Islands in the Stream – improving habitat with Craig Sponholtz on the Rio Mora

Witnessing Craig Sponholtz and Omar Ore-Giron create more accessible floodplain on a stretch of the Rio Mora located within the Rio Mora Wildlife Refuge was quite impressive to say the least.

Their artful and functional approach combined with the gentlest of maneuvers on these large machines was almost poetic.

Encouraging more meandering, boosting diversity of habitat and collaborating with the River so she can do her thing.

 

Craig Sponholtz discusses the channel’s significant downcutting, accelerated most likely by the great flood in the early 1950’s.

 

Snow runoff from the Mountains in the background seldom makes it all the way down to the Rio Mora in the foreground.

 

Beginning a LogJam construction to protect a young Elderberry Tree.

 

Close up of an in-stream Juniper and Rock LogJam at the head of one of the newly created islands…offering more anabranch channels for the river.

 

Omar Ore-Giron and Craig Sponholtz discuss next steps before creating the anabranch channel that will birth a new island in the river.

 

Craig Sponhotlz meticulously ties in to Rio Mora’s natural patterns.

 

One of the remaining old Cottonwoods.

 

A newly created island takes center stage.

 

Alterations to the floodplain are strategically done along both sides of the streambanks.