Posted on May 8, 2024
A draft alteration of the Chatfield Downstream Channel Improvements Flood Risk Reduction Project, located within the South Platte River corridor at Reynolds Landing Park, City of Littleton, Arapahoe County, Colorado, is currently available for public review and comment.
This reach of the South Platte River is part of a federal Flood Risk Reduction Project implemented by the USACE in the 1970s following the devastating Flood of 1965. The existing federal project consists of channel improvements that included widening, straightening, and lowering the channel.
Currently, this reach of channel contains three large drop structures that prevent fish passage through this river reach and cause safety concerns for recreation users in the river. This reach is also degraded with a reduced incoming sediment load (due to the upstream Chatfield Reservoir), which has resulted in a very wide and shallow channel with little to no aquatic and wetland habitat.
The purpose of the proposed action is to enhance the South Platte River channel through the project area to improve public safety along the river; improve aquatic, wetland, and riparian habitat; improve access to the river; maintain flood protection; and develop Reynolds Landing Park as a vital recreation asset.
The proposed project is comprised of the following elements: replacing the existing drop structures with 13 new smaller drop structures, narrowing and deepening the channel, creating wetland and riparian vegetated benches to improve aquatic habitat and movement through the reach which would also allow for low hazard boat passage and other water-based recreation, improved recreation trails and access points, and native vegetation plantings.
The public is encouraged to provide comments on the proposed alteration. The reference number for the project is 408-NWO-2022-0071. It is available for viewing at:
Comments can be emailed to: section408nwo@usace.army.mil or they may be mailed to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District CENWO-PMA-C:
ATTN: 408-NWO-2022-0071 Public Comment
1616 Capitol Avenue
Omaha, NE 68102-4901
Comments must be postmarked or received no later than June 8, 2024.
