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Home » Flood » Flood Recovery and Resilience

Flood Recovery and Resilience

The City of Boulder is committed to assisting the community's near-term flood recovery and long-term resilience.

Flood Recovery and Mitigation

City staff, consultants and community partners continue to work diligently to make progress in achieving the council-adopted objectives for both near-term recovery and long-term resilience. In September 2015 the city published an after-action report pdf documenting the best practices and lessons learned to date on the city's flood recovery operations. 

September 2013 Flood Information

From Sept. 8 to 16, 2013, over 16 inches of rain fell in Boulder, causing significant flooding along Boulder Creek and its 15 tributaries.

Resilient Boulder

Boulder was selected to participate in the Rockefeller Foundation's 100 Resilient Cities initiative. City staff is collaborating with the Boulder community to develop a resilience strategy that will build on past successes and integrate planning initiatives to ensure a thriving future.

City Council Flood Recovery Objectives

  1. Help people get assistance
  2. Restore and enhance our infrastructure
  3. Assist business recovery
  4. Pursue and focus resources to support recovery efforts
  5. Learn together and plan for the future.

City Council Flood Recovery Updates

Boulder Flood: One Year Later

Boulder Flood Infographic pdf

View the Full-size Infographic pdf

Creek Repairs and Debris Removal

City contractors are removing debris and sediment from Boulder's 15 major drainageways (creeks). Contractors are also repairing creek infrastructure, including stream bank restoration, channel erosion remediation, drop structure replacement, and culvert repairs. Creek repairs and debris removal will only take place in areas where the city has ownership or an existing easement.

These 2014 Flood Recovery Projects began in March and are scheduled to continue throughout 2014.

Trails and Paths

Thanks to the hard work of volunteers and trail crews, about 99 percent of the Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) trail system is now open. However, some trails sustained significant and severe damage and still require major repair efforts to reopen them to the public. Because of the expected limited availability of materials and contractors, who are working to complete numerous post-flood projects, completion of those projects may take some time. 

Irrigation Ditches

Irrigation ditches are manmade channels that deliver water to homes, farms, industries and other human uses. Most ditches divert water from natural creeks and rivers and bring it to other areas.

Irrigation Ditches Fact Sheet pdf

Community Meetings

2014 Flood Preparedness and Recovery Open Houses
On March 31 and April 2, 2014, the City of Boulder hosted two community meetings.

Flood Recovery & Emergency Preparedness - Briefing by the Boulder Office of Emergency Management (OEM)

2013 Flood Recovery Meetings
In fall 2013, the City of Boulder hosted flood recovery meetings to share and collect information about flooding assessment; neighborhood opportunities and challenges; and flood recovery information and resources offered by the city.