Following the 2013 flood, the county has been better preparing for future disasters. Part of that effort includes improving hazard-related mapping where appropriate. The county contracted with Cesare, Inc. and TerraCognito GIS Services, Inc. to conduct this work.
The most notable changes to the county’s geologic hazard maps include increasing the level of granularity through high resolution digitized mapping, improving information related to landslide and rockfall susceptibility, and delineating the “steeply dipping heaving bedrock zone” within Boulder County. Cesare also provided educational resources to Land Use staff, and recommended additional steps to minimize risk related to geologic hazards. The Community Planning & Permitting Department (formerly the Land Use Department) is in the process of integrating the information provided from this work.
What do the new maps mean for you?
The updated maps have not yet been adopted into any county regulations or policies, but are available to the public to inform planning. Those who pursue a land use process will see the updated geologic hazard maps during their pre-application conference and the maps will inform application reviews.
The maps will also undergo peer review by the Colorado Geologic Survey, among others, and may be revised accordingly. The county is in the process of updating the Geology Element of the BCCP which will incorporate the updated geologic hazard mapping once adopted. The proposed draft Geology Element and accompanying information can be accessed on the corresponding BCCP update webpage for Docket BCCP-20-0001.
Cesare completed a Geologic Hazard Study report in March, 2017, and provided an addendum in October, 2017.
Maps updated or created by Cesare
(plate numbers denote map plates from Cesare reports)
- Boulder County Geologic Hazards Map (Plate 9) – a compilation of available, updated, and newly created geologic hazard data
- Landslide Inventory (Plate 6)
- Landslide Susceptibility Map (Plate 7)
- Steeply Dipping Heaving Bedrock Map (Plate 8)
- Rockfall Susceptibility Map (Plate 10)
- Debris Flow Susceptibility Map (Plate 11)
Additional geologic hazard-related county maps included in Cesare reporting
(reviewed by Cesare but not updated)
- Geologic Hazard and Constraint Area Map (from existing BCCP) (Plate 1)
- Boulder County Geology Map (Plate 2)
- Swelling Soils and Bedrock Map (Plate 3)
- Boulder-Weld Coal Field- Extents of Abandoned Coal Mines (Plate 4)
- Boulder-Weld Coal Field- Depth of Overburden (Plate 5)
Documents
- Cesare Inc.’s full March 2017 report
- October 2017 addendum to the report
- Geologic Hazard Study staff report to Planning Commission, March 21, 2018
Cesare, Inc.’s work was funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, administered by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA).
DISCLAIMER: The mapping is for illustrative purposes only and the features depicted are approximate. More site specific studies may be required to draw accurate conclusions. Boulder County makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or suitability of this map. Boulder County disclaims any liability associated with the use or misuse of this map. In accessing or relying on this map, the user fully assumes any and all risk associated with the information contained herein. Geologic hazard mapping prepared by Cesare, Inc. is still undergoing review and is subject to revision.