active beaver dams were found in 2006 from the Black Gore Lakes to the confluence of the Black Gore with the Gore, while the number was up to over 28 in 2007. The 2008 data is currently being tabulated.  In 2008, some new dams were found, but the extremely high Spring stream runoff blew out some of the viable dams found in 2007.

A portion of the increased beaver activity is no doubt due to an expanding population, but nonetheless before the study was initiated the opinion had been that few dams would be found.  Finding 20 active dams in 2006 was quite a positive surprise.  It was also during 2006, CDOT began to make serious efforts in retrieving spent traction sand.

Although sand migration from the interstate to the creek remains a problem, it should be pointed out that CDOT has been sensitive to the sediment increases. They measure both the amount of traction sand distributed on the pass and also measure that which is picked up after the weather warms. The intent is to at least pick up the previous winter’s deposition and hopefully more. They have also purchased a “sucker truck” which is capable of vacuuming the sand from the coffers along the interstate.

Perhaps most importantly, CDOT became a willing member of The Black Gore Steering Committee which was formed to allow concerned stakeholders to meet and discuss the issues revolving around safe I-70 operation and also address the sediment issue.  A number of local, state, and federal entities are members of this Committee:

• Colorado Department of Transportation
• Eagle County
• Eagle River Water & Sanitation District
• Eagle River Watershed Council
• River Restoration.org
• Town of Vail
• US Forest Service
• Vail Daily

The group’s advocacy and CDOT’s cooperation led to the construction of the nearly 50 sediment collection coffers along the shoulders of I-70 on West Vail Pass, but the problem posed by tons of sand already sliding from the banks into the Creek and on to Gore Creek remained.

Interestingly, CDOT had created a catch basin in the 70’s to capture sediment released during the construction of I-70.  However, little maintenance money was available to do much regarding traction sand and sediment accumulation, and by 2000, the pond was completely filled.

Photo from CDOT I-70 Construction Archives

The Sediment Basin in 2008

Since the late 90s, the Steering Committee has met numerous times and Jason Carey, principal of River Restoration.org, advanced the idea of dredging the silted-in pond as a sediment catch basin. This concept was encouraged by Steering Committee advocates, fleshed out and taken to the Highway Commission in the Spring of 2007, by then CDOT Resident Engineer Peter Kozinski, where to the delight of all, nearly $1million was granted.  Until her retirement in late 2006, the committee was chaired by Caroline Bradford, past Executive Director of the Eagle River Watershed Council. David Fulton, the present Director, has convened the meetings since 2007.

A number of individuals and entities have played an active role in the basin development.  For example, Brian Healy of the US Forest Service spearheaded the efforts to execute the various environmental requirements, while Andrea Holland-Sears, a Hydrologist with White River National Forest secured other environmental permits.  The Town of Vail worked with CDOT to provide a location for the sand that was removed.  This turned out to be a win-win proposition; CDOT had only to move the sand a short distance to the north side of I-70 in East Vail, to augment existing sound barriers.  After the final environmental issues were addressed work began in September – two of the final efforts involved transplanting willows from the islands in the picture above and relocating some 50 fish.

These volunteers are having fun transplanting willows with Brian Healey (center, right photo) supervising

Actual site preparation began in the latter half of September and construction continued through most off October, 2008, along the Black Gore between mile markers 183 and 182.5.

CDOT managed the project; key individuals are listed below:

America West was subcontracted by CDOT.  Shown in the photo below is (left to right): Gary Boyd (RockSol--Project Consultant and former CDOT employee who participated in the initial basin creation at the time of I-70 construction), Robert Kieser (Way Sign and Safety--flagger), Randy Crawford (Way Sign and Safety--Supervisor), Troy Hervey (American West--Foreman).

Work began in September with the construction of an access road, a diversion dam, and piping around the location of the new catch basin.

However, no project is completely trouble free; the issue that plagued the early sand removal efforts was ground water until additional pumps were installed to divert it.

Once the ground water issue was under control with the installation of additional pumps, sand removal went a bit easier.  A pit was dug upstream in which additional pumping capability was placed.

  In the end some 15,000+ cubic yards of sediment was removed in about 1900 truck loads.

 The re-creation of the catchment basin has been a great success characterized by the cooperation and willingness of Federal, state, and local entities working together toward the completion of a common goal.