A timber bridge built in 2015 replaced a culvert that had blocked fish passage in Houghton Creek, reconnecting more than 5 miles of upstream habitat and reducing the amount of sand and road salt entering the creek to protect water quality for people and wildlife. Houghton Creek is a high quality tributary of the Rifle River, and Huron Pines, a nonprofit conservation organization, is leading an effort to restore and protect this freshwater resource. This work builds on earlier projects to enhance Houghton Creek, including streambank erosion control at Rose City Park in 2012 and installation of an underground stormwater treatment unit and rain gardens in Rose City in 2014. Together, these projects are reducing sand, oils and greases, bacteria, and other pollution from reaching the stream.