LONGMONT, Colo. – A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District flood risk reduction project along the St. Vrain Creek in Longmont, Colorado, is substantially complete, marking another milestone in the community’s ongoing effort to improve flood resilience following the catastrophic flooding of 2013.
The federally funded project is a cost-shared Section 205 Flood Risk Management Project, with the City of Longmont serving as the non-federal sponsor.
“Communities across the country face the challenge of balancing flood risk, infrastructure needs and natural resource stewardship,” said Col. Joe Sahl, Omaha District commander. “Projects like this demonstrate the value of bringing federal engineering expertise together with local knowledge to deliver solutions that protect communities.”
The federal project includes improvements designed to increase the creek’s ability to safely convey flood flows while reducing future flood risk. Major elements include widening and lowering the creek channel, replacing a bridge, constructing a grade transition structure and installing a drainage structure through an engineered earthen embankment between the creek and Izaak Walton Pond.
The project is one component of Longmont’s broader Resilient St. Vrain Project, which began following the September 2013 floods that caused extensive damage to homes, businesses, public spaces and infrastructure throughout the community.
The federal project extends from Boston Avenue upstream past Sunset Street and includes improvements through the Izaak Walton nature area. Once complete, the improvements will help reduce flood risk for portions of Longmont while contributing to the city’s broader flood resilience goals.
“This project is a great example of our commitment to working alongside a local partner to address a community’s flood risk,” said Jennier Gitt, who served as the district’s project manager on this effort. “Reaching substantial completion is a significant milestone, but it’s also one piece of Longmont’s much larger effort to build a more resilient St. Vrain Creek.”
The City of Longmont will continue its work on the remaining portions of the Resilient St. Vrain Project master plan, including a final reach upstream of the federal project area.
The Omaha District provides engineering and construction expertise for water resources projects across its nine-state area of responsibility, working with communities and other partners to reduce flood risk, restore ecosystems and improve the resilience of the nation’s infrastructure.