As you will see in the images, flow control is done with a more natural and less restricting placement of boulders than some other design styles. The intention is to create a natural look, allow the river to naturally seat the boulders to create the drop structures and give the river some resilience and flexibility as flow levels change throughout the year. The results is a restoration project that is indistinguishable from a naturally-formed river channel. Allowing the river to make the final adjustments is a partnership with nature. We made suggestions, but the river will make the micro-adjustments that serve its needs over time.
In a major flood event, the river banks of the Visitors Center were severely damaged along with the structure to support a healthy trout population. This site was particularly challenging because of extremely high flow levels, very restricted access, and the simultaneous construction of a new public parking garage. The town was in a very difficult position and had to start this project in the summer months when all the visitors were arriving at peak levels. Oxbow had to coordinate multiple construction projects, spring runnoff water levels, and millions of visitors traveling to enter Rocky Mountain National Park.
Oxbow overcame all obstacles, enabled the Visitors Center to be used and accessed by visitors undisturbed, and provided what turned out to be an entertaining education for the visitors who enjoyed watching a river restoration project in progress. If you look closely, you will see “Apple,” Brandon’s dog, in the excavator in some of the photos. She was a celebrity that summer.
