Fix For The Flood-Prone
Upper Montclair Basin Forum Set For April 10
By Nora Neureiter
Special to the GPHN
A 15-month study of flood-prone areas in the Upper Montclair Basin will culminate with a public meeting to discuss the study’s findings and next steps. The public forum is Tuesday, April 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, at 1980 Dahlia St.
The Upper Montclair Basin includes the neighborhoods of Congress Park, South City Park, the southern portion of Park Hill, Bellevue-Hale, Montclair, Mayfair, Hilltop, and Crestmoor. In early 2017, Denver Public Works embarked on an ambitious study to re-think stormwater management in the Upper Montclair Basin by adopting a community-first approach. The goals were to identify near-term drainage improvements to address nuisance flooding, plan for long-range flood control in the event of a very large storm, and strive for a more flood resilient basin through green infrastructure and smarter land use.
A range of stormwater management strategies were suggested, discussed, and evaluated by local residents, community leaders, and business owners during five rounds of public meetings.
The team worked with area residents, community leaders, business owners, and others to first identify and then investigate solutions for several highly impacted, flood-prone areas in the basin. This final public meeting will offer opportunities for the community to learn more about study results and next steps on the following:
• Hale Parkway and the area around the intersection of Severn and Jersey Streets, including results of a traffic study and next steps in developing a hybrid solution of pipes and greenway.
• 16th Avenue in Park Hill between Colorado Boulevard and Glencoe Street, including current efforts to bring larger storm pipes and green infrastructure to improve drainage.
• 14th and Krameria Street and nearby areas along Colfax Avenue, including updates on challenges and opportunities in these flood-prone, business and residential areas.
• Resources and information on how individuals and neighborhood blocks can minimize the impact of localized flooding.
The public meeting will include a check-in and orientation from 5:30- 6 p.m. and an open house from 6 – 7 p.m. Background information, maps, meeting minutes, and meeting materials are available at: denvergov.org/uppermontclairbasin.