OMAHA, NE - A public meeting to share details about the South Platte River Section 1135 ecosystem restoration study being conducted in partnership with the City and County of Denver and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District will be held from 5:30-7:30 pm on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the Fleming Mansion, 1510 S. Grant Street in Denver, Colorado.
The proposed project area includes approximately 1.8 miles of the South Platte River from West Harvard Avenue downstream (north) to West Mississippi Avenue. The objective of this study is to find solutions to improve the quality and quantity of wetland and riparian habitats, create habitat connectivity and incorporate in-channel aquatics along the project area without reconfiguring existing infrastructure and without adversely impacting the existing floodplain. This study is not part of the on-going Denver Urban Waterways Restoration Study.
The open house, which will also serve as a public scoping meeting per the National Environmental Policy Act, will give residents and others interested in the project, a chance to learn why the study is important, learn what will be done during the study process, learn about the possible benefits, and provide specific concerns and input. In addition to the open house, there will be a formal presentation at 6:00 pm.
BACKGROUND: The urbanization of the City and County of Denver over the past 150 years has resulted in infrastructure and development encroaching into historic stream and floodplain habitats along the South Platte River and its tributaries. In addition, the construction of the Corps’ Chatfield and Bear Creek Dams, upstream from the project reach, have altered the natural flows by greatly reducing flood flows and increasing late summer and fall base flows. In the Southern Platte Valley project reach, the combined effect of these changes has negatively impacted the South Platte River’s natural flows and native aquatic and riparian habitat systems.
For more information, contact Jeff Bohlken with the Omaha District at (402) 995-2671 or Jennifer Williams with the City and County of Denver at (303) 446-3549.
Release no. 17-021