Our Cutthroat Chapter of TU has a long standing tradition of caring for the South Platte River and the Gill Trail near Deckers. CCTU's dedication to conserve, protect, and restore that area was documented in a recent issue of Fly Fisherman Magazine and in Pat Dorsey's new guide book to that river. We recently became aware that the footbridge over Wigwam Creek had fallen into disrepair. That bridge allows angler access via the Gill Trail into the river's Cheesman Canyon. The bridge's deteriorating condition was beginning to threaten angler safety. Soon their only alternative would have been to hike around the bridge and through the creek. That would add to the harmful sediment load of both the creek and the river it feeds into. With money donated for construction materials by the CCTU board and with volunteer power from CCTU members, our club worked with the US Forest Service to refurbish that bridge on June 6 and 7. We also helped redefine the trail and drainage leading from the parking lot to that bridge. Our hope is the bridge and trail repairs will help both the anglers and the watershed for decades to come. Many thanks to the CCTU board, to our hardworking volunteers, to the USFS staff, and to Starbucks for their generous help.
Bridge Repair and Trail Rehab on Gill Trail