How does urban development change streams?
Increased development means that more water is draining from roofs and roads by curbs, gutters, and pipes. This can lead to increased flooding and erosion.ÌýÌý
Different than most streams in Denver which flow year-round, the West Stroh Gulch flows intermittently. Development in the watershed is changing this.
In Parker (through a partnership with Town of Parker, Mile High Flood District, Muller Engineers, and Wright Water Engineers), there is the chance to try something different to better protect the stream and prevent flooding and erosion during development.ÌýÌý
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How will the stream look after development?Ìý How will this affect flash flooding?Ìý
We have been monitoring since 2020 to find out. We are using streamflow monitoring equipment in the watershed: 5 cameras at different locations, and a device called a flume at the outlet to capture and measure streamflow (intersection of French Creek Ave. and Great Plain Way).
From June 2020 to August 2023, 32 streamflow events occurred out of 115 rainfall events. In 2025, our collected data indicated that streamflow occurred on 39 days, showing that the stream is flowing more consistently as a response to irrigation. In summer 2026, we began collecting water samples at the watershed outlet, in the hope of quantifying the watershed nutrient export of the streamflow.
Our monitoring efforts in West Stroh Gulch provide valuable data to document the hydrologic transition happening as a result of low-impact residential development.
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Do you want more information?Ìý
RamÃrez-Núñez, J. S., Poteet, D. L., Bhaskar, A. S., Wilson, S., Morrison, R. R., Zivkovich, B., Johnson, S., Kampf, S. K., Grigg, N., Nelson, P. A. (2025), Non-perennial streamflow and sediment mobilization in a semi-arid rangeland slated for development. PLOS Water, 4(11), e0000466. Available at:Ìý
Wilson, S.*, A.S. Bhaskar, B.E. Choat*, S. Kampf, K.G. Hopkins, T. Green, A. Earles (2021), Urbanization of Grasslands in the Denver Area Affects Streamflow Responses to Rainfall Events, Colorado Water Volume 38, Issue 2. Available at: Ìý
Wilson, Stacy. MS Thesis (2021), Civil and Environmental Engineering. Hydrologic Responses to Urbanization in Denver Watersheds and Investigation of Precipitation Thresholds for Streamflow Generation in Pre-Development Semi-Arid Rangeland. Ìý
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Or contact us!ÌýÌý
