USACE Hosts Meetings on Denver Urban Waterways Feasibility Study

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in cooperation with the city and county of Denver, will hold three public meetings to gather input on the recently released Environmental Impact Statement for the Denver Urban Waterways Feasibility Study.

The purpose of the study is to identify ecosystem restoration and flood risk management opportunities along critical areas of the South Platte River from 6th Avenue to 58th Avenue and flood-prone areas of the Harvard Gulch and Weir Gulch communities, USACE said.

The meetings will take place at the following locations:

• July 31, Weir Gulch Reach – Barnum Recreation Center, 360 Hooker Street, Denver;
• August 1, South Platte River Reach – REI (3rd Floor), 1416 Platte Street, Denver;
• August 2, Harvard Gulch Reach – Porter Hospital (Grand Mesa Conference Room, 2nd Floor), 2525 S. Downing Street, Denver.

The public meetings will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with a brief opening presentation beginning at 6:00 p.m. followed by an open house.

“During the open house period, the Corps and the City and County of Denver will answer questions the public may have about the study and gather their input on the draft Environmental Impact Statement which evaluates potential effects of restoring the ecosystem along the South Platte River and implementing flood risk management solutions along Weir Gulch and Harvard Gulch,” said Jeff Bohlken, project manager with the Corps of Engineers.

Background

Urban growth in Denver has negatively impacted the ecosystem surrounding the South Platte River and its tributaries, specifically Harvard Gulch and Weir Gulch.

In 2000, Congress provided approval for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study ecosystem and flood risk issues along the South Platte River in Arapahoe and Adams Counties.

Congress added Denver County to the study authorization in 2008, and the reconnaissance study was completed by the Corps in 2010.

The results of that study indicated federal interest in pursuing a comprehensive feasibility study with the city and county of Denver as the cost-share sponsor.