Explore Boulder Creek: Floodplain

Aerial view of a man and woman kayaking in a stream.

Boulder Creek Park

Not far from here is Boulder Creek Park (formerly the Civic Area and Central Park). It looks a lot different than it used to, and more changes are coming. Check out the nature playground, festival street, and park space coming to Boulder Creek Park in 2027-2029. The city is lucky to be the first to enjoy Boulder Creek as it comes out of Boulder Canyon and runs through our city. However, living in an area with many streams means there is a high risk of flooding when there are storms in the city and up in the mountains.

A roaring creek cuts through where a flood has collapsed part of a small 2 lane road.

2013 Flood Monument

Just east of where this path goes under Broadway Street is a monument which commemorates the destructive floods the Front Range experienced in 2013. The monument, which shows the elevation of various flood events, is a powerful reminder of how dangerous floods can be.

Healthy Stream, Healthy Floodplain

One way to protect people and property is to remove buildings from the floodplain, which is the area adjacent to the creek that might flood when a big storm comes. A healthy stream that curves and has gentle, vegetated slopes on each end will better handle high flows of water. It will also have better water quality and habitats for aquatic life. Instead of having roads, houses, or businesses next to the creek that could be damaged in a flood, we can have greenways, parks, and trails that can tolerate high water during a flood. Discover how collaboration and maintenance efforts improve Boulder’s stormwater management, flood safety and natural waterways.

Think about how water moves through a steep narrow canyon. Now look at and think about what Boulder Creek looks like here in the heart of Boulder. How does the shape, direction and width of the stream change from Boulder Canyon to here in the middle of Boulder?

Water flows down a wide creek full of rocks, appearing as a series of small waterfalls.

Aerial view of a woman in waders standing in the middle of a shallow slow moving river.