The purpose of natural hazards mitigation is to reduce or eliminate
long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards. Mesa County’s
original Mitigation Plan was completed in 2004 and approved by FEMA
in January 2005. The 2004 plan was revised in 2009/2010 and again
in 2015 pursuant to the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act
of 2000 which requires a five year revision in order to achieve eligibility
for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Mitigation
Assistance, Pre-Disaster Mitigation, and Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs.
This 2020 plan is an update to the 2015 plan.
The Mesa County Hazard Mitigation Plan is a multi-jurisdictional
plan that covers the following local governments, special districts,
and authorities that participated in the planning process and who
identified future mitigation projects for their jurisdiction. Additional
jurisdictions participated in the planning process but did not define
a specific project (see participant list):
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Mesa County
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Lower Valley Fire Protection District
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City of Grand Junction
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Clifton Fire Protection District
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City of Fruita
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Plateau Valley Fire Protection District
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Town of Collbran
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Grand Junction FD and Grand Junction Rural FPD
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Town of Palisade
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DeBeque Fire Protection District
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Town of DeBeque
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New participants during this plan update include the Clifton
Fire Protection District.
The County’s planning process followed a methodology prescribed
by FEMA, and much of the information contained in this plan was developed
using jurisdictional information, plans and documents.
Mesa County’s process began with the formation of a Hazard
Mitigation Planning Committee (HMPC) comprised of key stakeholders
from Mesa County, participating jurisdictions, and State and federal
agencies. The HMPC conducted a risk assessment that identified and
profiled hazards that pose a risk to Mesa County, assessed the County’s
vulnerability to these hazards, and examined the capabilities in place
to mitigate them. The County is vulnerable to several hazards that
are identified, profiled, and analyzed in this plan. However, floods,
wildfires, and rock falls-landslides are among the hazards that can
have a significant impact on the County and are the hazards for which
specific mitigation projects have been identified. Based upon the
risk assessment, the HMPC identified goals and objectives for reducing
risk to hazards. The goals and objectives of this hazard mitigation
plan are to:
(a)
Goal 1: Reduce risk to the people, property, and environment of Mesa
County from the impacts of natural hazards.
(1)
Minimize the vulnerability of existing and new development to hazards.
(2)
Increase education and awareness of hazards and risk reduction measures.
(3)
Improve comprehensive wildfire planning, funding, and mitigation.
(4)
Strengthen floodplain management programs.
(5)
Enhance assessment of multi-hazard risk to critical facilities and
infrastructure.
(c)
Goal 3: Implement the mitigation actions identified in this plan.
(1)
Engage collaborative partners, community organizations, businesses,
and others.
(2)
Integrate mitigation activities into existing and new community plans
and policies.
(3)
Monitor, evaluate, and update the mitigation plan.
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To meet identified goals and objectives, the plan recommends
the mitigation actions summarized in Table 1. The HMPC also developed
an implementation plan for each action, which identifies priority
level, background information, ideas for implementation, responsible
agency, timeline, cost estimate, potential funding sources, and more.
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The Hazard Mitigation Plan has been formally adopted by the
Mesa County Board of County Commissioners and the governing bodies
of each participating jurisdiction and will again be revised within
a five-year timeframe.
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Table 1: Mitigation Action Matrix
Mitigation Action Matrix
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Jurisdiction
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Action
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Priority
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Goals Addressed
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Hazards Addressed
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Multi-jurisdictional
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Coordinate biannual reviews.
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High
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Goal 3
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Multi-Hazard
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Multi-jurisdictional
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Continue public involvement in mitigation activities.
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High
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Goal 1
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Multi-Hazard
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Multi-jurisdictional
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Coordinate and complete a continuity of operations/continuity
of governance (COOP/COG) plan.
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High
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Goal 2
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Multi-Hazard
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Multi-jurisdictional
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Identify and prioritize fuel reduction projects around critical
facilities and infrastructure in wildfire hazard areas. Community
education regarding the risk of wildfires.
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High
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Goal 1
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Wildfire
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Town of Palisade: Fire Department
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Create a fire mitigation plan to protect vital raw water supplies
and infrastructure. Conduct on the ground mitigation to reduce the
potential for wildfire.
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High
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Goal 1, 2
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Wildfire
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Multi-jurisdictional
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Incorporate information contained in Hazard Mitigation Plan
into other planning mechanisms, when appropriate.
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High
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Goal 1, 2
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Multi-Hazard
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Multi-jurisdictional
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Project includes 2 detention basins and 535 feet of box culvert
improvements that will remove 269 structures from 100-year floodplain,
including 2 churches and 1 elementary school, and decrease emergency
response arterial inundation (Hwy. 50) by 0.43 feet (Orchard Mesa
detention and conveyance improvements).
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Medium
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Goal 1, 2
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Flooding
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Mesa County
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Adobe Creek: Overbank flooding of properties is common during
small events. Project will upgrade 13 structures and 2.5 miles of
channel to achieve flow capacity for 10-year event level.
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Medium
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Goal 1, 2
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Flooding
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Mesa County
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Douglas Wash: The existing drainage way and crossing structures
are undersized and cannot convey the 100-year storm event. More than
55 properties are within the flooding area. A study was completed
and the recommended solution was to construct detention areas to control
the flow within the channel.
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Medium
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Goal 1, 2
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Flooding
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Multi-jurisdictional
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Mitigation project for the upper and lower portions of the Leach
Creek drainage. These projects would provide mitigation to flood events
for the area of Leach Creek above the confluence with Ranchmen’s
Ditch.
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Medium
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Goal 1, 2
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Flooding
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Mesa County, City of Grand Junction, City of Fruita, Town of
Palisade
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NFIP Compliance: Jurisdictions will incorporate and reference
DFIRM maps in regulations as new floodplains are mapped. Audits of
regulations will ensure compliance with NFIP in all program areas.
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Medium
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Goal 1
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Flooding
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Multi-jurisdictional
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Identify and map geologic hazard zones and incorporate into
master planning.
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Medium
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Goal 1, 3
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Landslide-Rockfall-Mudflow-Debris Flow
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Multi-jurisdictional
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Real time rainfall data is lacking in Mesa County. An automated
rainfall ALERT network would allow real time rainfall data access
by local officials and National Weather Service forecasters for more
timely flash flood warnings.
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Medium
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Goal 1, 3
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Flooding
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Multi-jurisdictional
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A Basin Master Plan for Big Salt Wash will be completed. The
plan will identify at risk properties, conveyance and detention mitigation
alternatives and costs.
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Low
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Goal 1
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Flooding
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Multi-jurisdictional
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Community Resilience Planning: Develop the ability to function
and sustain critical systems; adapt to changes in the physical, social,
or economic environment; be self-reliant if external resources are
limited or cut off.
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Medium
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Goal 1, 2, 3
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Multi-Hazard
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Town of Palisade
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Fuel and debris reduction: Remove overgrowth, slash, and debris
from steep river bank.
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High
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Goal 1
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Wildfire, Flooding
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DeBeque FPD
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District wildland fire assessment: Assess wildland-urban interface
issues in district.
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Medium
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Goal 1
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Wildfire
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DeBeque FPD
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Reduce amount of fuels residents pile up for burning in and
around the Town of DeBeque by establishing a wood chipping program.
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Medium
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Goal 1
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Wildfire
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Multi-Jurisdictional
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Review and update the 2012 Countywide Community Wildfire Protection
Plan
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High
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Goal 1
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Wildfire
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Multi-Jurisdictional
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StormReady Recertification: Complete actions necessary to maintain
StormReady Certification.
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Medium
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Goal 1
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Multi-Hazard
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Clifton FPD and Mesa County
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Lewis Wash wildfire mitigation project
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High
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Goal 1
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Wildfire
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Town of Palisade
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Riverbend Park wildfire mitigation project
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High
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Goal 1
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Wildfire
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City of Fruita and Lower Valley FPD
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Big Salt Wash wildfire mitigation project – Evening
Breeze section
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High
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Goal 1
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Wildfire
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City of Grand Junction and GJ Rural FPD
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Identify, prioritize, support, and conduct fuels mitigation
in Wildland Urban Interface.
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High
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Goal 1
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Wildfire
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City of Grand Junction
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Emergency Action Plans for Dam Safety
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High
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Goal 1, 2
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Flooding
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City of Grand Junction
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Fire Mitigation for Grand Junction Watershed
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High
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Goal 1
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Wildfire
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City of Grand Junction
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Carson Lake Dam Rehabilitation and Early Warning System
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High
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Goal 1, 2
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Flooding
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Following is a brief project update, from the goals, objectives
and projects identified in the approved 2015 plan.
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2015 Actions
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Status
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Reason
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|---|---|---|
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Coordinate annual reviews
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Ongoing
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Public involvement in mitigation activities
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Complete
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COOP/COG planning
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Ongoing
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Identify and prioritize fuel reduction projects
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Ongoing
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Palisade watershed protection plan and projects
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Ongoing
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Plan complete projects ongoing
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Incorporate HMP into other plans
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Ongoing
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As plans are updated.
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Orchard Mesa Detention and Conveyance
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Partially Complete – Ongoing
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The Orchard Mesa project was constructed, however the pipes
have not been increased
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Adobe Creek Project
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Ongoing
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Project not started yet
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Bosley Wash Project
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Complete
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Douglas Wash Project
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Ongoing
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Currently being worked on by Mesa County Staff
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Leach Creek Project
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Ongoing
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Partially complete. Work carried out in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
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NFIP Compliance
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Ongoing
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Work continues as new floodplains are mapped
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Mapping of geologic hazard zones. Incorporation into master
planning
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Ongoing
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Hazard zones referenced in plans. LiDAR mapping of West Salt
Creek Landslide area
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Real time rainfall data network
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Deferred
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Funding opportunities have not been explored
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Big Salt Wash basin master plan
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Deferred
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Staff time reallocated to other projects
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StormReady Recertification
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Complete
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Community Resilience Planning
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Deferred
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Assigned staff resigned. Project not reassigned.
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Riverbank Fuel and debris reduction
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Ongoing
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DeBeque FPD district wildland fire assessment
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Ongoing
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DeBeque wood chipping/burn reduction project
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Ongoing
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(Res. 61-20, 10-7-20; Res. 32-15, 7-1-15; Res. 05-10, 1-6-10)
This multi-jurisdictional, multi-hazard mitigation plan update
involved a comprehensive review and update of each section of the
2015 plan. The process followed to review and revise this plan was
similar to the planning process for the 2015 plan. As part of this
plan update, all sections of the plan were reviewed and updated to
reflect new data and knowledge of hazards and risk, risk analysis
process, capabilities, participating jurisdictions and stakeholders,
and mitigation strategies. The plan was also revised to reflect changes
in development and property values based on County Assessor data.
Valid information from the 2015 plan was carried forward and included
in this plan update.
This plan update was filed with the State of Colorado Division
of Homeland Security and Emergency Management as a component of Mesa
County’s annual emergency management work plan. As a result,
this plan update was funded, in part, with Emergency Management Performance
Grant funds.
The following list summarizes plan updates by plan section:
(b)
Planning Process.
(1)
General text edits to update dates associated with planning timeline.
(2)
Updated jurisdiction participation table to reflect participation
in plan update process.
(3)
Edited the Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee list to reflect individual
participants in the update process.
(4)
Updated the public involvement process for plan update.
(c)
Risk Assessment.
(1)
Reviewed hazards list for possible modifications.
(2)
Reviewed hazards from the 2018 Colorado State Hazard Mitigation Plan.
(3)
Updated disaster declaration history to include 2015-2020 data.
(4)
Reviewed hazard class for dams in Mesa County.
(5)
Reviewed and updated repetitive loss property information.
(6)
Updated Tier II reporting facility numbers.
(7)
Updated previous occurrence history for hazardous materials.
(8)
Updated NCDC data for severe winter weather from 2015-2019.
(9)
Updated previous occurrence history for wildfire to include events
from 2015-2019.
(10)
Reviewed and updated hazard profile summary and scoring.
(11)
Reviewed and updated critical facilities and infrastructure matrix.
(12)
Reviewed and updated economic assets.
(f)
Community Profiles.
(1)
Updated population data using 2019 Colorado State Demographer estimates
for prior plan participants.
(2)
Reviewed and updated jurisdiction hazard profiles for prior plan
participants.
(3)
Updated community asset inventory using a structured GIS analysis
using most recent County Assessor and population data.
(4)
Reviewed and updated jurisdiction capability assessments for prior
plan participants.
(5)
Reviewed district profiles for participating special districts.
(6)
Created new district profile for new participating district, Clifton
Fire Protection District.
(Res. 61-20, 10-7-20; Res. 32-15, 7-1-15; Res. 05-10, 1-6-10)
44 CFR Requirement Section 201.6(c)(5): The local hazard
mitigation plan shall include documentation that the plan has been
formally adopted by the governing body of the jurisdiction requesting
approval of the plan. For multi-jurisdictional plans, each jurisdiction
requesting approval of the plan must document that it has been formally
adopted.
The following jurisdictions participated in the development
of this plan and have adopted the multi-jurisdictional plan. A sample
resolution is provided and all signed copies of resolutions can be
found in Appendix A of this plan.[1]
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Mesa County
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Lower Valley Fire Protection District
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City of Grand Junction
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Plateau Valley Fire Protection District
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Town of Palisade
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Grand Junction FD and Grand Junction Rural FPD
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City of Fruita
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Clifton Fire Protection District
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Town of Collbran
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DeBeque Fire Protection District
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Town of DeBeque
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RESOLUTION NO. ______
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE REVISED MESA COUNTY, COLORADO
MULTI-HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
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WHEREAS, natural hazards in Mesa County have the potential for
loss of life and significant property damage,
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WHEREAS, the County of Mesa recognizes the importance of reducing
or eliminating vulnerability of disasters caused by natural hazards
for the overall good and welfare of the community,
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WHEREAS, the County of Mesa, Office of Emergency Management
has revised the comprehensive, multi-jurisdictional, Multi-Hazard
Mitigation Plan to identify both natural and manmade disasters and
developed strategies to mitigate those hazards,
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WHEREAS, the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires
jurisdictions to prepare and adopt a Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
to be eligible for future pre-disaster and post disaster federal funding
for mitigation purposes, and
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WHEREAS, the County of Mesa has identified and justified a number
of proposed projects and programs needed to mitigate the vulnerabilities
of the County to the impacts of future disasters to be included in
this revised Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan.
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MESA COUNTY, COLORADO:
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Section 1: The County of Mesa hereby proposes to accept and approve the revised Mesa County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan.
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Section 2: The plan participants are requested and instructed to pursue available funding opportunities for implementation of the proposals designated therein, and
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Section 3: The plan participants will, upon receipt of such funding or other necessary resources, seek to implement the proposals contained in its section of the mitigation strategy, and
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Section 4: The plan participants will continue to participate in the updating and revision of the Mesa County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan with a plan review and revision to occur within a five-year cycle, and designated staff will provide annual progress reports on the status of implementation of the plan to the Board of County Commissioners, and
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Section 5: The plan participants will further seek to encourage the businesses, community groups, organizations and other stakeholders within the County of Mesa, to also participate in the updating and revision of this plan.
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APPROVED on _________________.
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(Res. 61-20, 10-7-20; Res. 32-15, 7-1-15; Res. 05-10, 1-6-10)
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A is included as an attachment to this title.
