The Yampa River Fishery Improvement Project focused on improving fish habitat, river function, and recreational value along approximately 3,600 linear feet of the Yampa River between Sarvis Creek and Lake Catamount.

This reach, located between two reservoirs, plays an important role in supporting habitat connectivity and overall river function. Historic impacts including channel straightening, road encroachment, and past logging practices reduced channel complexity, limited natural meandering, and contributed to shallow flows, reduced instream cover, and lower habitat value.

FlyWater designed and built the project, providing design development, permitting, field layout, and construction implementation from concept through completion. Restoration treatments focused on creating a more complex and functional river system through deep pool construction, point bar and inner berm development, large wood and habitat rock installation, targeted bank improvements, and riparian restoration.

Project features were designed to improve fish cover, habitat diversity, juvenile rearing habitat, channel roughness, and pool scour while supporting overall river health and long-term resilience. Like many river projects, success meant balancing fisheries objectives, geomorphic performance, landowner considerations, and practical construction realities.

The completed project created a more diverse and resilient river reach with improved aquatic habitat and long-term benefits for the Yampa River fishery.