Homes in Flood Plain Purchased Through Fema Grant

In January of 2008, the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) awarded the City of Arvada a $200,000 grant for "pre-disaster prevention."  Given the strict conditions of the grant, the City determined that the best use of the funds would be to purchase properties that are susceptible to flooding.  A 25% City share was also a condition of the grant.

The Reno-Loberg area (along Ralston creek immediately west of Wadsworth Bypass) contains several structures that are located in the 100-year floodplain.  The Urban Drainage and Flood Control District (UDFCD) Master Plan for this area shows a future channel project will be needed to remove the area from the floodplain.  This channel project will ultimately require the removal of several homes.  Three of the homes were available for immediate acquisition at the time the City received the FEMA grant.  Given that the homes would eventually need to be removed for a UDFCD project, the UDFCD will participate equally in the local 25% match.