Storms are a part of every climate, everywhere in the world and no matter where you live, they’re a fact of life. The larger the storm, the bigger the impact and the flooding repercussions from the more severe events can send out ripple effects—from physical damage to the community to the emotional psyche of residents. That’s why it’s so important to have a proven resource in the Denver metro area that proactively protects against those ripples.
The Mile High Flood District is that resource. Our passionate people and their applied expertise have helped us create innovative solutions that address stormwater and watershed holistically. Together, we protect people, property, and our environment through preservation, mitigation, and education.
Our History
We designed our mission statement to be living, breathing reflections of who we are and what we want to accomplish. That’s why they aren’t just written down someplace to be forgotten. Each and every MHFD team member has them memorized to ensure we live them every day.
Our mission is to protect people, property, and our environment through preservation, mitigation, and education.
This statement keep us grounded and act as guides for what we do today and will continue to do in the future.
We advocate for safety by understanding, communicating, and mitigating risks.
We care for people and communities by prioritizing inclusivity, adaptability, and effective partnerships.
We promote resource stewardship of taxpayer dollars and our environment.
We advance industry practices by developing, curating, and sharing knowledge, technology, and resources.
The Mile High Flood District offers numerous services that cover flood management, stream mitigation, stormwater, research and more. See our Services page for more information on what we do.
MHFD was established by the Colorado legislature in 1969 to assist local governments in the Denver metropolitan area with multi-jurisdictional drainage and flood control challenges. MHFD covers an area of 1,608 square miles that includes Denver, parts of the six surrounding counties, and 35 incorporated cities and towns. MHFD focuses its resources on over 1,600 miles of major streams and serves a population of approximately 2.8 million.
Upon creation of MHFD, the Colorado legislature authorized a taxing mill levy of 1.0 mill. Through the Colorado Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (an amendment to the Colorado Constitution), the taxing authority has been reduced to approximately 0.56 mill. Taxes collected are returned to the communities in each county pro rata in the form of planning studies, capital improvement projects, flood hazard mapping and warning systems, stream rehab.
The Mile High Flood District provides services to all or parts of 41 local governments in the Denver region.