Clear Creek Management Strategies

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Clear Creek Management 2025 Recap & What to Expect in 2026

On March 17, 2026, City staff briefed City Council on the feedback received at the January 20th community meeting and online discussion boards. About 20 people were in attendance at the community meeting, and over a period of two weeks, 11 comments were submitted to the online discussion boards. Some of the themes of the feedback were:

  • Creek protection considerations: Some meeting participants emphasized environmental health, wildlife impacts, and long-term sustainability as important factors to prioritize in future creek management discussions.
  • Enforcement: Participants raised concerns that existing regulations may be difficult to enforce consistently given current staffing levels and visitation demand. Comments reflected interest in increased visibility and clarity around enforcement.
  • Safety: Safety concerns were raised by some participants, particularly related to the broader corridor rather than in-creek activity. Congestion and interactions with higher-speed e-bike/e-moto traffic were cited.
  • Neighborhood impacts: Neighborhood impacts were a recurring topic, particularly among participants from the 9th Street corridor. Parking, traffic circulation, and access were identified as primary concerns by those residents.
  • Communication and signage: Participants noted opportunities to improve communication through clearer and more consistent signage, including bilingual signage, paired with enforcement.
  • Use of data and transparency: Some participants expressed interest in increased use of data to inform decisions and to better understand outcomes, citing transparency as a trust-building tool.
  • Tradeoffs and potential restrictions: A subset of participants indicated willingness to consider additional restrictions, including those that would apply broadly, if they contribute to improved safety and resource protection.

In anticipation of the 2026 Creek Season, the Staff Creek Management Group and Council Subcommittee will focus on the following key strategies and priorities:

  • Creek protection considerations: Continue fish and macroinvertebrate sampling to assess the impact of recreational activities on aquatic ecosystems and make additional improvements to drop structures based on study findings.
  • Enforcement: Community Service Officers and ambassadors will continue monitoring for unsafe behavior and aid in emergencies. Ensure effective enforcement of park rules, including alcohol, smoking, and leash violations.
  • Safety: Continue emphasizing the importance of lifejackets and safe tubing practices. Public awareness campaigns will promote water safety, especially during yellow flag conditions. Staff is working on education campaigns related to e-bike/e-moto traffic as this has been an increasing issue.
  • Neighborhood Impacts: 9th Street West Neighborhood residents have inquired about limiting the neighborhood parking regulations to May 1 to October 1 instead of the current year-round restrictions. City staff will conduct a survey of impact property owners and occupants to determine support for this change or maintaining the current regulations. Any changes would require City Council approval, likely later in 2026 after the summer season.
  • Creek protection considerations: Continue fish and macroinvertebrate sampling to assess the impact of recreational activities on aquatic ecosystems and make additional improvements to drop structures based on study findings.
  • Communication and Signage: Maintain and expand bilingual (English/Spanish) materials and signage to ensure equitable access to safety and park information. The City will post bilingual informational signage along Maple and 9th Streets (Maple to Illinois) to raise awareness of neighborhood parking regulations. Parking information and restrictions messaging will be better coordinated with Community Services and Creek Ambassadors who are the main public points of contacts in the summer.
  • Use of data and transparency: This year will continue to have weekly updates about the creek in the weekly digest, but we will include more dashboard type information and update data for each week.
  • Fencing and Gates: We plan on using fencing and gates strategically during times when we expect the creek to be very busy, we determine this through past data collection on temperature, day of week, time of day, and other activities in area. We always using fencing to prevent erosion and encourage plant life.
  • Camera Systems and Data Analytics: Continue use of AI-driven camera systems to enhance data accuracy and creek monitoring. Focus on correlating data trends to refine safety measures and operational policies, especially for busy periods (weekends, holidays).
  • Parking Enforcement: Continue working with the third-party contractor for parking enforcement, ensuring compliance with parking regulations. Adjust strategies as needed to address violations, especially along 10th Street and the Golden Community Center parking lots.
  • Shuttle Service: Build on the success of the shuttle program, increasing public awareness to ensure higher ridership and reduced traffic congestion.
  • East Lions Park Sidewalk and ADA Improvements: The project currently under construction will widen sidewalks, lengthen Lions Park ADA parking spaces and better define the 9th and Maple intersection. City staff will monitor traffic operations in this area to identify how the project performs and if additional changes are necessary to improve safety and discourage drop-off traffic along Maple and 9th.
  • Improved Parking Public Message on 10th Street: The City will improve messaging on the VMBs and other temporary signage to direct parking towards available spaces (e.g. Clear Creek Lot, downtown garages, Farmers Market Lot).


Background

As Golden residents know, May and June mark the beginning of another bustling summer season in our vibrant city. With the Clear Creek corridor becoming an increasingly popular destination over the years, the City has taken steps to ensure that everyone can equally enjoy the beauty and activities of Clear Creek, as well as its surrounding trails and parks, no matter their interests.

To foster community involvement and address evolving needs, we host annual community meetings early in the calendar year, before creek season begins, to gather valuable feedback from residents and visitors alike. Additionally, during the summer months, City staff meet weekly to monitor conditions and citizen concerns and adapt our approach, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone who visits this treasured area. Following the Creek season, City staff present to City Council in the fall on projects and strategies implemented in the season.

Public Comment Opportunities

The City of Golden Clear Creek Legislative Subcommittee invites members of the Golden community to provide public comments on items and ideas related to Clear Creek. Members of the public can make their voices heard through the following ways:

  1. Providing a public comment by attending a City Council meeting in person.
  2. Writing an email to CouncilComments@cityofgolden.net, which will be published on the City's websites for public viewing and discussion.
  3. Attending a meeting of the Mobility & Transportation Advisory Board or the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

Information on upcoming Council and board meetings is available at www.cityofgolden.gov/Agendas. You can also use the "Ideas and Discussion" tool below to ask questions, discuss Creek related topics with other users, and provide input on Creek management.

Clear Creek Management 2025 Recap & What to Expect in 2026

On March 17, 2026, City staff briefed City Council on the feedback received at the January 20th community meeting and online discussion boards. About 20 people were in attendance at the community meeting, and over a period of two weeks, 11 comments were submitted to the online discussion boards. Some of the themes of the feedback were:

  • Creek protection considerations: Some meeting participants emphasized environmental health, wildlife impacts, and long-term sustainability as important factors to prioritize in future creek management discussions.
  • Enforcement: Participants raised concerns that existing regulations may be difficult to enforce consistently given current staffing levels and visitation demand. Comments reflected interest in increased visibility and clarity around enforcement.
  • Safety: Safety concerns were raised by some participants, particularly related to the broader corridor rather than in-creek activity. Congestion and interactions with higher-speed e-bike/e-moto traffic were cited.
  • Neighborhood impacts: Neighborhood impacts were a recurring topic, particularly among participants from the 9th Street corridor. Parking, traffic circulation, and access were identified as primary concerns by those residents.
  • Communication and signage: Participants noted opportunities to improve communication through clearer and more consistent signage, including bilingual signage, paired with enforcement.
  • Use of data and transparency: Some participants expressed interest in increased use of data to inform decisions and to better understand outcomes, citing transparency as a trust-building tool.
  • Tradeoffs and potential restrictions: A subset of participants indicated willingness to consider additional restrictions, including those that would apply broadly, if they contribute to improved safety and resource protection.

In anticipation of the 2026 Creek Season, the Staff Creek Management Group and Council Subcommittee will focus on the following key strategies and priorities:

  • Creek protection considerations: Continue fish and macroinvertebrate sampling to assess the impact of recreational activities on aquatic ecosystems and make additional improvements to drop structures based on study findings.
  • Enforcement: Community Service Officers and ambassadors will continue monitoring for unsafe behavior and aid in emergencies. Ensure effective enforcement of park rules, including alcohol, smoking, and leash violations.
  • Safety: Continue emphasizing the importance of lifejackets and safe tubing practices. Public awareness campaigns will promote water safety, especially during yellow flag conditions. Staff is working on education campaigns related to e-bike/e-moto traffic as this has been an increasing issue.
  • Neighborhood Impacts: 9th Street West Neighborhood residents have inquired about limiting the neighborhood parking regulations to May 1 to October 1 instead of the current year-round restrictions. City staff will conduct a survey of impact property owners and occupants to determine support for this change or maintaining the current regulations. Any changes would require City Council approval, likely later in 2026 after the summer season.
  • Creek protection considerations: Continue fish and macroinvertebrate sampling to assess the impact of recreational activities on aquatic ecosystems and make additional improvements to drop structures based on study findings.
  • Communication and Signage: Maintain and expand bilingual (English/Spanish) materials and signage to ensure equitable access to safety and park information. The City will post bilingual informational signage along Maple and 9th Streets (Maple to Illinois) to raise awareness of neighborhood parking regulations. Parking information and restrictions messaging will be better coordinated with Community Services and Creek Ambassadors who are the main public points of contacts in the summer.
  • Use of data and transparency: This year will continue to have weekly updates about the creek in the weekly digest, but we will include more dashboard type information and update data for each week.
  • Fencing and Gates: We plan on using fencing and gates strategically during times when we expect the creek to be very busy, we determine this through past data collection on temperature, day of week, time of day, and other activities in area. We always using fencing to prevent erosion and encourage plant life.
  • Camera Systems and Data Analytics: Continue use of AI-driven camera systems to enhance data accuracy and creek monitoring. Focus on correlating data trends to refine safety measures and operational policies, especially for busy periods (weekends, holidays).
  • Parking Enforcement: Continue working with the third-party contractor for parking enforcement, ensuring compliance with parking regulations. Adjust strategies as needed to address violations, especially along 10th Street and the Golden Community Center parking lots.
  • Shuttle Service: Build on the success of the shuttle program, increasing public awareness to ensure higher ridership and reduced traffic congestion.
  • East Lions Park Sidewalk and ADA Improvements: The project currently under construction will widen sidewalks, lengthen Lions Park ADA parking spaces and better define the 9th and Maple intersection. City staff will monitor traffic operations in this area to identify how the project performs and if additional changes are necessary to improve safety and discourage drop-off traffic along Maple and 9th.
  • Improved Parking Public Message on 10th Street: The City will improve messaging on the VMBs and other temporary signage to direct parking towards available spaces (e.g. Clear Creek Lot, downtown garages, Farmers Market Lot).


Background

As Golden residents know, May and June mark the beginning of another bustling summer season in our vibrant city. With the Clear Creek corridor becoming an increasingly popular destination over the years, the City has taken steps to ensure that everyone can equally enjoy the beauty and activities of Clear Creek, as well as its surrounding trails and parks, no matter their interests.

To foster community involvement and address evolving needs, we host annual community meetings early in the calendar year, before creek season begins, to gather valuable feedback from residents and visitors alike. Additionally, during the summer months, City staff meet weekly to monitor conditions and citizen concerns and adapt our approach, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone who visits this treasured area. Following the Creek season, City staff present to City Council in the fall on projects and strategies implemented in the season.

Public Comment Opportunities

The City of Golden Clear Creek Legislative Subcommittee invites members of the Golden community to provide public comments on items and ideas related to Clear Creek. Members of the public can make their voices heard through the following ways:

  1. Providing a public comment by attending a City Council meeting in person.
  2. Writing an email to CouncilComments@cityofgolden.net, which will be published on the City's websites for public viewing and discussion.
  3. Attending a meeting of the Mobility & Transportation Advisory Board or the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

Information on upcoming Council and board meetings is available at www.cityofgolden.gov/Agendas. You can also use the "Ideas and Discussion" tool below to ask questions, discuss Creek related topics with other users, and provide input on Creek management.

  • 2025 Data Collection

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    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

    Efforts in 2024

    • More data to review compared to past years
    • Camera and RFID data were collected continuously through the season with video analysis software that included advanced AI capabilities
    • More RFID tags distributed (4,000 in 2023 vs 11,000 in 2024)
    • Restricting rental tubing on Buffalo Bill Saturday made tubing traffic look like a typical weekend instead of one of the busiest days of the year.
    • The decision to restrict outfitter rentals in 2021 has stopped growth in rental tubes, any growth has been personal tube usage.
    • Total number of tubers for the season counted by the Billy Drew camera: 114,884

    2025 Proposed Efforts

    • With two years of more reliable data collected 2025 season can be compared to 2024.
    • Continue to limit tube rentals per day
    • City Council will consider if they want to
      • Not restrict tube rentals this year based on special event or City resources
      • Restrict tube rentals on the Saturday of Buffalo Bill’s Day again
      • Or restrict tube rentals on any additional days of special events or limited City resources.
    number of comments, image icon 5 comments

  • 2025 Sustainability

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    Efforts in 2024

    • Volunteer Cleanups
    • 14 weekly cleanups
    • 82 individual volunteers (19 of these were walk-ups)
    • Total volunteer visits: 181
    • 4 private group cleanups (totaling an additional 130 volunteers)
    • Conducted study on fish health

    2025 Proposed Efforts

    • Further development of volunteer clean-up program
    • Continue to study and monitor water and fish health
    number of comments, image icon 4 comments

  • 2025 Safety

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    Efforts in 2024

    • No fatalities or serious injuries for the second year in a row.
    • Two fire stations staffed 24/7 within the city (as of October 2023)
    • Reunification point for separated tubing / swimming groups at Vanover Park
    • Brush clearing in rescue areas (north bank behind Gold Apartments)

    2025 Proposed Efforts

    • Continue to work towards safe creek experience for all.
    number of comments, image icon 1 comment

  • 2025 Enforcement

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    Efforts in 2024

    • Officers' perception of this season is that it was a significant improvement over previous years.
    • 474 citations issued, an increase of 315% over last year. 78% of citations were for alcohol.
    • Focus by our Community Service Officers and Patrol Officers on creek corridor rules and regulations rather than parking, which was effectively outsourced.

    2025 Proposed Efforts

    • Continue to recruit for full staffing and staff for the busiest hours 1-3pm and after 6pm when possible.
    number of comments, image icon 3 comments

  • 2025 Other

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    Efforts in 2024

    • Spent $604,975 on creek management in 2024. Included significant infrastructure changes (path widening, beach improvements) and staffing. Proposing $450,316 in 2025 to maintain the level of management currently.

    2025 Proposed Efforts

    • Continue to track and consolidate creek expenses to fully understand and easily report on creek management costs.
    number of comments, image icon 2 comments

  • 2024 Communication & Information

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    Communication & Information Efforts in 2023

    • Added two Ambassador Stations with 10 Ambassadors (two fluent Spanish speakers)
      • Safety and compliance information
        • Water safety video
        • Creek Responsibly RFID stickers
        • Rules and map in English and Spanish
      • Distinct tent, banners, and signage at peak times
        • 304 Parking Lot - Welcome Center
    • Added Variable Message Boards (VMB) for traffic, parking, and rule compliance
    • Communicated stewardship, rules, and resources through Ambassador program, social media, Informer, and Weekly Digest
      • 67 social media posts (75% increase from 2022)

    Proposed Efforts for 2024

    • Add an Ambassador Station with increased visibility and staffing at Vanover Park
    • Increase signage and materials for English and Spanish speakers
      • Audit and refine wayfinding marker signs
      • Add banner on Washington St. Bridge - “Prepare to Exit”
      • Update map and rules
      • Increase social media
      • Increase materials at Golden Visitor Center
    • Communicate new RFID wristband strategy to creek users through social media, Ambassador Stations, Weekly Digest, and Visit Golden
    • Create “Inflation Station” at Ambassador Stations to funnel users to resources
    • Continue focus on stewardship, rules, and resources

    Please provide your feedback below.

    number of comments, image icon 12 comments

  • 2024 Beach, Fencing & Trails

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    Challenges:

    • Large crowds, gathering location, and cookouts on the Beach
    • Low rule compliance at the Beach
    • Sand issues
      • soiling the creek
      • trail hazards
    • Native vegetation conservation
    • Over 40 entrance points to creek encouraging crowding and code violations
    • RV Park area pinch point for trail users year-round

    Efforts to Meet Challenges in 2023

    • Lane painting on trail
    • Offered a shuttle option for bring-your-own tubers and outfitter customers
    • Saved 22,000 trips on the trail by 11,000 people used traditional shuttle program
    • Saved 3,300 trips on the trail with 1,650 people using the new public shuttle

    Proposed for 2024

    • Formalize Beach area for access and smaller/shorter visits
    • Protect vegetation and support re-establishment
    • Add fencing and gates to 25 of the entrances
      • Limit crowds in off-limit areas
      • Support rehabilitation of vegetation
      • Make activity data collection easier
    • Widen trail along RV Park
    • Continue use of flaggers at Ford St.
    • Continue use of public shuttle

    Proposed Gate and Fence Locations

    Fencing and gates are proposed for 25 of the creek entrances (see map below). Different fencing and gate options are possible, including sleeved fencing, sliding gates, and swinging gates. We want to hear which options you prefer!

    Proposed Beach Improvements

    A number of beach improvements are recommended to encourage and shorter visits, and to protect vegetation and support re-establishment.

    Proposed RV Park Trail Improvements

    Widening of the RV Park Trail in the areas indicated on the map below are proposed to help prevent bottlenecking.

    For a closer look at the three maps posted above, open the 2024 Clear Creek Meeting Maps document, then give us your feedback below!

    number of comments, image icon 5 comments

  • 2024 Parking

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    Parking Management

    Efforts in 2023

    • Fines increased from $30 to $100 for parking violations along 10th St.
    • More enforcement:
      • 996 citations compared to 533 citations in 2022: 87% increase

    Proposed for 2024

    • Work with Interstate Parking Management to regulate parking
    • Regulate Golden Community Center parking lot
    • Increase parking fees from $8 per day to $10 per day ($.50 more per hour)
    • Continue and expand $100 fines for all special permit violations, which includes time limits and paid parking offenses, or graduated fines for repeat offenses such as:
      • 1st offense $50
      • 2nd offense $100
      • 3rd and beyond $200
    • Continue strong enforcement, including in neighborhood zones
    • Expand 9th Street neighborhood permit zone to include 8th street
    • Making all Golden residents eligible for an annual permit that will allow the permit holder to enjoy up to two hours free parking in the garages and surface lots daily without having to register at a kiosk or pay by smartphone system

    Please give us your feedback below!

    number of comments, image icon 2 comments

  • 2024 Data Collection

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    Data Collection Efforts in 2023

    • RFID system implemented and tested
      • RFID stickers for visitors and outfitters
      • 5 scanners at various entry points along the creek
    • Event attendees counted
    • Basic camera analytics implemented along the creek
    • Created baseline data useful for trends about events and tubing

    Proposed Efforts for 2024

    • RFID
      • Install power to scanner locations to improve reliability
      • Use reusable wristbands, luggage tags, and inside of tube tags to collect information
      • Reposition poles to better locations
    • Install dedicated camera analytics engines to make camera counts more accurate
    • Prepare for possible 2025 reservation system

    Give us your feedback below.

    number of comments, image icon 1 comment

  • 2024 Sustainability

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    Sustainability Efforts in 2023

    • Organized volunteer trash clean-ups
    • 21 clean-ups
    • 140 individual volunteers
    • 330+ hours of service
    • Installed 40 new waste stations
    • Conducted study on fish health

    Proposed for 2024

    • Further development of volunteer clean-up program
    • Increase trash receptacles
    • Continue to study and monitor water and fish health

    Give us your feedback below.

    number of comments, image icon 2 comments
Page last updated: 17 Mar 2026, 08:27 PM