Colorado Resiliency Framework

The first-of-its-kind statewide framework for resiliency considers a broad range of existing stressors and provides a comprehensive roadmap to adapt communities to the increasing threat of natural and man-made hazards.

Client

State of Colorado Resiliency and Recovery Office

Project Status

Complete

A Comprehensive Resilience Plan and Strategy

Following a devastating flood in September 2013 that impacted 24 counties, and record wildfires in 2010, 2012 and 2013 that destroyed nearly 1,250 homes, the State of Colorado recognized the need for a comprehensive resilience plan and strategy to address natural and man-made hazards.

The challenge was to holistically address the needs of each disparate community. From agriculturally based economies on the eastern plains and tourism-based economies in the mountains, to sprawling urban populations in Denver and small riverine communities like Lyons, Colorado is a diverse state. In the past decade, underlying stresses have magnified the impact of disasters and impeded recovery. Stresses include a lack of economic diversification, lack of social cohesion and a shortage of available affordable housing for a low-to-moderate income workforce.

A Robust Public Engagement Process

To address the problem on a macro-scale, WSP USA worked collaboratively with the Colorado Resiliency and Recovery Office to create the Colorado Resiliency Framework, which now guides State actions and acts as a model to advance resilience planning in communities across the state. Using an open public process and multidisciplinary approach to planning, as well as a coalition of 27 federal, state, local and NGO agencies, we identified and filled data gaps to create a working draft within three months. Our robust public engagement process — involving consultation with 59 groups and thousands of residents across a variety of platforms—allowed us to widely share the draft content and solicit feedback to accurately identify and respond to risks and vulnerabilities.

Adaptive Capacity

Our framework planning focused on harnessing communities’ abilities to develop adaptive capacity (i.e., their ability to absorb and bounce forward after disaster events). Based on a risk and vulnerability assessment, we identified shocks and stresses and developed specific strategies to address five overarching resilience goals: reduced risk, enhanced planning, better policy, more responsible culture, and incorporation of resilience into investments.

Since its adoption, Colorado’s Resiliency Framework plan has been held up as a model by The Rockefeller Foundation and HUD as an example of how states are leading the way in resilience planning. The framework has since enabled WSP to help local jurisdictions develop tailored community-level plans and identify over 100 cost-effective projects that make local communities more resilient.

In recognition of this pioneering work, the project earned a 2016 American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Gold Award and a 2017 American Planning Association (APA) National Planning Achievement Award for Environmental Planning Gold Award.