Ocean First Institute
The Redbelly Dace Recovery Project (2022)
Mikki McComb-Kobza
Executive Summary
The historic 2013 floods in Boulder County provided a unique opportunity to restore habitat at
Pella Crossing Open Space. Webster Pond was transformed from an open gravel pit into a shallow
wetland habitat specifically to support native fish reintroductions. Boulder County Parks & Open
Space, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Ocean First Institute, the Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley
School District, and the Denver Zoo are proposing to continue and expand the scope of this native
fish rearing, restocking, monitoring and habitat restoration project.
We are restoring native fish species and habitat in Boulder County, providing experiential
learning opportunities for students and increasing awareness of locally threatened and
endangered species on county open space. We are targeting the Tier 1 state endangered
northern redbelly dace (Phoxinus eos), which is also a county Species of Special Concern. The
Redbelly Dace Recovery Project continues to expand its impact upon threatened species
conservation on open space by using community partnerships and developing stewardship and
volunteerism among local students and their families. The goals for 2022 include: (1) perfect the
process to rear redbelly dace in the classroom, (2) release these fish, monitor, and improve
their habitat, and (3) tag and track fish found in St. Vrain Creek to test the effectiveness of
recent fish passage installations. This project was honored to receive a 2021 National Association
of Counties Achievement Award (NACO) in Parks & Recreation, a 2021 COSA Blue Grama Award
for Outstanding Achievement in Ecological Restoration and a 2021 Superintendents Achievement
Award from the St. Vrain Valley School District.