The South Platte Urban Waters Partnership is a collaborative association of organizations working across governmental and disciplinary boundaries to protect and restore lands and waters in the South Platte River watershed. We emphasize stewardship and community connection, linking urban areas with forested watersheds, and people with nature. This partnership involves more than 40 groups, ranging from federal and state agencies to municipalities, NGOs and private businesses, all coming together for the benefit of the silent partner, the South Platte River. The challenges surrounding water supply, resource protection and connecting people and nature are complex and call for informed and active partners. The diversity of this Partnership is its strength, and there’s a role for each individual, community, business and agency.

This partnership is all about resource efficiency – leveraging human capital and financial resources to accomplish the most we can, in terms of river restoration, community education and improving watershed health. The main goals are water conservation, reconnecting people to their waterways, improving water quality and using urban water systems as a way to promote economic revitalization, particularly in areas along the river that are economically distressed. Water is such a scarce resource in our region, which makes our forested watersheds and waterways even more valuable.

Collaborative partnerships can identify solutions to complex problems. When people understand that their drinking water is tied directly to the health of the South Platte River, it means more to them. The Greenway Foundation estimates that $100 million invested in green improvements to the South Platte River and its tributaries has facilitated more than $10 billion in residential and commercial development throughout the Denver metro area. That’s a very good return on investment. And that doesn’t even include the additional dollar value of air quality, water quality and other public health benefits from green infrastructure.

Projects supported either in full or partially with Urban Waters Partnership funds include:
• Hayman Burn Restoration;
• Denver Water “Forests to Faucets” partnership between Denver Water and United States Forest Service for fuel removal and tree planting;
• Get Outdoors Colorado Website;
• Urban Forestry projects funded by the Colorado State Forest Service for invasive species removal and planting of native trees in riparian and wetland areas;
• Wildfire Readiness and Response Workshop for Utilities focusing on source water protection and restoration, pre- and post-fire;
• Green Infrastructure Design Assistance;
• Funding for clean water messaging and environmental education;
• Design funding for riparian green infrastructure work along the river;
• South Platte Brownfields Area-Wide Planning in Denver and Aurora;
• Brownfields Assessment for Westerly Creek;
• River North Green Infrastructure Design;
• Westerly Creek Stream Restoration Design:
• Protect our Urban River Environment (PURE) trash monitoring protocols;
• Bear Creek Watershed Plan, Denver, Jefferson and Arapahoe Counties;
• World Water Monitoring Day;
• South Platte River Water Quality Monitoring - conducted by various groups, including River Watch (see sites here);
• Urban Waters River Rangers providing green jobs pilot for youth;
• South Platte Urban Waters Partnership Geomapping:
• South Platte River Connections analysis;
• Rocky Mountain Greenway Trails
• Ecological Restoration Study of the South Platte

The Partnership met in March to discuss the group's mission, vision, and goals. At this meeting with more than 40 attendees, the group developed 6 working groups focusing on Water Quality, Education and Outreach, Systems Mapping, Geomapping, the Headwaters-Urban Connection, and Funding. The next meeting will take place on June 5 at the Daniels Fund.

In the next year the Partnership will continue to facilitate funding for South Platte watershed projects, while working on messaging, community engagement, and developing tools to help the Partners make significant and lasting improvements for the river and its watershed.


Groups involved with the Partnership include the Colorado Watershed Assembly, the Cherry Creek Stewardship Partners, the Coalition for the Upper South Platte, the Barr Lake and Milton Reservoir Watershed Association, Sand Creek Regional Greenway Partnership, the Greenway Foundation, and a number of other groups. Take a look at the Assembly's Watershed Group Directory to learn more about these groups.

The South Platte Urban Waters Partnership will have a website up soon, but until then, learn more about the Urban Waters Partnership on the national website. Want to get involved? Contact Urban Waters Partnership Coordinator, Devon Buckels at Devon.Buckels@colostate.edu.