In September 2013 Colorado experienced a flood disaster that forever changed the state.  Through innovative collaborative partnerships between federal, state, and local governments along with private companies, non-profit organizations, and committed citizens the State-led Colorado Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program implemented 67 flood recovery projects from 2015-2018.  These projects sought to address hazards to life and property and restore the health and function of stream corridors impaired by the 2013 flood disaster.  This website is a compilation of the many resources developed during this time to guide this massive undertaking and ensure the best possible outcomes for our communities and stream corridors as we worked to plan, react, adapt, evolve, and achieve in the wake of the flood.  It is intended to not only account for the good work that was done, but more importantly to serve as a resource for individuals and groups working to rehabilitate streams either post-flood or during interim periods in other parts of the state or country.  While most of the materials are specific to working with the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s Emergency Watershed Protection Program, many can be applied to any stream corridor work that involves a human component.  These materials should also be easily adaptable to other state/regional programs.  The website is generally organized by the following:

Resources – for each cell of the recovery honeycomb we’ve provided resources and examples developed from our efforts

Projects – provides an overview of the work that was accomplished including overviews of each watershed and “success stories” from some of our favorite projects.

2013 Colorado EWP Program – provides an account of what we did and how we did it

We welcome you to the Colorado EWP website and hope that you find some excellent resources and ideas to guide your important work!    

If you have found this information useful or have adapted or improved upon it we’d love to hear from you!