FLOOD10390

• County: Boulder
• Community: Boulder
• Stream Name: Fourmile Canyon
• Basin: South Platte
• Title: Fourmile Canyon Creek - Major Drainageway Planning - Phase A Report - Alternatives Analysis
• Date: 6/1/2000
• Prepared For: UDFCD, Boulder
• Prepared By: Love & Associates
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Mitigation/Flood Warning/Watershed Restoration

Aesthetics
Benefit/Cost Ratio
Cost
Recreation

Permitting Requirements
Impacts to Wonderland Creek
Conformance with other Planning Documents
Competing Priorities
Public Acceptance
Operation and Maintenance

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INTANGffiLE BENEFITS

There are numerous intangible benefits that would arise from the implementation of flood mitigation
improvements. By definition, intangible benefits are difficult to measure and are not directly
quantifiable in terms of dollar value or dollars spent for their usage. The intangible benefits that may
be realized through flood mitigation include the following

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Bigger floods can and will occur. This statement holds true if you are talking about a IO-year or IOO-year or
500-year flood event. The Fourmile Canyon Creek floodplain has not had a significant flood in the recent past.
The public awareness of the significance of the flood situation is low since many of the residents in the
floodplain have not seen the results of a disaster, or have had to clean up after a flood in their neighborhood.

Improved traffic movement during floods
Improved emergency response.
Improved public health and safety.
Improved environment, water quality and riparian habitat.
Lower flood insurance.
Improved aesthetics.
Potential for scientific, educational, historical amenities
Increased property values.
Creation of cultural, educational

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RECOMMENDED PLAN

The contract Love & Associates, Inc. has with the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District
requires that the consultant make a recommenda.tion as to the best overall alternate solution, taking
into account a variety of information developed throughout the master planning process for Fourmile
Canyon Creek.

8.11

is the peace of mind,

and scientific resources

One additional intangible benefit, peculiar to residents of flood hazard areas,
which can be enjoyed by those, safeguarded from future flood damages.

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The public process implemented in this project to date has been energetic and much input has been
received. As is true in any master planning process, there are often conflicting goals and priorities
among various groups. This was the case in the Fourmile Canyon Creek planning process

Because intangible benefits are not directly quantifiable in terms of a dollar value, they are not included in
the benefit/cost analysis. As a result, the benefit/cost ratios presented in Tables 8-6, 8-7 and 8-8 are lower
than what would be realized if dollar values were placed upon the intangible benefits.

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As an aid in the evaluation process and the selection of a recommended alternative, an evaluation
matrix was prepared. The evaluation matrix is shown in, Table 8-9, and lists the evaluation factors
identified in paragraph 8-10 and rates each alternative on a scale of 1 to 3, with 1 being the worst and
3 being the best.

EVALUATION FACTORS

In additional to the benefit/cost ratios presented earlier a number of additional evaluation factors should be
considered when choosing a course of action to mitigate flood damages within the Fourmile Canyon Creek
floodplain. Below is a list of some of the potential evaluation factors:

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Evaluation Factors

Flood Mitigation
Life Safety
Property damage
Environment
Temporary Disturbance
Long term benefit
Groundwater
Transportation
Automotive
BicycleIPedestrian
DevelopmentJRe-Development
Growth Management
Affordable Housing

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8-19

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