Lyons Quarry Reclamation and South St. Vrain Creek Restoration at Hall 2 Open Space

Reclamation Plan

Parks & Open Space has coordinated and worked with the mining company since the county purchased Hall 2 for open space in 2011. Since that time, the county, as landowner, has provided comments and recommendations to Holcim-WCR, Inc. (previously Aggregate Industries) and DRMS, but DRMS provides the ultimate oversight and approval of the mining and reclamation permit and work.

The final reclamation plan that was approved by DRMS called for:

• Regrading the “high wall” (i.e., steep portions of the quarry) to mimic the natural slope of the surrounding landscape through minimal blasting and earth moving.
• Preserving a section of the exposed dacite¹ walls at the base of the mine for geological interpretation purposes.
• Removing crusher fine material from the floodplain and along South St. Vrain Creek.
• Constructing rockfall catchment areas at the base of the highwall.
• Fencing around the reclaimed highwall to ensure public safety.
• Installing stormwater drainage and erosion control infrastructure.
• Conditioning soil and seeding native vegetation adapted to the site conditions.

Following regrading and revegetation, Holcim-WCR, Inc. will be required to monitor and maintain the site for several years focusing on weed control, site stability, and native vegetation establishment.

Before Holcim-WCR, Inc. can be released from their reclamation bond, the site must meet the following DRMS requirements:

¹ Dacite is a type of granite. This hard rock has intruded, or pushed through, softer rock throughout the Rockies, creating our magnificent mountains. At this site in particular, the granite has intruded into the sandstone. You can see this in the exposed rock where sandstone is found both above and below the dacite. Local geologists believe this is the terminus of the “mineral belt” of hard rock where gold, silver and other ore are mined from SW Colorado to Lyons.

South St. Vrain Creek Restoration at Hall 2

In addition to the reclamation of the mine, Parks & Open Space is also planning the restoration of South St. Vrain Creek on Hall 2.

During the 1960s, an approximately half-mile stretch of South St. Vrain Creek adjacent to the Lyons Quarry was moved along the south side of State Highway 7 and channelized. An aerial photograph from 1940 shows a more natural alignment across the floodplain. Because restoring the creek was not part of the DRMS-approved permit and reclamation plan for Lyons Quarry, it was not included in the mine reclamation.

Since 2011 when the county purchased Hall 2, Parks & Open Space has envisioned realigning the creek to its natural alignment across the floodplain. The post-2013 flood assessment, planning, and engineering, which included significant public engagement, supported this vision. A 30% restoration design plan for the site was completed in 2016 as part of the 2013 flood recovery efforts by Matrix Design Group.

• 30% Design Plan
• Preliminary Basis of Design Report
• Preliminary Basis of Design Report Appendices

The plan shows the creek being realigned and restored into its natural meander using natural channel deign principles and the construction of overflow channels.

As the mine reclamation wraps up, Parks & Open Space has moved forward with finalizing the creek restoration design and is currently working with an engineering firm that specializes in stream restoration. The design will be completed by the end of 2024; however, construction won’t occur until the department secures the necessary implementation funds for the project over the next couple of years.

As established in the 30% design, the goals for the project are to restore and improve the channel and surrounding floodplain to protect life and property and provide a safe, natural, resilient, functioning, and ecologically rich habitat utilizing natural system principles. The project will expedite recovery from past disturbances, including mining and the 2013 floods, and make the area more resilient in future flood events.