Denver Urban Waterways -Harvard Gulch Recommendations

The public is invited to learn about and provide feedback on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommendations for the South Platte River, Weir Gulch, and Harvard Gulch. 
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All meetings begin at 5:30 pm. There will be a presentation at 6:00 pm followed by an open house until 7:30 pm.

July 31, Weir Gulch Study – Barnum Recreation Center, 360 Hooker Street.
August 1, South Platte River Study – REI, 1416 Platte Street (3rd Floor).
August 2, Harvard Gulch Study – Porter Hospital, 2525 S. Downing Street (Grand Mesa Conference Room).
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In 2015, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the City and County of Denver began a feasibility study of three urban waterways in Denver.  Previous rounds of public meetings were held in both 2015 and 2016.  General study background and information on the previous public meetings is available for review at www.denvergov.org/denverwaterways. 

The ecological health of the South Platte River has been adversely affected by encroaching urbanization and past flood control projects.  The primary goal of the South Platte River recommendations is to develop a cost-effective, multi-pronged approach to river restoration that will restore ecosystem habitat, with secondary goals to improve water quality and reduce flood risk, where feasible. 

Weir Gulch and Harvard Gulch have been primarily impacted by encroaching urbanization.  For Weir Gulch, the primary goal is flood risk reduction, with a secondary goal of ecosystem restoration, where feasible.  For Harvard Gulch, the primary goal is flood risk reduction through implementing nonstructural  flood risk management measures to individual homes and businesses within the floodplain.  On all three waterways, a complementary goal is to improve community access to recreational and environmental education opportunities. 

The draft feasibility report and environmental impact statement and study recommendations will be released on July 2nd and will be available at:
http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Planning/Project-Reports/

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is partnering with the City and County of Denver, the Greenway Foundation, the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, and the Colorado Water Conservation Board to complete the study.
 
The Denver Urban Waterways Restoration Study is scheduled for completion in 2019.  The study marks the beginning of a long-term partnership to secure funding, plan, design, and build the selected alternatives.