Mesa County and several other participating jurisdictions prepared
this revision of the local Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan to guide hazard
mitigation planning to better protect the people and property of the
County from effects of hazard events. This plan demonstrates the communities’
commitment to reducing risks from hazards and serves as a tool to
help decision makers direct mitigation activities and resources.
With the completion of this plan revision, Mesa County and participating
jurisdictions are eligible for certain federal disaster assistance,
specifically, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA)
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Building Resilient Infrastructure
and Communities (BRIC) Program, and Flood Mitigation Assistance Program.
(Res. 61-20, 10-7-20; Res. 32-15, 7-1-15; Res. 05-10, 1-6-10)
Each year in the United States, natural disasters take the lives
of hundreds of people and injure thousands more. Nationwide, taxpayers
pay billions of dollars annually to help communities, organizations,
businesses, and individuals recover from disasters. These dollars
only partially reflect the true cost of disasters, because additional
expenses to insurance companies and nongovernmental organizations
are not reimbursed by tax dollars. Many natural disasters are predictable,
and much of the damage caused by these events can be reduced or even
eliminated.
Hazard mitigation is defined by FEMA as “any sustained
action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to human life and
property from a hazard event.” On average, each dollar spent
on mitigation saves society an average of $11.00 in avoided future
losses in addition to saving lives and preventing injuries. (National
Institute of Building Science Multi-Hazard Mitigation Council 2018)
Hazard mitigation planning is the process through which hazards
that threaten communities are identified, likely impacts of those
hazards are determined, mitigation goals are set, and appropriate
strategies to lessen impacts are determined, prioritized, and implemented.
This plan documents Mesa County’s hazard mitigation planning
process and identifies relevant hazards and vulnerabilities and strategies
the County and participating jurisdictions will use to decrease vulnerability
and increase resiliency and sustainability in Mesa County.
This revised plan was prepared pursuant to the requirements
of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390) and the
implementing regulations set forth by the Interim Final Rule published
in the Federal Register on February 26, 2002 (
44 CFR §
201.6), and
finalized on October 31, 2007. The 2007 amendments also incorporate
mitigation planning requirements of the Flood Mitigation Assistance
(FMA) program authorized by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968.
While the Disaster Mitigation Act emphasizes the need for mitigation
plans and more coordinated mitigation planning and implementation
efforts, the regulations established the requirements that local hazard
mitigation plans must meet in order for a local jurisdiction to be
eligible for certain federal disaster assistance and hazard mitigation
funding under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Act (Public Law 93-288).
This revised plan addresses natural hazards and one manmade
hazard – hazardous materials release. Although FEMA encourages
communities to integrate manmade hazards into the mitigation planning
process, the scope of this plan focused more on natural hazards. Additional
plans have been developed to address other manmade hazards such as
chemical, biological, and radiological terrorism through the Northwest
All Hazard Emergency Management Region (NWAHEMR) and requires sensitivity
towards confidentiality.
(Res. 61-20, 10-7-20; Res. 32-15, 7-1-15; Res. 05-10, 1-6-10)
Figure 1 shows a map of the Mesa County planning area, including
the various jurisdictions who participated in the revision of this
plan.
Figure 1: Hazard Mitigation Planning Area
|
(Res. 61-20, 10-7-20; Res. 32-15, 7-1-15; Res. 05-10, 1-6-10)
Mesa County is located on the western border of Colorado, 250
miles west of Denver. Interstate 70, the State’s main east-west
transportation corridor, travels directly through Mesa County. One
of the 64 counties in Colorado, Mesa County encompasses 3,309 square
miles, of which approximately 72 percent is publicly owned and is
controlled primarily by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land
Management. The City of Grand Junction is the County Seat and is the
largest city in western Colorado. The Grand Junction area serves as
the banking center, health care service provider and retail trade
center for a large geographical area in western Colorado and eastern
Utah.
The landscape of Mesa County has many unique features as it
is located in a river valley surrounded by contrasting natural landmarks –
such as the Colorado National Monument to the west, the Grand Mesa
National Forest to the east, and the Bookcliffs to the north. These
natural wonders provide diverse and abundant year-round recreational
activities.
The Colorado National Monument is a beautiful geological display
of towering red sandstone monoliths set against deep, shear-walled
canyons which are dotted throughout the 20,000 acres of the park.
The Grand Mesa National Forest is said to be the largest flat-topped
mountain in the world. It has more than 200 lakes and is home to the
Powderhorn ski area.
Mesa County’s mild climate provides a sharp contrast to
the eastern slope of Colorado. Residents enjoy mild winter temperatures
with lows averaging only 26 degrees Fahrenheit (minus three degrees
Celsius) in January with year-round low humidity. (Mesa County 2008
Budget Book)
(Res. 61-20, 10-7-20; Res. 32-15, 7-1-15; Res. 05-10, 1-6-10)
Mesa County estimates its 2018 population to be 153,207 which
ranks it as the eleventh largest population of the 64 counties in
Colorado. The County estimates include data from the State Demographer’s
office and includes more up-to-date information on components of change –
births, deaths, and change in group population. Mesa County also considers
school enrollment numbers, new housing permits, household increases,
and vacancy rate. Mesa County has used State Demographer estimates
when projecting future population and estimates the 2020 population
to be 156,260 which is a two percent increase from 2018 as shown in
Figure 2.
The 2010 Census marked a shift from the majority of the population
living in unincorporated Mesa County to the cities and towns. In 2013,
51.7 percent were estimated to be in the incorporated areas and 48.3
percent were in the unincorporated areas. This is due in part to growth
and annexations to Grand Junction, as well as the growth of Fruita
since 2000. Mesa County’s population has also been urbanizing.
In 1980, 70 percent of the County’s population lived in the
urbanized area. The urbanized population has increased with each successive
decade, and in 2010, the U.S. Census estimated 87.4 percent of the
County’s total population lived in the urbanized area, which
stretches from Fruita to Palisade.
Figure 2: Estimated County Population
|
Figure 3: Jurisdiction Population
|
---|
Area
|
2000 Population
|
2010 Population
|
2018 Population
|
% Change
|
---|
City of Grand Junction
|
45,678
|
59,502
|
64,191
|
8%
|
City of Fruita
|
6,727
|
12,803
|
13,398
|
5%
|
Town of DeBeque
|
473
|
505
|
502
|
-1%
|
Town of Collbran
|
607
|
709
|
710
|
0%
|
Town of Palisade
|
2,585
|
2,748
|
2,792
|
2%
|
Mesa County
|
61,581
|
70,888
|
72,036
|
2%
|
Total Population
|
117,651
|
147,155
|
153,629
|
4%
|
Mesa County’s median age of 39.1 is higher than both Colorado
(37.9) and the U.S. (38.2). Mesa County’s population is generally
older than Colorado, with 17.9 percent of the population over age
65 compared to 15.2 percent statewide. By 2030, the State Demographer
projects that people over age 65 will account for 39 percent of the
total population.
|
The U.S. Census Bureau demographic and social characteristics
for Mesa County are shown in Tables 2 and 3 and Figure 4.
|
Table 2: Mesa County Demographic and Social Characteristics
|
---|
Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin in 2018
|
Number
|
Rank in State
|
Pct Dist. in County
|
Pct Dist. in State
|
---|
American Ind. or Alaskan Native Alone
|
1,283
|
12
|
0.9%
|
0.8%
|
Asian Alone
|
1,409
|
12
|
0.9%
|
5.4%
|
Black Alone
|
1,033
|
12
|
0.7%
|
12.7%
|
Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone
|
410
|
5
|
0.3%
|
0.2%
|
White Alone
|
141,076
|
10
|
94.1%
|
72.7%
|
Two or More Race Groups
|
3,093
|
11
|
2.1%
|
3.2%
|
Hispanic or Latino (can be of any race)
|
Non-Hispanic or Latino
|
128,369
|
10
|
85.6%
|
82.2%
|
Hispanic or Latino
|
21,629
|
11
|
14.4%
|
17.8%
|
Figure 4: Age Distribution in Mesa County
(U.S. Census Bureau)
|
Mesa County is served by U.S. Highways 6, 24, and 50; Interstate
Highway 70; and several State highways. Most of the communities, including
the larger ones, are located along the U.S. and Interstate highway
systems. General intra-county access is provided by more than 1,300
miles of County road. The Union Pacific Railroad mainline parallels
the U.S. and Interstate highways from east to west through the County,
and a branch line parallels U.S. Highway 50 to the south. Limited
railroad passenger service by Amtrak is provided, with the bulk of
service handling freight. Bus service is available and four major
airlines and several commuter-type airlines provide passenger and
freight service to Grand Junction.
|
Table 3: Mesa County Demographics
|
---|
People and Income Overview (By Place of Residence)
|
Value
|
Rank in State
|
Industry Overview (2018) (By Place of Work)
|
Value
|
Rank in State
|
---|
Population (2018)
|
153,207
|
11
|
Covered Employment
|
62,699
|
10
|
Growth (%) since 2010 Census
|
4.4%
|
36
|
Avg. wage per job
|
$44,431
|
20
|
Households (2018)
|
61,033
|
11
|
Manufacturing – % all jobs in County
|
5.0%
|
14
|
Labor Force (persons) (2018)
|
76,060
|
10
|
Avg. wage per job
|
$45,292
|
22
|
Unemployment Rate (2018)
|
4.1%
|
14
|
Transportation and Warehousing – % all jobs in County
|
4.0%
|
5
|
Per Capita Personal Income (2018)
|
$44,935
|
37
|
Avg. wage per job
|
$51,491
|
17
|
Median Household Income (2018)
|
$51,132
|
41
|
Health Care, Social Assist. – % all jobs in County
|
18.3%
|
3
|
Poverty Rate (2018)
|
14.4%
|
20
|
Avg. wage per job
|
$50,055
|
12
|
H.S. Diploma or More – % of Adults 25+ (2018)
|
90.1
|
36
|
Finance and Insurance – % all jobs in County
|
3.1%
|
13
|
Bachelor’s Deg. or More – % of Adults 25+ (2018)
|
27.4
|
32
|
Avg. wage per job
|
$66,423
|
18
|
(Res. 61-20, 10-7-20; Res. 32-15, 7-1-15; Res. 05-10, 1-6-10)
Mesa County is showing signs of economic improvement since the
steep decline that began in late 2008. Mesa County saw a six-year
high in our labor force numbers at 78,379 as well as the lowest unemployment
rate on record at 2.5 percent in September of 2019. Since 2015, more
than 3,000 jobs have been added to our region across all industries.
Currently, health care and social assistance has the highest number
of jobs at 10,887, followed by government at 10,769, and retail taking
the third place at 8,218. Figure 5 depicts Mesa County labor force
and unemployment.
Figure 5: Mesa County Labor Force and Unemployment
|
(Englehart, 2020)
|
(Res. 61-20, 10-7-20; Res. 32-15, 7-1-15; Res. 05-10, 1-6-10)