Background
In 2019, Boulder County Public Works started working on a Floodplain Management and Transportation System Resiliency Study and Action Plan (Resiliency Study) to learn from our experiences recovering from the 2013 flood, and to examine what can be done to better prepare the county’s waterways and transportation system for future natural or economic disasters.
The goal of this work is to identify next steps to inform actions the county can undertake to make our transportation and flood management systems better able to withstand the next disaster, whether flood, fire, or economic downturn. The Resiliency Study included recommended potential policies, processes, and changes to county regulations that may help us prepare for the next challenge.
Public Process
We enlisted the public’s help with this effort by hosting three open houses in 2019 to inform the process and review the draft recommendations. An online survey was also offered to help gauge residents’ acceptable levels of risk, awareness of the risks facing them and their priority, and what they think Boulder County should prioritize for future actions. A summary of survey responses is included in the Resiliency Study Appendix document.
Resiliency Study Documents
With help from county residents and stakeholders, we were able to come up with both short- and long-term action items that Boulder County could potentially use to better prepare the transportation network, area waterways, and the public’s property for the next disasters event. Boulder County is currently reviewing the recommended actions and will develop a plan for next steps.