Boulder County schedules open houses for public review of Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps

Following the 2013 flood, the state-funded Colorado Hazard Mapping Program (CHAMP) has been re-mapping the regulatory floodplain of the most affected waterways in Colorado.

In 2017 and 2018, Boulder County adopted comprehensive zoning map amendments to the Floodplain Overlay Zoning District based on draft CHAMP mapping for unincorporated Boulder County. The draft data were also submitted to FEMA, which released Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for CHAMP-studied stream reaches in September 2019. Boulder County adopted the Preliminary FIRMs into the Floodplain Overlay Zoning District in December 2019 after public hearings with the Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners.

Last November, property owners impacted by the revisions were sent postcards informing them of the Preliminary FIRMs so they could review the maps prior to their adoption by the Board of County Commissioners. Interested parties are encouraged to visit http://www.BoCoFloodplainRemapping.com to view the Preliminary FIRMs, as well as the current regulatory floodplain for unincorporated Boulder County.

Open House Meeting Dates & Details

In order to review the FEMA appeals process and flood insurance requirements related to the Preliminary FIRMs with property owners and residents, Boulder County will host six open houses in January at various locations around the county. Representatives from FEMA, the CHAMP team, and Boulder County will be present at each session. Each open house will focus on specific reaches, but residents are invited to discuss any stream at each meeting. A partial list is below

Lower Boulder Creek, New Dry Creek, Coal Creek, and Rock Creek

Tuesday, Jan. 14, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Boulder County Recycling Center (1901 63rd Street, Boulder)

Saint Vrain Creek, Lower Left Hand Creek, Dry Creek #2, and Little Thompson River

Thursday, Jan. 16 5 to 6:30 p.m., Ron Stewart Building (5201 St. Vrain Drive)

FEMA uses Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) to set flood insurance premiums. The Preliminary FIRMs will become FEMA’s final effective FIRMs in 2021, pending any appeals received by FEMA. The county expects FEMA to begin their 90-day appeal period in the spring of 2020. During this period, anyone may work with the county to submit a formal appeal to FEMA based on scientific and technical data. Learn more about the appeal process and the National Flood Insurance Program on the county’s website.

Questions about the Floodplain Remapping Program and the upcoming open houses can be directed to Kelly Watson, Boulder County Transportation Floodplain Planner, at [email protected] or by calling 720-564-2652. You can also visit http://www.BoCoFloodplainRemapping.com to learn more and view any weather-related meeting cancellation notification.