Project Description

In both the 1976 and 2013 flood events, the communities of Waltonia and Mountain Shadows were heavily impacted by flood damage. Known for their mountain homes that line the river edge, many seasonal and year-round homes were threatened, damaged, or completely lost by rising water levels and the flush of sediment and debris. The 2015 Natural Resource Conservation Service assessment identified the three projects in this area as high priority to restore. Nearly 1 mile of river corridor was restored by BTWC and project partners to improve upon the emergency response armoring and repair efforts conducted directly after the flood. These projects reshaped and reinforced eroding river banks to provide additional stability and safety to the land and riverside homes; added resiliency to state and local infrastructure used by hundreds of residents and millions of annual visitors to the Big Thompson river (55,000 of which are anglers) and Rocky Mountain National Park; and perhaps most importantly, solidified a sense of healing for the communities impacted by the 2013 flood by restoring recreational access and the wild beauty of the area. After three seasons of construction this set of projects was completed in May 2018.