After years of industrialization that led to channelization and repeated flooding, Denver’s South Platte River lost much of its ecological function and became less accessible to the community. As pressure increased to further develop the riverfront to accommodate a growing population, the City and County of Denver wanted to know how to best support the future health of their urban waterways. To reclaim and preserve the habitat, water filtration, and public benefits of the river and its tributaries while enhancing resiliency against the threats of climate change, project partners including Mile High Flood District collaborated with a team led by OV Consulting on the Healthy River Corridor Study to evaluate options to implement a buffer along Denver’s waterways.
As ecological experts on the OV Consulting team, Biohabitats supported the habitat and landscape ecology elements of the study by assessing river corridor challenges and ecosystem health. This included an analysis of severe heat risks, the 100- and 500-year floodplain, vegetation within the riparian buffer area, and a spatial analysis of current conditions. The project team’s review and community engagement efforts helped the planning team develop four different goals: water, ecology, mobility and recreation, and land use and development. To reach these goals, the project designated an Influence Zone, with 200 ft on either side of the river, to allow for effective floodplain, upland zone, and riparian habitat while providing space for recreational opportunities and land use.
This buffer area along Denver’s restrained river corridor will protect the waterway from the impacts of development and accommodate the economic and social needs of the community. With Biohabitats’ ecological expertise, the study helped develop a comprehensive plan for ensuring a healthy future for the South Platte River.
TAGS
Owner: Mile High Flood District
Bioregion: Rocky Mountain/Plains
Ecoregion: Front Range Fans
Physiographic province: Great Plains
Watershed: Boxelder Creek
Collaborators: Beth Volgelsang - OV Consulting, Andrew Knudtsen - Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.,, City & County of Denver, Mile High Flood District, Greenway Foundation, Urban Land Institute