Summit County, CO
Sustained high flow events during the runoff season of 2011 resulted in significant erosion and lateral migration of the Swan River. This unchecked stream migration was threatening to undermine infrastructure and result in the loss of property at the Swan Villas development. ERC was retained to evaluate the potential for future flooding impacts, study the channel morphology and develop and construct improvements to protect the property. The project required moving the Swan River, which has a FEMA mapped floodplain, requiring that ERC ensure that the modifications would not result in a rise in the regulatory floodplain. Ultimate improvements along the 250 foot project reach incorporated moving the river back to its previous channel and construction of a structural rock foundation and cutoff that prevented further stream migration. All improvements were finished using native material and vegetation so that the end project was natural in appearance.