BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Wood River Land Trust will hold a ribbon cutting for the new Colorado Gulch bridge at 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3.

The bridge will be christened in honor of Dick Fosbury and the celebration will be capped by hot chocolate, cider and a casual BBQ.

Dick Fosbury was an Olympic gold medalist who revolutionized the sport of high jumping with his Fosbury Flop. As a Blaine County Commissioner, he championed the bridge project after the original bridge was destroyed in the 2017 flood.

Community members may submit their “fun name” suggestions for the bridge in memory of Fosbury at https://www.co.blaine.id.us/FormCenter/County-Commissioners-15/Colorado-Gulch-Pedestrian-Bridge-Name-Su-125.

“This bridge is a symbol of the values Commissioner Fosbury stood for: community, public access and a love of the land,” said Muffy Davis, Blaine County Commissioner.

The installation of the bridge reconnects Colorado Gulch Preserve to public lands along Della Mountain. The area has boasted mining activity, a hunting target area and hiking opportunities in the past.

The placement of a new more ecologically-friendly bridge was part of a bigger effort to restore ecological health along the Big Wood River. Just recently, volunteers planted a hundred native plants in the area of construction.

“In recent years, the area has undergone extensive restoration work, including the removal of riprap, reconnection of side channels and construction of a wider bridge span designed to handle future high river flows. These efforts, led by the Wood River Land Trust and Blaine County, improve both habitat health and public access, said Cory McCaffrey, River Program Director at the Wood River Land Trust.

A sudden changed in federal funding caused a sudden funding shortfall this past summer but Wood River Valley residents responded swiftly stepping up to keep the project on track, said Meg Pulliam, director of philanthropy at the Land Trust. Federal funds were later reinstated and the community-raised dollars will now support native landscaping and educational signage at the Colorado Gulch Road trailhead.

HAILEY HOT SPRINGS PURCHASE SO CLOSE!

The Wood River Land Trust is 99 percent of the way to purchasing the Hailey Hot Springs Ranch in Croy Canyon. Just $150,000 of the $16 million purchase remains to be purchased by Dec. 31. The acquisition of the nearly 3,000-acre property preserves access for wildlife and recreation.

PANTING PARTY ON TUESDAY

The Wood River Land Trust is organization a volunteer day for the Heagle Floodplain Restoration Project from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4. Volunteers will install native plants to enhance the floodplain’s ecosystem.

Volunteers should meet at the Heagle Park Pavilion. Learn more at https://www.woodriverlandtrust.org/events/planting-party-at-heagle-park?blm_aid=35372