2025.06 Program Video “60 Years after the 1965 Denver Flood – The impacts and the legacy it left behind”

Considered one of the most devastating floods in Denver History, the 1965 Flood caused major damage with resulting

major changes to the area.  The flooding across the Arkansas and South Platte River basins claimed 24 lives and an

estimated $543 million of property damage. Sixty years later, we can reflect on the factors leading up to the flood and

the impacts of the disaster on the people and environment, as well as the legacy and lessons learned. Join us for an

engaging presentation by Laura Kroeger, executive director of Mile High Flood District, on the 1965 Denver Flood.

About our Presenter:  Laura Kroeger

Laura Kroeger is the Executive Director of the Mile High Flood District, formerly known as the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District. The 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. Laura has served as the executive director for over 3 years and prior to that has been a program manager and engineering director for the District.

She has Bachelor’s of Science degree and a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering. Laura also is active in the American Public Works Association and is the Technical Director of Leadership and Management for the association. She was also recognized in 2019 as one of the Top Ten Leaders in Public Works for that year.

Laura played a crucial role in restructuring MHFD to align its organizational structure with strategic goals using a Watershed Management Approach. She also created an alternative process for project called Project Partners which pulls together designers and builders in the process of developing and building projects.