Integrating Drainage, Water Quality, Wetlands, and Habitat in a Planned Community Development

Abstract

This paper describes the planning, design, and construction of multiuse drainage facilities for the Rock Creek development, a planned residential community in the town of Superior, located between Denver and Boulder, Colorado. The Master Drainage Plan provides for a regional system of storm-water channels and detention facilities that provide management of the increased runoff due to urbanization and multiple use of the channels and ponds for open space, recreational greenway corridors, wetland preservation, and riparian habitat. Rock Creek is also the first community in Colorado to implement a comprehensive plan for quality enhancement of urban storm-water runoff. Under the plan, all storm flows from the development are routed through specially designed extended detention basins prior to discharge into the receiving drainageway. Selected stabilization measures are used along the channels to preserve their natural character and maintain stability.