14

• Board Meeting Date: 7/11/2007
• Description: OWCDP - Updated Drought Mitigation & Response Plan Information to Meet Requirements of the FEMA Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
VIlWW. cwcb. state. co. us

MElVIORANDUM

Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor

Harris D. Sherman
Executive Director

TO:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

FROM:

Veva McCaig, Section Chief
Office of Water Conservation & Drought Planning (OWCDP)

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

DATE: June 29, 2007

SUBJECT: Agenda Item 14 - Office of Water Conservation & Drought Planning Section
Updated Drought Mitigation & Response Plan Information to Meet
Requirements of the FEMA Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000

Back!!round

The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires states to conduct mitigation planning for natural
disasters that may aflect the state. In 2000, a new Mitigation Planning section was added, which
emphasized the need for state and local coordination on mitigation planning and implementation,
as well as continuing the requirement for a state mitigation plan as a condition offederal disaster
assistance. It requires the state's natural hazard mitigation plan to be updated every three years.

The State of Colorado adopted and received FEMA approval on its Natural Hazard Mitigation
Plan (NHMP) in 2004. The plan addressed several different natural hazards, including droughts.
Additional information on drought activities was included as an Annex to the plan. This stand-
alone document, The Colorado Drought Mitigation and Response Plan, describes in detail the
process for drought planning in the state as well as long-term drought mitigation opportunities.
Information on agency responsibilities and existing drought relief programs, drought resources,
local drought plans, and contacts for local government outreach and assistance are also included
in the Drought Plan.

Summary of Update

This present report was developed in conformance with requirements of the FEMA, and is
focused on updating the drought portions of the state's Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. As such,
it is built upon existing information contained in both the State of Colorado Natural Hazard
Mitigation Plan 2004 and The Colorado Drought Mitigation and Response Plan (updated 2002).
It is not an attempt to rewrite either of these documents; the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan itself
will be updated by the Colorado Division of Emergency Management (DEM), and changes to the

Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning