Construction will begin Monday in the Hermosa Creek Special Management Area to erect a fish-migration barrier on Hermosa Creek as part of the Colorado River Cutthroat Trout Reintroduction Project.

Trail users and visitors to the area should expect up to one-hour delays and occasional day-long closures until Oct. 1. No more than four days of closures are expected during the project, though construction schedules will be subject to conditions.

Recreational fishing is not expected to be affected.

The barrier will be installed on the main stem of Hermosa Creek, downstream of its confluence with the east fork of Hermosa Creek.

A half mile of the Hermosa Creek Trail from its northern trailhead must be widened to allow heavy equipment to access the construction site. The widening will be temporary, and tree removal is expected to be minimal.

The barrier represents the final and most important phase of the Hermosa Creek Colorado River Cutthroat Trout Reintroduction Project, which began almost 30 years ago. The goal is to protect native cutthroat trout above the barrier from non-native fish located downstream.

For more information, contact Columbine Ranger District at 884-2512 or Clay Kampf at 884-1403.