Pocatello’s City Creek Trail System has undergone numerous improvements since the adoption of the City Creek Management Plan in October of 2009. Now the Pocatello Parks and Recreation Department is requesting input and feedback from the public about further plans and improvements for the trail system. Input from the public is particularly sought concerning Phase Two of the Riparian Restoration project, which would include changes in the lower section of the main City Creek trail.    

    Lance Clark, Outdoor Recreation Programmer for the city of Pocatello Parks and Recreation Department, hosted an open house at the Pocatello City Council chambers on Friday evening for the purpose of garnering the opinions and feedback of the public. About a dozen interested parties gathered for the meeting, which reviewed past progress and discussed future project plans and ideas.  

    The management plan adopted in 2009 delineated five priority projects that have now been fulfilled. “I’d say we’re done with those five priorities,” said Clark. “We’ve exhausted those former goals and need more,” he added. Clark is hoping for public input about what projects to take on next in order to continue to improve the trail system, and also mitigate existing problems.

    Clark is currently working on a Riparian Restoration project for the City Creek Management Area that is being done in three phases. Phase One has already been completed, and included the repair of several bridges, and the rehabilitation of some trails. Phase One took a year and half to complete.

    Phase Two projects are funded and are expected to begin in the spring. This phase will entail the repair and maintenance of more bridges of the total of 18 bridges on the trails, new signage, and further trail rehabilitation and erosion control measures.   

    Clark would specifically like the input of the public regarding a plan being considered which would re-route mountain bikers and equestrian riders off the main trail from Bridge No. 1 through No. 5, and onto the Bench trail, which would be improved to be made more appropriate and enjoyable for bikers and riders. This part of the plan would close the lower 1/4 mile of the main trail, often called the gut trail, to bikes and horses, but would give them an alternative trail to use instead. “We’d like more input about this before we spend money on it,” Clark commented.   

    Phase 3 of the Riparian Restoration project will finish all of the bridges, install erosion control measures between bridges 1-12, and reroute the steepest part of the trail between bridges 10 and 11 for erosion purposes. The Parks and Recreation Department is currently applying for a grant to fund this phase of the project.

    The City Creek Management Area (CCMA) is owned by the City of Pocatello and is a protected watershed area. It contains the Cusick and City Creek watersheds. A variety of users take advantage of the many miles of trails, including hikers, mountain bikers, ATV and motorcycle riders, as well as equestrian riders. Currently the breakdown of users of the trail system is about 60 percent hikers, 30 percent bikers, and 10 percent equestrian riders and others.

    One of the goals of the management plan is to maintain and improve the natural character of the watershed area, insure that the streams are healthy, all the while minimizing erosion and encouraging proper drainage. Erosion is always a concern in the trail area. “Our goal is to improve the erosion situation, and not make it worse,” said Clark, who explained that he seeks the advice of trail experts by taking them on walk-throughs in the area. Clark has also been writing requests for federal grant monies, several of which have been approved and used for the improvement of the trail system.

    The Parks and Recreation Department is also getting some help in improving the City Creek Trail system provided by those who plan the annual City Creek Pedal Fest. The 2013 Pedal Fest mountain bike race is set for June 8th. The following are five projects the group has proposed, about which Lance Clark and the Parks and Recreation Department also seek the input and opinion of the public.

     A tunnel at the intersection of 911 and Prison trail.

     Armoring Life Flight, and using contour webbing on the most damaged surfaces.

     Re-route the entrance to Death Valley.

     Improve and repair existing fences.

     Re-route the Prison loop where is crosses Death Valley and follows the prison fence.    

Learn more

For more information about current and proposed projects, or to add your input about projects and plans, contact Lance Clark, Outdoor Recreation Programmer for the City of Pocatello Parks and Recreation Department, by telephone at (208) 234-6237 or by email at lclark@pocatello.us.