In response to the 2013 flood event, in 2017-18, Boulder County Transportation completed an investigation into the feasibility of creating a long-term flood-related mitigation program that built on the efforts of the county’s post-flood Voluntary Property Acquisition Program, also known as the “buy-out program.”
This effort was aimed at increasing the protection of county residents’ life, health, and property. Additional goals of this and other flood mitigation work include:
- Promotion of habitat and ecosystem preservation
- Improved water quality
- Mitigation of the need for extensive response and recovery operation following future flood events
Through the investigation, the county further refined the potential components of a voluntary construction mitigation program to provide property owners with flood mitigation options including property acquisition and more, such as structure relocation and elevation. A planning document called “Creating Room for the River” was developed to provide recommendations for the program’s framework, including strategies, staffing, and outreach components.
The Room for the River project led to a pilot mitigation opportunity called Floodplain Partners in 2020. The county continues to pursue opportunities for assisting residents with flood risk mitigation.
For More Information
If you are interested in learning more about county efforts towards flood risk mitigation or would like additional information on how to mitigate flood risk on your property, contact the Boulder County Floodplain Management Program in the Community Planning & Permitting Department at floodplainadmin@bouldercounty.gov.