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As part of Cherry Creek Angler’s mission to conserve, protect and restore Colorado’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds, for improvement of the resource and the enjoyment of present and future anglers, the chapter has initiated a new project that directly contributes to these objectives.

Our plan is to construct a handicap/wheelchair accessible path along the bank of the river to provide a quality river fishing experience for people with impaired abilities. In addition to the path, we plan to make significant improvements in the river channel of the river to maximize its trout holding capabilities. The site is near Trumbull, downstream from Deckers on the South Platte River.

We believe this activity contributes directly to the Conserving and Sustaining priorities of Trout Unlimited through improving the river and providing a new recreational resource for an underserved portion of our community.

The general timetable for the completion of the project is spring, 2010. We expect this will provide adequate time for fundraising, design and engineering, marshalling of volunteer labor for work on-site, and actual construction A detailed project plan using this target date has been developed and is presently in use.

We do not yet have a defendable cost estimate for the project. However, a preliminary survey of the site will be conducted during February, 2008 to produce a preliminary cost estimate. After that, we will be seeking funding in the range of $15,000 to support the development of a full engineering plan for the site.

As Cherry Creek Anglers (CCA) became more fully established as a chapter of Trout Unlimited, its board of directors began discussions about projects that might be undertaken to contribute to our community and to the goals established by Trout Unlimited.

One idea that gained immediate interest was construction of a river-based handicapped angler’s paved path on a nearby trout stream. While many stillwater lakes and ponds have areas where a wheelchair-bound angler can fish, there is only one known site within 100 miles of the Denver area where such access is available along a river. (This is a site on the Big Thompson River above Loveland, CO. It is a timber structure around 50 yards long with a steep ramp leading to the water from the parking area.)

As a result of these discussions, a meeting was arranged with Denver Water to explore construction of such a facility along the South Platte River in Waterton Canyon on the outskirts of Denver. The site was agreed to be very promising, but Denver Water is planning a major dredging project at Strontia Springs reservoir six miles upstream from the site, and expects that there will be heavy construction work along the river for the next two or three years.

However, Denver Water’s Manager of Properties and Recreation suggested that a site further upstream might be found that is also on Denver Water property.

We reviewed a number of potential sites in November 2007 and presented a site and plan outline to Denver Water. In late December, 2007 we were delighted to receive enthusiastic permission from Denver Water to begin development of the Trumbull Habitat Improvement and Handicap Access project on the South Platte River near from Trumbull, Colorado.

The site for the project is approximately one-half mile downstream from the bridge at the village of Trumbull, or approximately three miles downstream from Deckers. This area is located in a gentle canyon stretch of this Gold Medal fishery, with easy access from Denver and Colorado Springs. It is a beautiful location with the river curving slightly away from the access road for most of its length.

The character of the river bank, coupled with a channel that currently holds virtually no fishholding structure, make this an excellent site. The gradient is moderate and will lend itself very well to construction of a safe, easily navigable path along the river. At the same time, the streambed lends itself to installation of habitat improvement features will benefit the aquatic environment and the rich potential of the site for providing productive fishing.  

The South Platte River is world famous for its trout fishing and abundant food base that provides strong, healthy fish. A wide variety of insect species are found in the river – crane flies, mayflies, a growing caddis population, and terrestrial insects all contribute a smorgasbord of food for trout. It is a wonderful site to have available for this project.

Here is an overhead view of the site, based on an image from Google Earth:


The river is accessible from the South bank, which is where the path will be constructed. (The black line represents the path. The green line is an artifact from the Google image.)

The site has not yet been accurately surveyed, but the paved path, including a section from the parking lot to the river, is expected to be around 500 feet in length and between four and six feet wide. Denver Water is planning to install a handicapped-usable restroom near the edge of the parking lot in 2008. The rectangular area near the center of the path will contain a simple ramada, or shaded area, for use by the anglers.

There will be between six and eight turnouts along the route where wheelchairs can be conveniently parked at the river’s edge without obstructing traffic. Each turnout will be equipped with a railing to prevent accidental spills into the water. The rails will be low enough to allow easy casting and landing of fish, while high enough to prevent accidents. A small ramp will be provided at each station to allow an angler’s companion to release fish at the water’s edge to reduce injury.  The width of the path will allow passage of wheelchairs in both directions.

While the nature of the surfacing of the path is not yet finally established, we envision that concrete will be the material of choice so that maintenance will be minimized. Concrete is also desirable from the perspective of anchoring the path railings and allowing a low curb to be integrated into the river side of the route.   However, all materials will be explored as part of the engineering process to make the optimal choice.


The river, in the image from Global Earth, is partially obscured – the shot was apparently made in the winter, and there is an accumulation of ice in the water.

From the point where the access trail meets the water on the left end of the area, to the small island near the end of the trail, the riverbed has little structure.  However, it has a solid bottom and appears to lend itself well to the installation of various fish-holding structures that will improve the habitat’s ability to hold a substantial trout population.

While it is too early in the planning to be specific about the in-stream work, it is expected that the project will involve bank stabilization, possibly with gabions, on the north shore, the use of boulders and timbers to create rips and eddies, and possibly deepening of the channel in some locations.

From the point of the island to the river’s intersection with the road, the channel deepens and has good fish holding characteristics; this area should require little, if any, improvement work.


A compressed version of the overall project plan is shown below. This version is very tentative as the planning process is just beginning at this time.

Key milestones for 2008 include:

•  Identifying and recruiting key personnel for specific roles in the project.
•  Completing the preliminary site survey
•  Obtaining sufficient funding for a detailed site survey, preliminary design, and accurate cost estimate. (Informal estimate is around possibly $15,000.00)
•  Conducting the detailed site survey, design, and costing exercise.
•  Begin recruiting key funding sources for the balance of the project.

As the project progresses more detail will be added to the plan and individual resources will be identified. A critical part of the process in all phases will be continuing liaison with Denver Water to assure the project meets with their approval.

This project will be a combined effort led by CCA, but with expected participation by Denver Water, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the U. S. Forest Service, business, and organizations dedicated to river conservation and assisting the disabled.



CCA will solicit volunteer assistance on the project from our chapter membership and all other available sources. However, in order to establish an accurate estimate of costs, we presume that contractors will be selected through a review and bidding process to perform all or most of the following tasks.

• Survey and engineering of the paved path
• Survey and engineering of the river channel improvement work
• Construction and installation of river channel structures
• Building concrete forms for the paved path and ramada floor (partial)
• Construction of the ramada structure (partial)
• Pouring and finishing of the paved path
• Installation of curbs, safety rails, and fish-return ramps 

CCA expects to provide volunteer supervision of the project, as well as volunteer labor along with others from interested organizations and individuals, in the following areas:

• Preliminary survey (all)
• Site preparation – vegetation removal and hand grading (all)
• Installation of concrete forms (partial w/contractor)
• Post-construction site cleanup (all)
• Planting of riparian vegetation (all)
• Installation of signage (all)

Every effort will be made to obtain materials on a donation or heavily discounted basis to help control costs. The required concrete, lumber, and roofing materials will be solicited from Denver and Colorado Springs area suppliers. Materials for the river channel improvement may also be available on a donated or discounted basis; this potential will be fully explored.


It is expected that donations and volunteer labor from CCA members and other interested parties will offset a substantial part of the cost of the project.

To acquire the necessary financing for the balance, CCA is forming a funding task force to market the project to a variety of potential sources. This activity is currently in the organization and development phase; its critical path predecessor is the site survey and preliminary cost analysis that will give us a credible message to potential donors.

There are two phases to the program once launched: 1) Acquisition of the estimated $15,000.00 to initiate and complete the engineering and design phase of the project.  Target date – September, 2008, and 2) Acquisition of the balance of the funding needed to complete the construction of the project.

It is extremely encouraging that, at this early point in the project, several interested organizations have voluntarily come forward expressing interest in participating in both the financing and implementation of the project.

All funding for the project will be dedicated to its completion. Detailed accounting of all expenditures will be maintained to assure proper management of the dedicated funds. A detailed budget will be prepared as soon as cost estimates are available. This budget will be integrated into the presentation package prepared for potential donors of cash, services, and materials.


Pursuit of this project has been approved by Cherry Creek Angler’s Board of Directors with the clear understanding that it will require vigorous outreach to the chapter’s membership and many external organizations to insure a successful completion.

This outreach will involve establishing and maintaining close relations and communications with:

• Denver Water – review and approval of design and implementation of the facility.
• Department of Wildlife – review and comments on habitat improvements.
• U.S. Forest Service – endangered species considerations
• Other TU chapters – ideas, advice, assistance in development of the project
• Organizations for the Disabled - ideas, advice, assistance in development of the project
• Sources of Donations and Grants – provision of funding
• Communications Companies – radio, tv and press for publicity about the project to help our outreach for funding and volunteers.

As the phrase goes, ‘to list is to limit’. Other areas of outreach will present themselves as the project moves forward.


The Trumbull Habitat Improvement/Handicap Access project represents a major commitment by Cherry Creek Anglers in providing a recreational resource to an underserved part of the Front Range community.

In addition to providing a unique opportunity for handicapped anglers, the project will contribute to the overall health of the South Platte watershed by significantly improving the aquatic habitat in an area that is currently sub-par for the river.

We welcome participation and support from all interested parties.

For further information contact Berle Larned, Conservation Committee Chair, Cherry Creek Anglers – 720-870-3836 – berlestu@comcast.net

HI&HA Project - Prelim Survey Notes

HI&HA Project - Riverbed Contours Data

HI&HA Project - River Contours 1-10 Graph

HI&HA Project - River Contours 11-20 Graph

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