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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I' <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />The 1980 study recommended diverting Dry Creek floodwaters downstream from its intersection <br />with Willox Lane southerly into the Cache La Poudre River. This plan would remove the 100 <br />year flood hazard from the area south and east of the point of diversion. The diversion was <br />proposed for the location where Dry Creek intersects with the Larimer Weld Canal about 100 <br />yards north of Will ox Lane. The area within the Dry Creek floodplain downstream of Will ox <br />Lane encompasses some 960 acres, about 1/2 of which is currently annexed to the City of Fort <br />Collins, and 1/2 of which is within unincorporated Larimer County. <br /> <br />Since completion of the 1980 Major Drainageway Study, the need for Dry Creek flood hazard <br />relief has increased considerably. In addition to providing a drainage outfall across State <br />Highway 14 for the Local Basin, the extension of Timberline Road north to connect with Summit <br />View Drive has greatly improved transportation facilities available to the areas described above. <br />A significant portion of the Local Basin is currently vacant although utilities are available to <br />serve it. Development and redevelopment within the Dry Creek floodplain has been hindered by <br />floodplain regulations required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Both the City of <br />Fort Collins and Larimer County have been required to adopt floodplain regulations within the <br />floodplain of Dry Creek. Also, owners of existing improved properties within flood hazard areas <br />identified on Flood Insurance Rate Maps published by the Federal Emergency Management <br />Agency are required to purchase flood insurance as a condition of mortgage lel).ding by the <br />Federally insured institutions. This includes several areas oflow and moderate income single <br />family houses and mobile home parks located within the Dry Creek Flood Hazard Area. Property <br />located directly to the north and east of the Local Basin is currently undergoing development. <br /> <br />Past development practices in the Local Basin have directed storm water runoff into irrigation <br />ditches increasing the potential for overtopping ofthe ditches and subsequent flooding of <br />downstream homes and businesses. In the event of overtopping of the ditches there is no <br />downstream outlet or established path of flow for the storm water. <br /> <br />In February 1996, the Fort Collins City Council and the Larimer County Board of <br />Commissioners foresaw the need for a solution to drainage problems in northeast Fort Collins <br />and directed staff to pursue studies to define a comprehensive solution to northeast flood and <br />drainage problems. In May 1997, the City of Fort Collins and Larimer County agreed that the <br />flood hazards presented by Dry Creek and the West Vine Drainage Basin were a priority and <br />enacted an Intergovernmental Agreement for Stormwater Cooperation (IGA) to jointly pursue <br />flood control and drainage solutions. The IGA identified two basins to be jointly addressed by <br />the City and County. These were the Dry Creek Basin, and the West Vine Basin. It was agreed <br />that the City would take the lead in the West Vine Basin and the County would take the lead in <br />the Dry Creek Basin. Since that time, the County formed a stormwater utility for the West Vine <br />Basin, and a flood control project has been designed and constructed within the West Vine <br />Basin, and the City of Fort Collins is currently conducting a master planning study within that <br />basin. <br /> <br />In November 1995, a loan request to the Colorado Water Conservation Board was made for <br />$600,000 for a Dry Creek Project to construct a diversion in accord with the 1980 GAl <br />recommendation. Of that amount, $500,000 was authorized and funded by the Colorado <br />Legislature. A second loan request was made jointly by Larimer County and the City of Fort <br /> <br /> <br />2 <br />