Clear Creek Management Strategies

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.