Senior Design: Alta Vista Stormwater Project
Alta Vista, a neighborhood in northeast Fort Collins, experiences flooding during precipitation events as frequent as 2-year and 10-year storms. Located in the FEMA-designated 100-year floodplain, flat slopes prevent proper drainage and channel obstructions limit conveyance. Our team performed hydrologic and hydraulic analyses to determine the most effective flood mitigation strategies. I led the modeling portion of the project, using HEC-RAS to visualize existing and proposed conditions.
CSU Engineering Days Poster Symposium, April 2024
Information from HEC-RAS models, site topography, and peak flows calculated with the rational method were used to develop design alternatives. Input from the City of Fort Collins and other stakeholders informed the proposed design plan, which included upsizing the existing culvert, adding a new culvert, and regrading the channel in between. As shown in the model screenshots, most flow will now be conveyed through the channel rather than flooding houses in the bottom right corner. Implementation of a similar design is likely to begin in the near future; our hope is that improvements will protect people, property, and the environment from flooding impacts.
HEC-RAS Model:
Existing vs. Proposed Flood Depths
