Flood Management
Member National Flood Insurance Program since 1978
The city of Boulder flood management program has been in place for over 30 years. The program has been effective in mapping floodplains, regulating development activities in floodplains, adopting a master plan to address and mitigate flood hazards, and creating a Stormwater and Flood Management Utility to fund ongoing flood management programs. The city joined the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) on July 11, 1978, offering federally subsidized flood insurance to all residents.
The flood management program works to reduce flood hazards, adopt floodplain policies, map floodplains, develop master plans for floodplains, regulate floodplain activities, prepare for flood events, educate the public on flood and floodplains, and mitigate flood potential.
Local guiding principles for flood management include:
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Preserve Floodplains - where possible to recognize the beneficial functions of floodplains for hazard reduction, water quality enhancement, wetland protection, wildlife habitat, riparian corridors, recreation, alternate modes of travel, environmental relief, aesthetics and greenway areas.
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Be Prepared for Floods - by developing advanced floodplain mapping, detailed risk assessments, enhanced early warning systems, multiple emergency notification measures, understandable response plans, workable recovery plans, and ongoing storm monitoring.
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Help People Protect Themselves from Flood Hazards - through public interaction and involvement, available flood information, community outreach and education, self-help measures, flood proofing options, affordable flood insurance, and emergency preparedness.
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Prevent Adverse Impacts and Unwise Uses in the Floodplain - through appropriate regulation and land use, open land preservation and acquisition, multi-objective planning, relocation or elimination of high hazard structures, prohibiting unacceptable encroachments, and establishing ongoing maintenance practices that preserve and enhance environmental functions.
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Seek to Accomodate Floods, Not Control Them - through planned and monitored system maintenance, nonstructural flood proofing, opening non-containment corridors, overbank land shaping to train flood waters, and limited structural (channelization) measures at constrained locations or where no alternatives are available.
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