Emergency Watershed Protection Program Management

The Colorado Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program implemented recovery measures to address hazards to life and property in watersheds impacted by the 2013 Colorado flood.

The record-smashing floods of 2013 ravaged Front Range waterways, rerouting and flattening stream channels, eroding streambanks, degrading fish habitat, and stripping trees and vegetation from riparian areas. Five years later, many of those waterways have been repaired, restored, and even improved due to efforts led by the Colorado Water Conservation Board and myriad partners at the state, federal and community levels.

With most attention properly focused on the recovery of communities, reconstruction of homes and property as well as road, bridge, and infrastructure repair, CWCB, and its partners have quietly redesigned and rebuilt stream channels in a way that has improved stream flows, boosted fish habitat, and created more resilient waterways in the event of future floods. Work was largely completed by the spring of 2018 on numerous waterways well-known and important to many communities.

Kevin Houck, chief of CWCB’s watershed and flood protection section. “Typically, after events like this, you’ll see efforts to simply armor the stream bank quickly, for purpose of safety and protecting property. We took a different, more holistic approach and we’re excited to see the results on the ground.”

Shortly after the floods, the CWCB assembled a team of experts at all levels of government to help communities develop short-term and long-term plans to stabilize and recreate damaged stream channels.

This team quickly determined that stream rehabilitation would best be guided by a master-planning process at the watershed level, directed by an array of local stakeholders.

PROJECT GOALS

  • SUPPORT EARLY PLANNING

    Identify root issues, develop holistic solutions and allow time to secure appropriate funding

  • PROMOTE ECOLOGICAL UPLIFT

    Incorporate resiliency into every project to mitigate damage from future events

  • CREATE LONG TERM GUIDELINES

    Resources were developed for program management, communications and outreach, design, and construction that will become reference and guidance documents to expedite and streamline response in the event of a future flood

  • EXPAND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, BOLSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT + ENRICH TOURISM

    Create improved opportunities for tourism and recreation through the implementation of projects

“This was a new way of doing business... We took a different, more holistic approach and we’re excited to see the results on the ground.”

Contact us to see how we can help you with your watershed.

Flood Recovery, Disaster Response, Design and Engineering, Field Education, Value Engineering, Watershed PlanningKatie Jagt