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<br />.~ <br /> <br />PURPOSE <br />The purpose for this report is to document and address the technical issues that were presented <br />during the July 21 and 22, 1999 Corps of Engineers and National Weather Service presentations <br />regarding the Cherry Creek Dam Safety Study in Denver, Colorado. In addition, the CWCB <br />staff will conduct discussions with the CorPs of Engineers, Omaha District and local government <br />officials in the near future to seek a consensus for the viability of a technical review. The <br />technical review will evaluate the procedures and professional judgements used in the Cherry <br />Creek Site Specific Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) Study, dated July 13, 1995, by an <br />independent consultant.. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, (Corps) conducted public hearings during <br />the fall of 1998 and spring of 1999 regarding their Cherry Creek Dam Safety Study. A <br />considerable amount of concern was expressed by the public and other interested parties about <br />the 1995 National Weather Service (NWS) Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) Study and <br />the Corps' Probable Maximum Floo_d (PMF) Study. In addition, the Corps' proposals and study <br />recommendations for addressing the Cherry Creek dam safety issue has received much attention <br />as well. The basin residents, property owners, and local officials have expressed many concerns <br />to the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) on a number of findings and <br />recommendations regarding the NWS and Corps studies. <br /> <br />The CWCB responded to requests for assistance from the Cherry Creek basin interests first by <br />conducting a tour of the damsite and watershed on March 29, 1999. The Corps, landowners, and <br />local government officials assisted with the tour by providing presentations about their concerns <br />and issues. Following the tour, the CWCB members expressed a general support for the basin <br />residents concerns and directed the staff to participate with the Corps in technical discussions <br />and a formal review of the NWS' PMP and the Corps' PMF study results. The staff held <br />informal meetings with the local interests on May 21, 1999 and with the Corps on May 27, 1999. <br />These meetings set the framework for the formal technical discussion scheduled on July 21,1999 <br />and the public meeting scheduled for July 22, 1999. The purpose of the technical discussion was <br />to address the meteorology, hydrology, PMF, and technical assumptions related to the Cherry <br />Creek study recommendations and the NWS PMP values. <br /> <br />Federal congressional and state legislative members that have expressed concern regarding the <br />Corps's study include U.S. Senator Wayne Allard, U.S. Representatives Joel Hefley and Tom <br />Tancredo. Colorado Senator John Evans and Colorado Representative Lynn Hefley have <br />provided formal communications and representation at meetings. On July 22, 1999 <br />Representatives Tancredo and Hefley announced a special provision which they included in the <br />Energy and Water Appropriations Bill. This provision, if enacted, will require the Corps to <br />undertake a peer review of the NWS PMP study (see attached). The basin's Colorado legislative <br />members enacted several pieces of legislation also. These legislative actions are: Senate Joint <br />Resolution 99-023 stating".. . concerning an independent peer review of the Federal National <br />Weather Service probable maximum precipitation study used by the United States Army Corps <br />of Engineers in their redesign study relating to the Cherry Creek Dam..." and amending the <br />