Fountain Creek Restoration Project, Manitou Springs

The Fountain Creek Restoration Project is a partnership between RMFI, the City of Manitou Springs, Fountain Creek Restoration Committee, Fin-Up Habitat Consultants, and Trout Unlimited to revitalize and restore the Fountain Creek ecosystem in Manitou Springs for fishing, recreation and wildlife habitat. The project began in 2007 and was completed in 2011. RMFI provided the volunteer work force and expertise to complete on-the-ground restoration work, including constructing bank-stabilizing structures, revegetating degraded areas, and creating access paths. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped make the project a success.

The following information is courtesy of the Fountain Creek Restoration Committee.  For more information, please visit www.restorefountaincreek.org

Project Mission Statement

To restore and revitalize the Fountain Creek ecosystem in Manitou Springs for fishing, recreation and wildlife habitat.  

Project Vision Statement

Fountain Creek will provide a sustainable fishery as it flows through Manitou Springs. It will be a healthy riparian habitat for aquatic and other wildlife. Fountain Creek will be an aesthetically pleasing natural environment for viewing wildlife and other recreational uses.

Project Overview

Starting at the foot of Pikes Peak, Fountain Creek is a mountain stream flowing year-round through Manitou Springs and four community parks. The creek provides a natural ecosystem within a highly urbanized area. A mountain stream of extraordinary beauty in each of the four seasons, many species of wildlife have depended on its aquatic and riparian habitat for their survival. Fountain Creek is a valuable and precious natural resource. A sense of urgency exists due to habitat deterioration of the headwaters of Fountain Creek from nearby urbanization. Modifications to the surrounding landscape have altered natural ecosystems, in some cases permanently. Collaboration between public and private stakeholders will be critical to restoration projects, balancing urban pressures with the strong desire to enhance Fountain Creek. A key issue in restoring local stretches of Fountain Creek is the need to ensure upstream conditions do not degrade restoration efforts. A long term goal is collaboration with government, business, and private citizens as stakeholders working together to preserve habitat restoration efforts all along Fountain Creek. With better water quality and management of the headwaters, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and other Arkansas River communities will find their restoration efforts a little easier. Please see www.restorefountaincreek.org for more information.