17 Jan 2018
Dozer work on Horse Gulch Road smooths out ruts
A La Plata County dozer operator filled in ruts, regraded the tread, installed water bars, and widened Horse Gulch Road around the intersection below the Meadow Loop intersection, according to the County Engineer.
La Plata County Engineer Jim Davis said that the work was done at the request of the City of Durango and Trails 2000.
Reseeding was done following the regrading, said Leslie Jacoby, La Plata County’s Environmental Specialist.
Reseeding disturbed soils with native grass seed is a common rehabilitation tactic among land managers who have to work with heavy equipment on public lands. Native grasses can help out compete invasive exotic weed species such as thistle.
Horse Gulch Road–also known as County Road 237–is a county road that runs through the City of Durango’s Horse Gulch open space land.
It had big ruts in the road that city and county officials were concerned were going to interfere with emergency vehicle response.
The foot print of the road was significantly widened as a result of the regrading that took place.
