Heagle Park Floodplain Restoration

A floodplain berm between the Big Wood River and the City of Hailey pump station was historically armored with large rocks so that infrastructure would not be compromised. After the 2017 flood, the bank was eroded and is currently deteriorating, whilst the pump station was raised to accommodate extreme flood events. Nearly 70 feet of bank loss has occurred between 2004 and 2022. Following last year’s high water, a large corrugated effluent pipe from the old riverside plant became exposed. Itis now situated in the active channel due to continued erosion along the east bank. The riparian area along the Big Wood River and Hailey Greenway is a valued resource that provides recreational access, habitat for wildlife, and room for natural floodplain processes. Within the Hailey Greenway, the river has been impaired from historical activities such as channelization, dredging, and development encroaching into the floodplain. The project seeks to restore natural fluvial processes that improve fish and wildlife habitat, while improving flood conveyance through the reach.