ST. VRAIN RIVER CREEK WATERSHED MASTER PLAN

The South Saint Vrain Creek Watershed is one of the most important natural features in the Northern Front Range of Colorado. In September, 2013, a flood devastated the watershed, the infrastructure, and the communities along the Saint Vrain Creek and its tributaries.

The Watershed Master Plan was developed by S2o and Baker Engineering, among others. The goal of the project was to create a science-based, community oriented, stream master plan. The project was part of an initiative supported by the Colorado Water Conservation Board to approach river projects from a wholistic approach bearing in mind the morphology of the river, the role and importance of habitat to the entire ecosystem, and the needs of communities and private landowners in terms of land use, flood and debris risk, and all types of in-stream recreation.

The master plan included assessments to geomorphology, FEMA risk assessments, habitat needs, and other scientific inputs. The information was blended with community and public process inputs that considered land-use pre-flood, and proposed land-use post flood. The resulting study produced and prioritized projects that allowed for a resilient and healthy stream corridor, a healthy riparian zone, a vital ecosystem, and a thriving economy along the riverbanks that is founded on healthy, active, outdoor-living.