South Platte River Committee Briefing on Urban Waters Partnership Work Plan – March 25, 2026

The South Platte River Committee of Denver City Council met on March 25, 2026, at 1:30 PM MT to receive a briefing on the South Platte River Urban Waters Partnership's 2026 Work Plan and to approve four consent items. The briefing was presented by Samuel Wallace, Ambassador of the partnership, and covered the partnership's history, accomplishments, current challenges, and future plans. No votes were taken on the briefing; all consent items were approved unanimously.

Consent Calendar

• 26-0235: Amended a contract with Merrick & Company to extend the end date to 4-14-2027 for design efforts at the National Western Center Campus, with no change to contract capacity. Approved by consent.
• 26-0336: Relinquished a Permanent Non-Exclusive Easement (PNEE) located at 3875 Walnut Street. Approved by consent.
• 26-0337: Granted a revocable permit to AMFP V Fox Station LLC for two three-story pedestrian bridges connecting buildings at 3988 North Galapago Street, 3989 North Galapago Street, and 699 West 40th Avenue. Approved by consent.
• 26-0368: Amended a lease agreement with Denver Health and Hospital Authority, adding $6,087,673.51 (new total $20,542,385.14) and extending the term by 120 months to 12-31-2035 for autopsy, forensic science, evidence storage, and office space at 500 Quivas Street, Baker Neighborhood. Approved by consent.

Discussion Items

• South Platte River Urban Waters Partnership 2026 Work Plan (26-0372): Samuel Wallace presented an overview of the partnership, which is part of the federal Urban Waters Federal Partnership established in 2011. The South Platte River location is one of 21 nationwide and has been operating for 15 years, with over 100 partner groups including federal and state agencies, municipalities, water providers, nonprofits, and academic institutions. The mission is to collaborate across jurisdictions to engage communities, protect and restore the watershed, and connect people with water.

  • Key accomplishments highlighted:
    • Development of a dynamic water quality assessment tool that integrates data from the Colorado Data Sharing Network and EPA National Water Quality Portal, updated nightly, and provides visualizations and sub-watershed views. The tool is not regulatory but helps identify pollution hotspots and trends.
    • US Geological Survey (USGS) studies: A 2020 study on nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) under low-flow conditions, followed by a 2025–2026 expanded study that includes high-flow, storm, and low-flow events, and additional parameters such as heavy metals and salinity. The 2020 study was motivated by Denver Water's consideration of orthophosphate treatment. The 2025–2026 study involves multiple stakeholders and will produce an interactive web map.
    • Workshops and field tours on topics such as federal funding applications, green infrastructure, collaborative projects, and tours of Lower Bear Creek, water treatment plants, and the CSU Spur campus.
    • Grant funding: Urban Waters small grants (now expired) funded youth leadership, open space planning, and a phosphorus-free fertilizer campaign. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Five-Star and Urban Waters grant program remains active; a 2026 RFP was recently released.
  • Funding challenges: In 2025, federal funds were significantly reduced. Aurora Water and Denver Water provided funding for 2026 to sustain the ambassador position and operations. The 2026 work plan is scaled back but includes a collaborative projects workshop (held February 23, 2026, with 30–35 partners), a partnership directory and database of projects, two field tours (planned for June/July and mid-fall), and a monthly newsletter.
  • Future plans (2027 and beyond, funding dependent): Host regular committee meetings on grant opportunities, community volunteer events, and continued partner gatherings.

  Council Member Questions and Discussion:

  • Councilwoman Alvidrez asked about the ambassador's role and staffing. Wallace explained he works for Peak Facilitation Group and is the only staff member for the partnership.
  • Councilman Flynn raised concerns about low snowpack and low flows in the river, noting dry ponds and irrigation ditches flowing early. He asked about impacts on water quality. Wallace explained that pollution concentration increases with low flows, and the upcoming USGS low-flow sampling in September 2026 (a very low water year) will provide valuable data. He also noted that the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) will present on June 10, 2026, and could address the question more fully.
  • Councilwoman Parady appreciated the partnership's listserv and grant announcements. She asked about the types of organizations among the 100 partners. Wallace listed federal agencies (EPA, USGS, US Forest Service), state entities (CDPHE), water providers (Aurora Water, Denver Water), wastewater treatment plants, Mile High Flood District, municipalities (Adams County, Commerce City, Denver), nonprofits (The Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Land), community-based organizations, and academic institutions (CU Denver, CU Boulder, CSU Water Center). She also asked whether the partnership makes policy recommendations. Wallace clarified that the partnership does not comment on behalf of all members, but the listserv is used to share information about public comment periods and planning efforts, such as the Burnham Yard small area plan.
  • Councilwoman Parady also asked about contamination challenges. Wallace highlighted E. coli in Lower Bear Creek, and phosphorus-related algal blooms affecting downstream reservoirs like Barr Lake and Milton Reservoir, which led to the phosphorus-free fertilizer campaign.

Key Outcomes

• No votes were taken on the briefing. The committee received the information and will follow up with DDPHE on June 10, 2026, for further details on low-flow impacts.
• All four consent items were approved by consent without discussion, indicating unanimous support.
• The committee expressed interest in continued updates from the partnership, particularly after the USGS low-flow study is completed in 2027.