CU South flood wall alternativesFrom:Tulloch, Hilary
To:Boulder County Board of Commissioners; OSBT-Web; Rivera-Vandermyde, Nuria; Adams, Taishya; Brockett,
Aaron; Marquis, Tina; Speer, Nicole; Winer, Tara; Wallach, Mark; Schuchard, Ryan; Folkerts, Lauren; Benjamin,
Matthew
Subject:CU South flood wall alternatives
Date:Saturday, March 2, 2024 9:47:40 AM
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I have several suggestions for flood mitigation instead of the expensive and unsightly flood
wall design.
The cost of the flood wall is exorbitant - it is over $120 million per mile and would be the most
expensive project Boulder County has ever seen. As a reference, construction of new highways
are estimated at $5 million to $10 million per mile. You could easily rebuild SR 36 between
Table Mesa and a new bridge over the South Boulder Creek to both endure the 500 year flood
for less than $60 million for the cost of the flood wall. Is this a fiscally responsible way to
spend funds? Not in my opinion. Was a cost analysis done? The flood wall will not prevent the
flooding of homes in the Frasier area. It will only delay the flooding. It makes more sense to
come up with a plan that will PREVENT flooding to the Frasier neighborhood. If the flood wall
cost is $60 million and it supposedly will help 2,300 homes in Frasier Meadows - that's
spending over $26,000 per home - which is unheard of. The proposed cost of the flood wall is
over 10% of the City's annual budget - that's unbelievable also!
Building the wall on existing open space is a travesty for so many reasons. If the proposed
drainage pipes under 36 fail or are not designed properly this will lead to little/no
groundwater flowing to the open space on the opposite side of 36 which in turn could destroy
the wetlands on the east side of 36. Good luck getting the necessary right of entry permits
from CDOT. If the construction undermines the stability of the highway this will lead to
extensive closures of 36 - our escape route and the route for first responders. Remember the
sinkhole on 36 from a few years ago? Not to mention this entire design has never been tested
or built for the reasons proposed. I suggest rereading some of Gilbert White's advice on flood
mitigation.
Building the wall on open space that is home to endangered species is inconceivable. This
should never have been an option, especially because the current plan does not prevent
flooding neighborhoods and 36, it only delays the flooding.
All of the following suggestions are less expensive than the current flood wall plan and could
potentially prevent flooding not just delaying floodwater. These suggestions (except for #2)
will not be delayed in the permitting process. I can't imagine the flood wall getting permitted
at all or without massive delays in its current design.
1. Do not build the flood wall.
2. Raising 36 a few feet would solve many problems - it is worth revisiting this idea even
though CDOT supposedly stated they are not open to it.
3. Remove the berms at CU South. During the 2013 flood - CU South did not flood. The
berms were supposed to be removed years ago. This would allow some of the future
floodwaters to seep onto the CU South property, lessening the destruction
downstream.
4. Maintain and clear out existing channels - Bear Creek, Viele Channel - these are both
grossly overgrown and unmaintained.
5. Add more storm drains to the Fraiser neighborhood. There are barely any in that
neighborhood!
6. Remove the medians in the Fraiser neighborhood and replace them with drainage
areas.
7. Give each household money to floodproof their homes. The city did a great job of
floodproofing the government buildings along Boulder Creek.
8. The Frasier neighborhood flooded due to other channels, not just the South Boulder
Creek. Do flood mitigation for these other channels.
We owe it to the environment and the people who live downstream to get this flood
mitigation done right the very first time. This means ditching the wall and going for more
practical, tested and less expensive options that are better for the environment. Disposing of
open space lands is an unthinkable and irreversible act. Be on the right side of history and save
the planet - one parcel of land at a time.
Thank you for your time,
Hilary Tulloch