North Burnt Fork Creek

Streamside Restoration and Cattle Improvements

Location

North Fork Burnt Creek

Goals

Our efforts sought to reintroduce native floodplain and riparian vegetation to stabilize the creek banks and provide essential wildlife habitat. Additionally, cattle foot traffic in and around the streambed was causing streambank degradation, sediment pollution, and ultimately land loss. The structured cattle passage helped reduce these undesirable impacts.

Reasoning

North Burnt Fork Creek is one of many in the Valley suffering from excess sedimentation (deposit of sediment). This creek is sometimes used as an overflow path from the Big Ditch during spring high flows.

Project Description

We installed a livestock fence around a section of the creek to protect it from foot traffic
We installed two guided cattle crossings, each enforced with gravel and fabric.
We installed an off-stream watering system for the landowner to use to manage cattle watering
In 2020 Water Partnership volunteers planted 61 seedlings on the north side of the creek
In 2021 Water Partnership volunteers planted 300 willow cuttings and 70 nursery plants along both sides of the stream.

Timeline

2019 – Present

Partners

Jay Meyer, landowner & rancher

Cost

$52,000