Boulder Creek Field Study - Procedure and Questions

Please proceed to the Boulder Creek Path as it crosses under the Boulder Public Library near Ninth Street. This is where the field trip begins.

Stop #1 Boulder Public Library

The expected one percent flood (100 year return flood) was approximately 12-14 feet above the stream channel at this point on May 31, 1894.

1. If this same magnitude flood happened today, what role might the Ninth Street Bridge play in the flood's progress?

2. What buildings within view might be inundated with those "100 year" flood waters?

3. A walkway connects the old and new wings of the Boulder Public Library. Which part of the library will likely suffer more damage as a result of a major flood? Why?

Please move eastward along the Boulder Creek Path to a location about 50 meters before the Broadway Bridge.

Stop #2 Broadway Bridge

1. What buildings and structures do you see from this location that would be affected by flood waters?

2. What streets would mark the northern and southern edges of the flood plain or flood storage area?

3. What has been done to the Park Central Building to prevent flood damage?

Please proceed east on the Creek Path to a point under the Arapahoe Bridge.

Stop #3 Arapahoe Bridge

1. What alterations to the creek do you notice here? What is the purpose of these alterations?

2. How does the Creek Path stay dry (usually) as it passes below the water level at the Broadway and Arapahoe Bridges?

Please proceed east to the footbridge at the east end of the Boulder High School football/soccer field.

Stop #4 Boulder High School

1. The bridge with a wooden deck and black metal railing is called a tear-away bridge. What is its purpose and how does it work?

2. Houses once stood on the land immediately north of the Creek Path and west of the high school. How is this land being used now? Why do you think houses aren't located there anymore?

Now proceed to the 17th St. Bridge

Stop #5 17th Street Bridge

1. Would the houses on the north side of the creek east of the 17th Street Bridge be affected by a 100-year flood (about 9-10 feet of depth in the flood waters at this stop)?

2. Do you think the houses on the south side of the creek would be similarly affected by a large flood? Why or why not?

Please proceed eastward until there is a separation of lanes on the Creek Path .

Stop #6 University of Colorado Family Housing

1. Are these residences safe from potential flooding? Explain.

Please proceed to the CU parking lot near the Folsom St. Bridge.

Stop #7 CU floodplain Parking Lot

1. What dangers would this parking lot present in a 100-year flood (perhaps 8 feet in depth at this point)?

2. If floating trees and cars formed a dam at the Folsom St. Bridge, what structures in the area would become inundated?

Please move to the Fish Observatory underneath Boulder Creek south of the Regal Harvest House Hotel.

Stop #8 The Fish Observatory

1. What native and introduced fish species inhabit Boulder Creek?

2. How do you think a catastrophic flood would affect wildlife in Boulder Creek?

Please go along the Creek Path to the Gold Run Apartment Complex.

Stop #9 Gold Run Apartments

1. What evidence do you see that the building permit for these apartments was issued before the City of Boulder banned residential construction in the high-hazard flood zone?

Next stop is at the rise on the Creek Path near Scott Carpenter Park well before the 30th St. Bridge.

Stop #10 Scott Carpenter Park

1. How would the use of this park be affected by a flood?

2. Over 90% of the land adjacent to the Creek Path is owned by the public. How do you think the Boulder Creek path would appear if it were privately owned? Explain.

Please proceed under the 30th Street Bridge and go to the CU Research Park just beyond several very large Cottonwood trees to the south of the Path.

Stop #11 CU Research Park Cottonwoods

1. Cottonwoods, willows, hackberry and box elders are plant species that grow near streams and creeks. Is there any evidence of a former tributary of Boulder Creek in this general area? Please explain.

2. About 24 acres in the northeast corner of the CU Research Park are in the flood plain. What appears to be the use of this land?

Please continue to the Skunk Creek Path, which joins the Boulder Creek Path just before the Arapahoe Ave. Bridge.

Stop #12 Intersection of Skunk Creek Path

1. This final stop gives you a vista of several man-made ponds in an area that was once a vacant field. Why do you think the City of Boulder created these wetlands?

In light of this project, do you think human-environment interaction has made Boulder a more hazardous or a less hazardous place to live? Please explain.