Riparian restoration on Rifle ranch marks 10 years - Aspen Journalism

Riparian restoration on Rifle ranch marks 10 years - Aspen Journalism

The banks of a previously degraded 1-mile stretch of Rifle Creek are now thick with willows and cottonwoods, and have signs that deer, elk and beavers are once again frequent visitors.  This summer marks 10 years since an ambitious, multiphase riparian restoration project began on John Powers’ ranch, located north of Rifle and off Colorado 325. Since 2016, the property has been a worksite of the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, which has catal…