In September 2013, a major disaster flooded Colorado's northern Front Range, deeply affecting Boulder County. Heavy rain fell over multiple days, changing the water channels and damaging both neighborhoods and future development plans. After a major disaster struck Boulder County, the community activated its full response system, which included homeowners planning officials, policymakers, and environmental experts. The flood showed how well communities recovered while revealing the need for better weather event protection strategies.

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The 2013 Colorado Flood: A Natural Disaster of Unprecedented Scale

The flood was triggered by an extraordinary weather event: A slow-moving weather system deposited above-average rainfall of 17 inches over eight days. Heavy rain flooded Boulder County in the Rocky Mountain foothills because river and stream capacities exceeded maximum levels. The St. Vrain Creek and Boulder Creek overtopped their edges and ripped through built environments before reshaping their natural habitats.

Heavy rain caused floodwaters to enter houses, stores, and public places, forcing 30 thousand people to leave. Many communities lost their only roads and bridges during the flooding, which trapped stranded residents far from getting help. 1,500 homes in Boulder County completely lost their structure, while another 4,500 homes suffered major damage. People died, and the region suffered damages that reached hundreds of millions of dollars.

Consequences and Challenges of Recovery

After the flood hit, Boulder County faced several major issues. Local governments and FEMA joined forces with the NRCS and other agencies to rebuild after the flood. Building back after the flood served as our initial challenge. Many homeowners faced difficult choices: Does it make sense to spend money rebuilding their properties when they can choose safer homes instead? Local governments let rivers and creeks keep their new paths because restoring their previous routes proved too expensive.

The North St. Vrain Creek moved its flow path significantly in Lyons during the flood. To prevent further erosion, Boulder County and NRCS used mature tree trunks to create root wad reinforcements along the new riverbank. Using this method, authorities showed how flood relief practices can protect people while bringing back natural environments.

Long-Term Lessons and Future Planning

After the 2013 flood, society learned to develop better flood control methods that also protect the environment. Boulder County moved ahead by planning for climate hazards that might happen in the future through resilient and flexible strategies.

The flood proved that natural floodplains must be protected because they help reduce flood damage. Restoring wetlands and adopting root wads in North St. Vrain Creek became vital to the recovery plan because they helped retain more water. Both communities and ecosystems received protection through methods that let floodwaters balance out naturally.

The government made public education their main priority for future flood response plans. The Colorado Foundation for Water Education helped community members learn about flood risks and recovery steps, plus develop better disaster preparedness. The series "Connecting the Drops" in Headwaters magazine helped people understand how flooding affects both human lives and nature as it increased public awareness.

More than a decade later, Boulder County has led the way by demonstrating successful recovery methods from flooding and preparing for future disasters. The flood damaged our communities yet showed us their ability to bounce back and invent solutions. Through united efforts toward innovation and sustainability, Boulder County has developed better defenses against future disasters while learning to live in harmony with nature.

Take the Next Step: Read & Get Involved

The Colorado Foundation for Water Education wants to help you speak fluently about flooding. Check out the following:

• Flooded And Coming Back Smarter, Headwaters magazine, Summer 2014
• Contribute Financially to ongoing recovery efforts or volunteer
• Connect with the official state resource for flood recovery information, updates and resources