BOARD00158 ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 3/13/2007
• Description: Flood Section - 2007 Long-Term Flood and Water Availability Outlook - Presentation by John Henz
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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. Provide on-line services to the public \ .
. Monitor snowpack conditions ,
. Develop SNODAS snowpack mapping ptoject to develop early warnings for basin specific flood threat
potential (2006 will be the first opportuni~ to use SNODAS for flood threat potential).
. Post a daily statewide Flood Outlook i
. Post statewide storm precipitation maps and rainfall reconstruction data
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Colorado Flood Task Force 1\ '
The CWCB Chairs the Colorado Flood Task Force which will meet on March 29, 2007. The purpose of that
meeting, as in past years, is to gather experts from various private, local, state, and federal entities to present
weather forecasts and flood outlooks. The Task Fot.ce also shares information related to flood and water supply
programs in Colorado. Meetings are regularly atten1ded by representatives from the CWCB, DWR, USGS, USBR,
US ACE, NRCS, NWS, NOAA, CGS, HDR Engin~ering Inc., and other resource agencies. Task Force highlights
from the March 29th meeting will be posted to the GWCB website.
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Sprint! Flood News Release I
A press release will be prepared and distributed in titid-March regarding flood hazards throughout the state and the
strong recommendations for those at risk to purchas~ flood insurance to protect themselves from those hazards.
This news release highlights the limitations of stan~ard property insurance policies, the danger of relying on the
availability of federal disaster assistance if a flood occurs, the availability of flood insurance, the mandatory waiting
period prior to coverage being in force, and provide~ statistics regarding flood damages in Colorado. Specific up-
to-date information regarding the Colorado snowpa~k will be provided along with a reminder that many of the
historical floods in Colorado have been rain-induced flash floods having no ties to the mountain snowpack.
Contact information was provided for anyone seekirig additional assistance. A copy of the news release will be
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available on the CWCB website.

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Mappin2 and Technical Assistance
The CWCB Flood Protection Staff maintains an ext~nsive library of flood studies and documents that are available
to the public and other local, state, and federal agencies as needed. This library provides a wealth of flood
information, some of which is not currently portrayet:t on FEMA floodplain maps. Staff is available to provide
technical assistance to anyone seeking further inforrriation regarding flood threats. This teclmical assistance comes
in the form of providing FEMA floodplain maps, distributing flood information reports and studies, providing
information regarding local ordinances, providing assistance regarding successful mitigation projects and potential
funding sources for them, and any other general techTIical assistance requests. Limited to staff availability, site
visits and community visits can be performed to enhince this teclmical assistance service.

Snowmelt Flood Updates
The Department of Natural Resources, through the Colorado Water Conservation Board, will actively engage in
preparatory activities in response to the snowpack co~ditions that are currently prevalent within watersheds having
higher than average snowpack. On a regular basis throughout the snowmelt flood season, the CWCB Flood
Protection staff will monitor snowpack and potential $nowmelt flooding data, and will disseminate pertinent flood
information to interested parties through email, the CWCB website, and other means as necessary.

The CWCB Decision Support System (DSS) Program has assisted greatly by producing color-coderl snowpack
maps for the identified high snowpack areas in Colo~do. This information has been developed in cooperation with
SNODAS efforts described later in this memo. All o~ the maps and flood updates will be pQsted to the CWCB
website.

In past years, staff has generated a comprehensive contact list (email distribution list) for transmitting regular .
snowmelt flood updates. As of the date of this memorandum, the threat for snowmelt flooding is much less than it
has been in previous years. However, if conditions chbge enough to warrant more intensive outreach activity, a
similar email distribution list for the threatened areas \yill be developed.
Flood Protection. Water Project Plannmg and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protedtion. Conservation Planning
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