Niver Creek Tributary M is a two-mile long riverine system draining just over one square mile of developed land. Its watershed has experienced significant flooding in recent years resulting in the overtopping of Huron Street. This flood risk emphasized the need for improvements of the channel, trail system, and associated Huron Street pedestrian underpass. At the upstream end of the Project, improvements included additional inlets and storm sewer, as well as lowering of the curb and sidewalk in the southeast corner to collect this water off the streets and direct it into the channel, away from the homes. From Thornton Parkway to Huron Street, improvements were made to the channel to increase capacity which will reduce water depth and remove the floodplain from the adjacent residential structures. These channel improvements included several design strategies such as widening the channel and maintaining more resilient, flexible floodplain plant species. This section of the channel also required multiple low water crossing designs to allow adjacent neighbors to access the trail system. The culvert improvement at Huron Street primarily removed flood overtopping at the street level and provides pedestrian trail connection into the Niver Open Space. The downstream side of the underpass combines a sculpted concrete drop structure with informal creek access for pedestrian visitors.
Stream Restoration
City of Thornton and MHFD
Design Complete: 2020
Construction Complete: 2023