The 2013 Colorado Flood washed away approximately 3,600 square feet of riverfront property of a private residence. The flood also damaged an existing bridge abutment, severed the residence’s waterline, and eradicated 120 linear feet of multi-tier rock terracing.

Balancing site aesthetics with structural engineering presented a challenge. The bankside dropped approximately 16 feet over a 30-foot horizontal distance. The balanced design focused on re-stabilizing the bank and restoring the existing bank line by constructing a four-tier rock terrace wall. The terraces, which were placed at varying elevations, created multiple outdoor living areas and provided the family with spaces they could enjoy at various water levels. The terraces were engineered to withstand future flood events and groundwater infiltration and designed to lighten the look and feel of the engineered wall.

The project was designed and engineered on a tight timeline to ensure it was completed before spring run-off and to avoid additional damage.