Work is underway on a stream restoration project along Pocatello Creek.

Today, crews started working to stabilize stream banks along Pocatello Creek to the southwest of Fire Station No. 3, along Pocatello Creek Road. Over time, the creek has eroded into City sewer lines, sidewalks, and adjacent properties in the area. Crews will be adding rock and other erosion control materials and planting willows that will provide more stabilization as well as habitat for wildlife.

“We are excited about this project because it is very visible from the road and will let us test, on a small scale, what it will look like if we remove invasive Elm and Russian Olive trees and replant the stream bank with native shrubs such as willows,” said Hannah Sanger, Science and Environment Division Administrator.

The project will cost $39,760 and is primarily funded by a grant from the Idaho Department of Water Resources. The City of Pocatello is responsible for $4,760 of the project’s cost.

Work is expected to be completed next week, barring any unforeseen circumstances that would require a work schedule change.

Residents with questions about the project can contact Austin Suing, Project Engineer, at 208-234-6513.

If you like to visit Sacajawea Park, your walk, run or ride is going to be smoother.

Recently, more than a mile of the park’s trails was repaved. In addition to the revitalized surfaces, the trails were widened to 10 feet where possible.

The total cost of the project was $75,000 with $60,000 coming from an Idaho Parks and Recreation Department grant that was secured by the Portneuf Greenway Foundation. The remaining $15,000 was in the form of in-kind work by the city of Pocatello Street Operations Department who provided the equipment and labor to install the asphalt as well as Parks and Recreation Department staff who cleared vegetation and restored streambanks along the Portneuf River.

“The Sacajawea Park trails are situated in a beautiful, natural setting along the Portneuf River,” said John Banks, Parks and Recreation director. “They are a favorite for walkers, joggers, bikers, and skaters in the community and are heavily used.”

“The city of Pocatello and the Parks and Recreation Department have been great partners in not only helping to grow the Greenway trail system, but also maintaining it, too,” said Rory Erchul, Greenway board president. “We couldn’t be more pleased with the support and assistance we get as a not-for-profit from the City and its employees.”

Sacajawea Park is located on Aspen Lane.

For more information on the programs and services offered by the city of Pocatello Parks and Recreation Department, visit, pocatello.us/pr.