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<title data-react-helmet="true">Longmont, Colorado – Case study – Drainage project completed just in time for a major flood event – Flood Economics</title>
<meta data-react-helmet="true" name="description" content="Community case study of Longmont, Colorado."/><meta data-react-helmet="true" property="og:title" content="Drainage project completed just in time for a major flood event"/><meta data-react-helmet="true" property="og:description" content="In 2012, the Left Hand Creek channel in Longmont was expanded, removing 110 properties from the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and reducing the risk of flood damage to a key highway and the downtown area. Nine months after the expansion was completed in December, a 1-percent-annual-chance flood hit the town—the worst flash flood in the city’s history. Residents were evacuated as creeks overtopped, but 87% of the 204 homes in the SFHA experienced less or no damages."/><meta data-react-helmet="true" property="og:image" content="https://www.floodeconomics.com/images/case-studies/casestudy-longmont-main1.jpg"/><meta data-react-helmet="true" property="fb:app_id" content="878155462284110"/>
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data-reactid="65"></span></span><span class="styles__linkText___1gesu" data-reactid="66">Community case studies</span></a><a class="styles__link___14xj6" href="../state-mitigation-analysis.html" data-reactid="67"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F styles__icon___OohwS" data-reactid="68"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio styles__iconDark___CeGxU" data-reactid="69"></span></span><span class="styles__linkText___1gesu" data-reactid="70">State mitigation analysis</span></a></div></div></div></div></div><main class="styles__base___15EZr styles__full___Zfz32" data-reactid="71"><div class="styles__pageWrapper___3wPGZ" data-reactid="72"><div data-reactid="73"><div data-reactid="74"><!-- react-empty: 75 --><div data-reactid="76"><div class="styles__headerWrapper___LR-J3" style="background-image:url(../images/case-studies/casestudy-longmont-main1.jpg);" data-reactid="77"><div class="styles__block___1sQ1u styles__padding-vertical-5___11xId styles__padding-horizontal-3___30SBe styles__style-transparent___QOZpS styles__textBlock___2Tisl" data-reactid="78"><div class="styles__textWrapper___2yBsj" data-reactid="79"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__text-right___NZokr" data-reactid="80"><div data-reactid="81"><div class="styles__shareWrapper___3BdDE" data-reactid="82"><button class="styles__shareButton___1JEI4" data-reactid="83"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F" data-reactid="84"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio" data-reactid="85"></span><span class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-5___3Bh5r styles__font-size-4-md____d_7y styles__iconText___CNr6I" data-reactid="86">Share</span></span></button></div></div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi" data-reactid="87"><p data-reactid="88">Longmont, Colorado</p><h1 class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-2-md___2qWLP styles__line-height-1___wZ7lC styles__font-weight-bold___NRlaU" data-reactid="89">Drainage project completed just in time for a major flood event</h1></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi" data-reactid="90"><div data-reactid="91"><p>In 2012, the Left Hand Creek channel in Longmont was expanded, removing 110 properties from the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and reducing the risk of flood damage to a key highway and the downtown area. Nine months after the expansion was completed in December, a 1-percent-annual-chance flood hit the town—the worst flash flood in the city’s history. Residents were evacuated as creeks overtopped, but 87% of the 204 homes in the SFHA experienced less or no damages.</p>
</div></div><p class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi" data-reactid="92"><span class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-5___3Bh5r styles__font-size-5-md___8U-pV" data-reactid="93">Photo by Patsy Lynch - FEMA</span></p></div></div></div><div id="community-facts" class="styles__offsetWrapper___3frZL" data-reactid="94"><div class="styles__block___1sQ1u styles__padding-vertical-6___3IJ8r styles__padding-horizontal-4___1A4Mq styles__padding-horizontal-4-md___1abqY styles__style-dark___2u-lV" data-reactid="95"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc" style="position:relative;" data-reactid="96"></div><span style="font-size:0;" data-reactid="97"></span><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-5___2vHLQ styles__title___1Tg1E" data-reactid="98"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="99"><h2 class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-2-md___2qWLP styles__line-height-1___wZ7lC styles__font-weight-bold___NRlaU" data-reactid="100">Community facts</h2></div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-4___3lIjc" data-reactid="101"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__large___mTxZB" data-reactid="102"><div class="styles__contentWrapper___20L-F" data-reactid="103"><div class="styles__content___pVmmZ" data-reactid="104"><div class="styles__wrapper___1OrPS" data-reactid="105"><div class="styles__numbersBlock___1uk1Q" data-reactid="106"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi styles__numberItem___3XHDm" data-reactid="107"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M" data-reactid="108">Population</div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M styles__hideAtPrint___yF5EP" data-reactid="109"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F" data-reactid="110"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio" data-reactid="111"></span></span></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M styles__number___MextH" data-reactid="112">90,719</div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi styles__numberItem___3XHDm" data-reactid="113"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M" data-reactid="114">Homes</div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M styles__hideAtPrint___yF5EP" data-reactid="115"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F" data-reactid="116"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio" data-reactid="117"></span></span></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M styles__number___MextH" data-reactid="118">35,802</div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi styles__numberItem___3XHDm" data-reactid="119"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M" data-reactid="120">Businesses</div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M styles__hideAtPrint___yF5EP" data-reactid="121"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F" data-reactid="122"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio" data-reactid="123"></span></span></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M styles__number___MextH" data-reactid="124">9,675</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-4___3lIjc styles__source___2vrAS" data-reactid="125"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="126"><span class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-5___3Bh5r styles__font-size-5-md___8U-pV" data-reactid="127"><!-- react-text: 128 -->Source: <!-- /react-text --><!-- react-text: 129 -->US Census Bureau.<!-- /react-text --></span></div></div></div></div><div id="mitigation-actions" class="styles__offsetWrapper___3frZL" data-reactid="130"><div class="styles__block___1sQ1u styles__padding-vertical-6___3IJ8r styles__padding-horizontal-4___1A4Mq styles__padding-horizontal-4-md___1abqY styles__style-light___29tp4" data-reactid="131"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc" style="position:relative;" data-reactid="132"></div><span style="font-size:0;" data-reactid="133"></span><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-5___2vHLQ styles__title___1Tg1E" data-reactid="134"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="135"><h2 class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-2-md___2qWLP styles__line-height-1___wZ7lC styles__font-weight-bold___NRlaU" data-reactid="136">Mitigation actions</h2></div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-4___3lIjc" data-reactid="137"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="138"><div class="styles__contentWrapper___20L-F" data-reactid="139"><div class="styles__content___pVmmZ" data-reactid="140"><div data-reactid="141"><p>Longmont had not seen a 1-percent-chance-annual flood since the late 1960s, but city leaders knew it could happen again. In 2010, the city proposed the Left Hand Creek flood project as a pre-disaster mitigation project. Some community members were initially resistant to the project, owing to concerns about the environment and damage to recreational paths.</p>
<p>The project was jointly funded by the city’s monthly residential and commercial stormwater fees and by a FEMA grant. In total, the project cost $5.7 million and took nearly a year to complete. A year after completion, in 2013, the city experienced a 1-percent-chance-annual flood event. The total losses avoided as a result of the mitigation project were tallied at $22.5 million, the majority of which were savings in building, content, and displacement costs. The figure also includes losses from mental anxiety and loss of productivity, which were assessed to be over $1 million.</p>
</div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="benefits-of-mitigation" class="styles__offsetWrapper___3frZL" data-reactid="142"><div class="styles__block___1sQ1u styles__padding-vertical-6___3IJ8r styles__padding-horizontal-4___1A4Mq styles__padding-horizontal-4-md___1abqY styles__style-dark___2u-lV" data-reactid="143"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc" style="position:relative;" data-reactid="144"></div><span style="font-size:0;" data-reactid="145"></span><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-5___2vHLQ styles__title___1Tg1E" data-reactid="146"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="147"><h2 class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-2-md___2qWLP styles__line-height-1___wZ7lC styles__font-weight-bold___NRlaU" data-reactid="148">Benefits of mitigation</h2></div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-4___3lIjc" data-reactid="149"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__large___mTxZB" data-reactid="150"><div class="styles__contentWrapper___20L-F" data-reactid="151"><div class="styles__content___pVmmZ" data-reactid="152"><div class="styles__wrapper___1OrPS" data-reactid="153"><div class="styles__numbersBlock___1uk1Q" data-reactid="154"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi styles__numberItem___3XHDm" data-reactid="155"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M" data-reactid="156">Economic benefits</div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M styles__number___MextH" data-reactid="157">$22.5 million</div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M" data-reactid="158">Total monetized benefits</div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi styles__numberItem___3XHDm" data-reactid="159"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M" data-reactid="160"><span data-reactid="161"><!-- react-text: 162 -->Return on investment<!-- /react-text --><span class="styles__tooltipWrapper___2Cqls" data-reactid="163"><button class="styles__iconButton___1WYzf" data-reactid="164"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F" data-reactid="165"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio" data-reactid="166"></span></span></button></span></span></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M styles__number___MextH" data-reactid="167">291.0%</div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M" data-reactid="168">Estimated return on investment</div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi styles__numberItem___3XHDm" data-reactid="169"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M" data-reactid="170"><span data-reactid="171"><!-- react-text: 172 -->Benefit-cost ratio<!-- /react-text --><span class="styles__tooltipWrapper___2Cqls" data-reactid="173"><button class="styles__iconButton___1WYzf" data-reactid="174"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F" data-reactid="175"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio" data-reactid="176"></span></span></button></span></span></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M styles__number___MextH" data-reactid="177">3.91</div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M" data-reactid="178">Benefit-cost ratio</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-4___3lIjc styles__source___2vrAS" data-reactid="179"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="180"><span class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-5___3Bh5r styles__font-size-5-md___8U-pV" data-reactid="181"><!-- react-text: 182 -->Source: <!-- /react-text --><!-- react-text: 183 -->FEMA (2015). Reducing Losses through Higher Regulatory Standards: 2013 Colorado Floods Case Study.<!-- /react-text --></span></div></div></div></div><div id="project-challenges" class="styles__offsetWrapper___3frZL" data-reactid="184"><div class="styles__block___1sQ1u styles__padding-vertical-6___3IJ8r styles__padding-horizontal-4___1A4Mq styles__padding-horizontal-4-md___1abqY styles__style-grey___2p9Kc" data-reactid="185"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc" style="position:relative;" data-reactid="186"></div><span style="font-size:0;" data-reactid="187"></span><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-5___2vHLQ styles__title___1Tg1E" data-reactid="188"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="189"><h2 class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-2-md___2qWLP styles__line-height-1___wZ7lC styles__font-weight-bold___NRlaU" data-reactid="190">Project challenges</h2></div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-4___3lIjc" data-reactid="191"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__large___mTxZB" data-reactid="192"><div class="styles__contentWrapper___20L-F" data-reactid="193"><div class="styles__pull___CpmLW" data-reactid="194"><blockquote class="styles__quote____Pds- styles__align-right___2b_C-" data-reactid="195"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-2___1zfOH" data-reactid="196"><div class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-21-md___1Is4t" data-reactid="197">When the project costs became larger than expected, federal grants helped cover the cost</div></div></blockquote></div><div class="styles__content___pVmmZ" data-reactid="198"><div data-reactid="199"><p>The city had originally planned to build $800,000 worth of new bridges along the South Pratt Parkway to divert the damaging effects of the floodplain. However, once FEMA released new flood maps for the area, Longmont determined that the mitigation project would have to be far bigger and more costly to have the same effect. The city did not have the funds to cover such a costly project, but it successfully sought funding from FEMA and moved forward with the project. In the end, the project encompassed channel improvements that increased the flow capacity of the channel and of two culverts at road crossings.</p>
</div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="quote" class="styles__offsetWrapper___3frZL" data-reactid="200"><div class="styles__block___1sQ1u styles__padding-vertical-6___3IJ8r styles__padding-horizontal-4___1A4Mq styles__padding-horizontal-4-md___1abqY styles__style-blue___3O8vY" data-reactid="201"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc" style="position:relative;" data-reactid="202"></div><span style="font-size:0;" data-reactid="203"></span><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-4___3lIjc" data-reactid="204"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="205"><div class="styles__contentWrapper___20L-F" data-reactid="206"><div class="styles__content___pVmmZ" data-reactid="207"><blockquote class="styles__quote____Pds- styles__align-center___M5Y34" data-reactid="208"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-2___1zfOH" data-reactid="209"><div class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-21-md___1Is4t" data-reactid="210">“It was an extremely successful project. Very rarely do you have the opportunity to see the benefits of your project so quickly”</div></div><footer data-reactid="211"><cite data-reactid="212"><span class="styles__name___1XDAp" data-reactid="213"><!-- react-text: 214 -->David Hollingsworth<!-- /react-text --><!-- react-text: 215 -->, <!-- /react-text --><!-- react-text: 216 -->former floodplain manager, City of Longmont, Colorado<!-- /react-text --></span></cite></footer></blockquote></div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="future-considerations" class="styles__offsetWrapper___3frZL" data-reactid="217"><div class="styles__block___1sQ1u styles__padding-vertical-6___3IJ8r styles__padding-horizontal-4___1A4Mq styles__padding-horizontal-4-md___1abqY styles__style-grey___2p9Kc" data-reactid="218"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc" style="position:relative;" data-reactid="219"></div><span style="font-size:0;" data-reactid="220"></span><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-5___2vHLQ styles__title___1Tg1E" data-reactid="221"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="222"><h2 class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-2-md___2qWLP styles__line-height-1___wZ7lC styles__font-weight-bold___NRlaU" data-reactid="223">Future considerations</h2></div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-4___3lIjc" data-reactid="224"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__large___mTxZB" data-reactid="225"><div class="styles__contentWrapper___20L-F" data-reactid="226"><div class="styles__content___pVmmZ" data-reactid="227"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-2___1zfOH" data-reactid="228"><img alt="A bridge over a road in Longmont, Colorado, shows extensive damage due to flooding." src="../images/case-studies/casestudy-longmont-future1.jpg" data-reactid="229"/></div><span class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-5___3Bh5r styles__font-size-5-md___8U-pV" data-reactid="230">Photo by Patsy Lynch - FEMA</span><div class="styles__offsetWrapper___3frZL" data-reactid="231"><div class="styles__block___1sQ1u styles__padding-vertical-4___du4o8 styles__padding-horizontal-0___3AU1d" data-reactid="232"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc" style="position:relative;" data-reactid="233"></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-4___3lIjc" data-reactid="234"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__large___mTxZB" data-reactid="235"><div class="styles__contentWrapper___20L-F styles__pullRight___olNqH" data-reactid="236"><div class="styles__pull___CpmLW" data-reactid="237"><blockquote class="styles__quote____Pds- styles__align-left___3MCiz" data-reactid="238"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-2___1zfOH" data-reactid="239"><div class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-21-md___1Is4t" data-reactid="240">The community continues to invest in flood mitigation</div></div></blockquote></div><div class="styles__content___pVmmZ" data-reactid="241"><div data-reactid="242"><p>Most of the community had never experienced a major flood event, according to Hollingsworth. By providing data at community meetings about floodplain risks and the impact a 1-percent-annual-chance flood would have on the area, city leaders were able to make the case that this mitigation effort was important. Longmont is currently pursuing a program of flood mitigation projects along St. Vrain Creek to reduce the size of the floodplain. Projects include resizing the creek channel and restoring the St. Vrain greenway. The timeline for the Resilient St. Vrain program is 7-10 years, and the projects are estimated to cost up to $140 million. The city continues to seek grants and other financial partners to help fund the projects.</p>
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styles__font-weight-bold___NRlaU" data-reactid="262">FEMA helps Georgia counties rebuild after record-breaking rains</h2></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-0___CPS2r" data-reactid="263"><p data-reactid="264"><!-- react-text: 265 -->Population: <!-- /react-text --><!-- react-text: 266 -->748,150<!-- /react-text --></p></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW" data-reactid="267"><p data-reactid="268">Flash flooding, Riverine flooding</p></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi" data-reactid="269"></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW" data-reactid="270"></div></div></div></a></div><div class="styles__gridItem___2HvPo styles__size-small___3ZM52" data-reactid="271"><a class="styles__itemWrapper___3tOmW" href="carson-city-nv.html" data-reactid="272"><div class="styles__item___3EIg2" style="background-image:url(../images/case-studies/casestudy-carsoncity-main1.jpg);" data-reactid="273"><div class="styles__textWrapper___3nUfy" data-reactid="274"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-2___1zfOH" data-reactid="275"><p data-reactid="276">Carson City, Nevada</p></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-2___1zfOH styles__itemTitle___BI8E_" data-reactid="277"><h2 class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-2-md___2qWLP styles__line-height-1___wZ7lC styles__font-weight-bold___NRlaU" data-reactid="278">Expanded retention basin protects Carson City from potential disaster</h2></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-0___CPS2r" data-reactid="279"><p data-reactid="280"><!-- react-text: 281 -->Population: <!-- /react-text --><!-- react-text: 282 -->54,412<!-- /react-text --></p></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW" data-reactid="283"><p data-reactid="284">Flash flooding</p></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi" data-reactid="285"></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk 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class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-0___CPS2r" data-reactid="296"><p data-reactid="297"><!-- react-text: 298 -->Population: <!-- /react-text --><!-- react-text: 299 -->47,338<!-- /react-text --></p></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW" data-reactid="300"><p data-reactid="301">Flash flooding</p></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi" data-reactid="302"></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW" data-reactid="303"></div></div></div></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></main><div class="styles__base___15EZr" data-reactid="304"><div class="styles__wrapper___2vVYp" data-reactid="305"><div class="styles__offsetWrapper___3frZL" data-reactid="306"><div class="styles__block___1sQ1u styles__padding-vertical-6___3IJ8r styles__padding-horizontal-4___1A4Mq styles__padding-horizontal-4-md___1abqY styles__style-grey___2p9Kc" data-reactid="307"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc" style="position:relative;" data-reactid="308"></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi styles__title___1Tg1E" data-reactid="309"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="310"><h2 class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-2-md___2qWLP styles__line-height-1___wZ7lC styles__font-weight-bold___NRlaU" data-reactid="311">Flood mitigation resources</h2></div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-5___2vHLQ styles__copy___gYUAd" data-reactid="312"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="313">Below is a non-exhaustive list of other flood mitigation information resources.</div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-4___3lIjc" data-reactid="314"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__large___mTxZB" data-reactid="315"><div class="styles__contentWrapper___20L-F" data-reactid="316"><div class="styles__content___pVmmZ" data-reactid="317"><div 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Residents were evacuated as creeks overtopped, but 87% of the 204 homes in the SFHA experienced less or no damages."},{"property":"og:image","content":"https://www.floodeconomics.com/images/case-studies/casestudy-longmont-main1.jpg"}]},"data":{"image":"casestudy-longmont-main1.jpg","imageAlt":"A section of a bike trail is still blocked off due to flooding.","imageSource":"Photo by Patsy Lynch - FEMA","location":"Longmont, Colorado","title":"Drainage project completed just in time for a major flood event","introduction":"In 2012, the Left Hand Creek channel in Longmont was expanded, removing 110 properties from the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and reducing the risk of flood damage to a key highway and the downtown area. Nine months after the expansion was completed in December, a 1-percent-annual-chance flood hit the town—the worst flash flood in the city’s history. 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