Flood Mitigation
Mitigation and Resiliency Efforts
Mitigation efforts made by the Town of Estes Park, business owners and residents can help to reduce the number of properties placed in the regulatory floodplains, property damage, and flood insurance premiums.
Residents and businesses can help with flood mitigation by engaging in educational opportunities, providing feedback and supporting the community's needs. They can also undertake mitigation and resiliency efforts on their own properties. See below for how to participate in community flood mitigation techniques for floodproofing property.
Projects
Hydrology Study (complete): A scientific study to further understand flood flows. This data is crucial in making future flood mitigation decisions and provides data for new floodplain maps. Access the hydrology study report.
Stormwater Master Plan (complete): A comprehensive plan that identifies potential stormwater infrastructure improvements that can help mitigate flood risk for the community. Access the Stormwater Master Plan.
Downtown Plan (complete): A plan that lays a path to improve downtown flood resiliency, vitality, walkability and redevelopment. Access the Downtown Plan.
Residents
- Seal walls in your basement with waterproofing compounds.
- When practical, use floodproofing techniques to stop floodwater from entering the home.
- Relocate equipment, such as electrical, heating, air conditioning, etc., to above the base flood elevation.
- Add proper flood openings to home foundation.
- Elevate the home structure to above the base flood elevation. This is a more expensive option, but is the fastest way to reduce risk and flood insurance premiums.
Business Owners
- Ensure that your building, including the basement, is watertight and capable of resisting flood-related forces.
- Relocate utilities to above the base flood elevation and to be completely enclosed within the building's watertight walls.
- Install backflow valves to protect buildings from sewage backups.
- Anchor fuel and propane tanks to prevent them from being swept away.
- Elevate building's structure to above the base flood elevation. This is a more expensive option, but is the fastest way to reduce risk and flood insurance premiums.
- Historic Fall River Hydroplant - Restoring the channel and stabilizing streambanks to be more resilient to future flooding.
- Scott Ponds Dam Repairs- Repair of two dams in Scott Ponds Natural Area that were damaged during the flood.
- Fish Creek Stabilization- Stabilization of creek banks at 10 sites along 4 miles of Fish Creek.
- Moraine Avenue Bridge- With grant funding, the Town was able to replace the Moraine Bridge box culvert for an increased river flow.
- Hydrology Study (complete) - Hydrology study of Fall River, Black Canyon Creek, Dry Gulch and Big Thompson River to further understand flood flows.
- Downtown Plan (complete) - Planning document to support improved flood resilience, downtown vitality, walkability and redevelopment.
- Stormwater Master Plan (complete) - Comprehensive planning process to identify drainage infrastructure needs for the Estes Valley to help mitigate flood risk.
- Fluvial Hazard Mapping - The Town worked with the State fo Colorado to develop a fluvial hazard map encompassing all hazards associated with flooding (not only those within the floodplain boundaries).
The Hydrology Study is a scientific study of Fall River, Black Canyon Creek, Dry Gulch and the Big Thompson River to further understand flood flows.This data will serve as the basis of flood mitigation projects, help the Town receive grants, and be used for the new floodplain maps.
FAQs
- About the Hydrology Study
- Fact Sheet: New Hydrology &, Mapping
- FAQ: Hydrology Study Methodology
- Preliminary Floodplain Maps FAQ