NEDERLAND -- On August 4, 2025, Boulder County began restoration efforts for a portion of Sherwood Creek, an ephemeral stream located in Mud Lake Open Space.

The $600,000 project, in partnership with the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS), aims to remove material related to historic mining activities of the Conger mine.

The restoration project will excavate approximately two thousand cubic yards of material blocking its channel and place it on an existing waste pile, re-establishing the creek’s riparian corridor.

In addition, the project will create 450 linear feet of channel and overbank to restore the area’s ecological function.

The Conger mine was the largest tungsten mine in Colorado’s history. Opening in 1900, the 991-foot deep shaft closed in 1918 after the outbreak of influenza, reopened in 1938, and permanently closed in 1945.

The site of the mine included a custom mill to process tungsten ore, and the mine itself contained over five miles of horizontal underground workings.

Work is expected to last until the end of October 2025. Following completion, native plants will be seeded and revegetated for ecological restoration.

Fences will be installed to limit moose from browsing on newly seeded plants. Historic cultural resources, including an ore bin, will remain preserved.

The road to the mine beyond the Sherwood Forest Trail, which connects through the project area, will be closed during the project. However, the trail itself, along with all other designated trails in the Mud Lake and Caribou Ranch areas, will remain open.

Frontier Environmental Services LLC will complete project work, and the project is funded by Boulder County, DRMS, State of Colorado severance tax, and a grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board.

If you have additional questions regarding the project, contact Julie Annear from DRMS at julie.annear@state.co.us.