Looks like they've made a lot of progress behind the Gin

Could be kind of cool when it's done

I still ain't gettin' in that water though

Should he nice. Hope they expand the trout stocking in the winter now that it'll somewhat resemble real trout waters.

Actually, my trout spot was destroyed

That pool below the low bridge behind the appraisal building was money

Trout stock at Nolan Creek this winter is 12/21/2014 and 01/21/2015

1800 to be released each time

Where do they normally do the stocking at? Right behind the gin?

I think it's more downstream

Like behind the appraisal building, in that pool
Above where the low crossing used to be

But that landscape has all changed

Don't know where they're releasing this year

Not sure if they've changed it, but they used to back the truck up at the old Sheriff's office (which is still the sheriff's office). The underground parking area has a slab that goes down fairly close to the water and they used to just back down there and open the release on the tanks.

Seems like it was a much larger expanse back in the day, but you get Central Avenue to the old low water crossing for trout fishing. Not very big at all. Honestly, the amount of fish they release probably go to make the local ducks and feral cats big and fat.

It does look better but they will do more right? I mean that's not like a lot of the budget spent, I hope?

I heard they were gonna do work all the way upstream to Loop 121, but I didn't see any heavy equipment anywhere on Nolan creek today

As for the project --- meh

Those "chutes" look pretty puny ... And shallow

they MIGHT be able to handle a 30 pound toddler in a blow-up floaty-toy

Beyond that, you're gonna be running aground. Forget getting a kayak or canoe through those things

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I heard they were gonna do work all the way upstream to Loop 121, but I didn't see any heavy equipment anywhere on Nolan creek today

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I've heard this too but property owners seem to be a problem. They had minor headaches with them for the pedestrian iron bridge at umhb.

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As for the project --- meh

Those "chutes" look pretty puny ... And shallow

they MIGHT be able to handle a 30 pound toddler in a blow-up floaty-toy

Beyond that, you're gonna be running aground. Forget getting a kayak or canoe through those things

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Yea at the gin it looks more like a wading pool to splash in. It's nice and better but I don't see a few million dollars spent or ever recouped.

I have mixed feelings about it

I mean, you kinda want to keep it somewhat natural. On the other hand, there have been modifications, "improvements", and whatnot up and down Nolan creek in Belton for 100 years. This enhancement is the biggest project yet though

Also, natural or not, that stretch of creek is nasty -- algae, goose and duck sh/t, soft dirt/mud embankments, debris out the wazoo ... If they're gonna try to make that area more viable for the culinary and recreational arts, yeah, it probably doesn't hurt to fix it up

I don't blame them for trying to fix that area up a little bit. It's got potential, but it's run down... Probably due for a facelift

We'll see what it looks like when it's over... I was specifically told awhile back that yes, there would be improvements upstream from the Gin

I hope so because if they stop now, the project is pretty worthless

Any creek that's stagnant is nasty. So they have to keep the water gushing. Like all the time. It also needs to do that for recreation purposes so we will see.

It is due for a facelift but county inmates will never help the appeal.

Yeah that was my point --- the stagnant, nasty areas are the ones in need of enhancement, but for the project to be worth a flip the enhancement needs to expand upstream.

People aren't gonna want to float through stagnant, algae infested water, whether it's downtown or upstream

Here's what I THINK will happen:
The downtown project is both a recreational enhancement and beautification project. Hence the big limestone blocks nice and neatly stacked around the creek

I THINK the upstream area will also be worked, but probably with less aesthetic enhancement. Perhaps more along the lines of moving existing boulders around to create bottlenecks and faster water, rather than moving in large blocks of limestone to create artificial "chutes"

Pablo,

There are going to be two areas upstream that will have work done to them.

1. Behind the Harris center, where the old low water crossing was removed. Some block will be added to narrow that channel to allow for adequate water levels for floating. Basically creating a small chute similar to what you are seeing behind the gin. This work will take place this spring/summer.

2. 9th avenue and Nolan creek. There will be a park added with nature trails, parking and a put in point for tubes and kayaks. This project isn't going to happen until the 9th avenue bridge is completed for the practical reason of not inviting folks to drive/park in an active construction zone.

The 9th avenue point will be the most westward put in, at least for now. There a couple of reasons why this isn't going to the loop. The first being there isn't a safe place to park on the loop. If you pull off the road, as many do to fish, you are either in TXDOT right of way or on private property. Neither of those groups are especially fond of having cars parked. The other is there is a less known low water crossing owned and maintained by UMHB just east of 121, which would block anyone trying to float from 121 all the way to downtown.

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It is due for a facelift but county inmates will never help the appeal.

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Some second hand info, but I believe the county is working to eventually move all inmates out to the new Justice center and end the housing downtown.

Well, that's good to know about the work upstream, but I still think the areas around Mount Zion Church, 2d Avenue, and the Central Avenue bridge are going to be virtually impassable by kayak, just like they are now due to boulders, shallow water, and frequent debris in the creek.

As for the inmates, I had heard the opposite. I have heard that the old jail Annex is going to be shut down, and the building across the street where the sheriffs department is will begin housing inmates again.

Which brings me to another point, I really, really hate that they built that sheriff's building right there on the creek like that. What an ugly eyesore