The Mesa County Commission approved a $994,568 contract with Suncor Construction Inc. for construction work on the Pickup Ponds wetlands-mitigation project.

The county will use the site as a wetlands bank to offset some of the costs of building and repairing roads and bridges. When the project is finished, the site will be restored to a wetland and riparian habitat with water naturally flowing in and out from the river. The project also includes passive recreation opportunities. An out-and-back walking path will go into the wetlands site, with educational signs and seating on the southeast side of the property.

At its Nov. 3 public hearing, the county commission unanimously approved the contract, which was the lowest of five bids submitted for the project, the highest being $1,678,520.