Transportation Resiliency Open House

Transportation Resiliency Open House on June 10

Open house to review draft recommended projects, programs, and policies and learn about the Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

Boulder County, Colo. – Earlier this year, Boulder County Transportation started work on a Floodplain Management and Transportation System Resiliency Study and Action Plan (RSAP) to learn from the experiences in recovering from the 2013 Flood, and to examine what can be done to better prepare the county’s waterways and transportation systems for future natural or economic disasters.

The Transportation Department help open houses in January and offered a public survey to help gauge residents’ acceptable levels of risk, awareness of the risks facing them and their property, and what they think Boulder County should prioritize for future actions.

The feedback from the survey was combined with the department’s own research to come up with both short- and long-term steps the Transportation Department can take to better prepare the transportation network, area waterways, and the public’s property for the next natural or manmade disaster.

Residents are now asked once again to help ensure we heard all input before finalizing the recommendations and incorporating them into funding and implementation plans. Please join the open house and provide feedback:

     What: RSAP Open House in Boulder
When: Monday, June 10, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: West Senior Center – 909 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder

The study results are available for review on the project website at www.BoCoResiliencyStudy.org. The draft recommendations will be made available before the June 10 meeting.

“Prior to, and after the flood, we’ve been exploring and implementing solutions aimed at ensuring county infrastructure and residents are prepared for future natural or human-caused disasters that come our way,” said Boulder County Commissioner Deb Gardner. “Not only do we do our best to make sure our county infrastructure is as strong as it can be, but we also implement policies and fund programs to help residents create safe spaces that will be more resilient in the face of adverse incidents. Many ongoing planning projects, including this RSAP, support our goal of making the county as resilient as possible and we need the public’s help to make sure we’re covering all the bases.”

In addition to the resiliency study recommendations, staff at the open houses will also provide information on:

  • An update to the county’s Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan.
  • How the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan addresses natural hazards, and opportunities to share your ideas for updates to the county’s natural hazard-related goals and policies.
  • The county’s new Room for the River voluntary flood risk program for property owners.
  • Modeling of roadway overtopping during flooding.
  • General disaster risk and mitigation questions.

For more information on the RSAP and the open house, visit www.BoCoResiliencyStudy.org, or contact project manager Stacey Proctor at 303-441-1107 or sproctor@bouldercounty.org.

Left Hand Creek Floodplain Map Open House

Residents living along Left Hand Creek within Longmont are invited to an open house to review and offer input on newly issued draft floodplain maps from the Colorado Hazard Mapping Program (CHAMP) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The open house will be held from 5-7 pm Monday, April 23, at the Development Services Center, 385 Kimbark St.

These maps provide the most up-to-date details on how properties surrounding Left Hand Creek would be expected to fare in case of a future 100-year flood event. The draft floodplain maps reflect data acquired since the 2013 and 2015 floods that impacted Longmont.

The FEMA approval process for updated floodplain maps can take several years to complete. The Left Hand Creek floodplain maps are not anticipated to be approved until 2021. Once approved, FEMA floodplain maps are used by insurers to determine rates for flood insurance. This means that property owners can benefit from being aware of upcoming changes to their property’s flood risk level. Longmont’s Planning and Development Services department uses the draft maps to guide its decisions regarding floodplain development permits.

Longmont’s Floodplain Administrator, Monica Bortolini, will provide a brief update on the remapping project and its effect on flood insurance at 5:30 pm. She will also be able to answer questions about specific properties located along Left Hand Creek.

Left Hand Creek flows through Longmont from Hover Street on the west side to its confluence with St. Vrain Creek just east of Martin Street.

Residents who are unable to attend the April 23 open house are invited to review the draft maps and submit feedback online at bit.ly/are-you-in-a-floodplain.

For more information, visit LongmontColorado.gov/flood-info or call 303-651-8330.

Resilient St. Vrain Open House

The City of Longmont is holding an open house to provide updates on the Resilient St. Vrain flood mitigation project. The open house is scheduled from 4:30-6:30pm at the Longmont Museum (400 Quail Road) on Thursday, August 24th.

This is your chance to talk directly with city staff, ask questions, and provide feedback about the flood mitigation plan!