Waterway Resiliency Program

An aerial of the South Platte River adjacent to Sun Valley Homes.

As Denver continues to grow, we face new challenges and opportunities for our waterways.  Through the Denver One Water Plan, we’ve charted a course for resilient water management through collaboration and strong policies.

The Waterway Resiliency Program will deliver Denver's One Water Vision for the South Platte River, Weir Gulch, and Harvard Gulch by restoring habitats, providing flood protection, and creating more inviting spaces for plants, animals, and people.  The program will directly benefit some of Denver’s most vulnerable and under-resourced neighborhoods and advance Denver’s goals for enhanced mobility and equity.

Program Goals

The Waterway Resiliency Program will:

  • restore a 6.5-mile portion of the South Platte River between 6th and 58th Avenues
  • reduce flood risks along the South Platte River, Weir Gulch and East Harvard Gulch tributaries
  • restore and reconnect important river habitats and provide flood protection for homes and structures near the waterways 

The City and County of Denver, along with our partners at the Army Corps of Engineers, Mile High Flood District, and the Greenway Foundation are developing implementation plans for this work.

map of central Denver highlighting Weir Gulch to the west, Harvard Gulch to the south, and the South Platte River north to the city boundary

History and Information

Project Background

A Feasibility Study began in May 2014 with the final Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) released in April 2019. Read the Report

On July 29, 2019, Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Commanding Generals and 54th U.S. Army Chief of Engineers signed the recommendation plan (called the Chief's Report) to move the project forward and allow it to be eligible for Congressional authorization and appropriation.

USACE Press Release
SPRT Chief Engineers Report

The study is sponsored by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Mile High Flood District (MHFD), City and County of Denver (CCD) and the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed three public meetings in summer 2018 to present and receive comment on their recommendations for the South Platte River, Harvard Gulch and Weir Gulch. The public comment period was open through August 28, 2018.

South Platte River Partners

Mayor Michael B. Hancock joined The Greenway Foundation and nearly two dozen other stakeholders on December 3, 2021 in committing to reclaim the South Platte River through major infrastructure investments. The Mayor announced the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to unite multiple stakeholders, the first step in making this historic investment in one of the most vital waterways in our state. Watch the press conference:

Industry Information

The City will provide updates the last Friday of every month regarding industry opportunities for this project.  

Staff Augmentation/Owner’s Representation: Procurement documents in development 

Alternative Delivery: The City will be reaching out in late February/early March to schedule industry meetings with firms that submitted letters of interest in January.  Meetings are anticipated to occur the last week in March/first week in April. 

Resources

Contact Information: For inquiries or questions about procurement opportunities related to this project, please contact Cindy Ackerman at DOTI.Procurement@denvergov.org. 

 

Project Update

The Waterway Resiliency Program received $350M from the Army Corps of Engineers in April 2022.

Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

Contact

Click here to view form.

Your information will be shared only with the SPRT project team. For questions, please email waterwayresiliency@denvergov.org.
For industry updates and questions, please see the Industry Information section of this page.

News Releases

USACE Omaha district to partner with city of Denver on $350M waterway restoration, flood mitigation project — April 1, 2022

Hickenlooper, Bennet, Hancock Announce $350 Million for South Platte — March 30, 2022

Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces Additional Infrastructure Funding for Ports and Waterways — March 29, 2022

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