COS Creek Plan Feasibility Study Public Meeting

COS Creek Plan

COS Creek Plan and Project Overview

In November 2022, Pikes Peak Waterways (PPW), the City of Colorado Springs, and Colorado Springs Utilities entered into a 20-year agreement to restore the natural functions of Monument and Fountain creeks as they flow through Colorado Springs. This shared effort is called the COS Creek Plan, and it covers a 12-mile stretch of creek corridor in and around downtown Colorado Springs.

Planning Efforts

Several planning efforts are underway right now to help shape the future of that corridor, focusing on neighborhood needs, environmental health, economic opportunity, and long-term restoration priorities:

• COS Creek Plan: The long-term vision for the creek corridor, balancing environmental health, recreation, safety, mobility, and community needs.
• COS Creek Plan Feasibility Study: A Section 203 feasibility exploring the path to future federal funding and construction. This study is not the focus of current input opportunities. Future input opportunities will be available in 2027.
• Economic Development Administration EDA Grant: A federal grant exploring neighborhood conditions, economic opportunities, and community priorities in five neighborhoods along the creek.
• Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) Stream Reach Plans: Two CWCB grants funding detailed restoration plans for specific sections of Monument Creek.
• WaterSMART Study: A federal grant developing a long-term water and restoration strategy for Monument Creek.

What We've Heard So Far

Between June and July 2026, nearly 1,000 residents took part through open houses, online engagement, and written comments. Over 135 written comments were submitted. Key themes included:

• Improving water quality
• Addressing safety and social concerns
• Better trail connections and mobility
• Infrastructure improvements
• Reducing erosion and improving stream stability
• Protecting natural habitat

Residents consistently identified Monument and Fountain creeks as valuable community assets that deserve long-term investment. This next round of engagement builds directly on what was heard and looks more closely at specific neighborhoods and stretches of the creek.

Your Neighborhood

Economic and Community Opportunities

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant is studying five neighborhoods along the creek corridor: North Nevada, Old North End, Roswell, Colorado College, and Downtown. In each of these neighborhoods, the project team is looking at how residents interact with the creek today and identifying opportunities to improve quality of life, access, economic opportunity, and community connectivity.

This includes looking at things like population and household trends, local employment and income, housing and rental conditions, and current zoning and land use, alongside what residents themselves say matters most. Neighborhoods throughout the corridor have different strengths and different challenges, and community feedback will help identify what investments are needed most in each one.

Specifically, we want to understand:

• How residents use the creek today, and whether it acts as an asset or a barrier to getting around.
• What places, destinations, and gathering spaces matter most in each neighborhood.
• What services or amenities are missing today, such as parks, trails, community centers, health care, or groceries.
• What financial or economic challenges residents are facing.
• What benefits or concerns come with new development that creek improvements might attract.
• What businesses, services, or amenities residents would like to see in the future.

This information will directly shape the neighborhood specific strategies developed under the EDA grant.

CWCB Stream Reach Plans

Two Colorado Water Conservation Board grants are funding detailed Stream Reach Plans for specific sections of Monument Creek.

WaterSMART Study

A WaterSMART grant from the Bureau of Reclamation is funding a Water Strategy Document, a long-term plan covering a 5-mile stretch of Monument Creek from the Bijou Road Bridge north to the Garden of the Gods Bridge.

Together, these planning efforts focus on: 

• Streambank stability
• Water quality
• Flood resilience
• Fish and wildlife habitat
• Ecological health
• Long term climate resilience

These are planning studies, not construction projects. They identify priorities and future opportunities so that restoration and investment can be pursued as funding becomes available.

Thank You

What Happens Next

The project team will use community input from this site, the five in-person neighborhood meetings, and the earlier scoping meetings together to guide decisions across all efforts.

1. Community input is collected.
2. The project team reviews feedback.
3. Draft recommendations are developed.
4. Additional public engagement occurs.
5. Future funding and implementation opportunities are pursued.

We anticipate following up with the community in late winter or early spring to share what we heard and provide updates on next steps.

Stay Connected

Comment Map

Monument and Fountain Creeks Corridor Map

Thanks for joining us

Learn More: coscreekplan.org