Boulder, Colorado Greenways Master Plan

The City of Boulder's 2011 Greenways Master Plan creates a stewardship plan for the city's riparian areas along Boulder Creek and its 14 tributaries. Although the plan does not explicitly consider climate change, it provides a useful example for how cities can coordinate management of natural resources and recreational amenities across city agencies and using multiple sources of funding. The purpose of Greenways was to integrate multiple management objectives for riparian areas including protecting habitat, managing water quality, managing flooding and stormwater, and creating and enhancing trails and recreational amenities. The plan also coordinates policies across other city plans including its comprehensive plan, flood and stormwater utility master plan, water quality strategic plan, transportation plan, parks and recreation plan, and flood mitigation plans for specific tributaries.

The report discusses a range of projects such as restoring and creating habitat, implementing best management practices for addressing non-point source pollution (runoff carrying pollutants), removing fish barriers, increasing riparian buffers, controlling invasive species, and acquiring properties.

This plan is a useful model for cities seeking to implement green infrastructure and flood mitigation projects because it shows how cities can leverage multiple sources of funding to implement projects. The Greenways program is funded through a range of city sources including Boulder's Transportation Fund, Stormwater and Flood Control Utility Fund, and the State Lottery Fund. The annual budget for implementing the Greenways plan is $450,000. The plan seeks to coordinate planning, construction, maintenance, and funding across city departments and agencies including planning, open space, parks and recreation, and public works.

Publication Date: 2011

Related Organizations: