FLOOD11041 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Executiue Summary The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) understands well that current and accurate flood hazard maps provide the cornerstone for effective floodplain management. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are also recognized as one of the essential tools for flood hazard mitigation in the United States. Unfortunately, many of these maps have become outdated, and significant areas of the country remain unmapped. To address this problem, the President's budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 included $351 million for initiating FEMA's national Multi-hazard Map Modernization Program, with an actual FY 03 approved amount by Congress of $150 million for the Program. Similar or higher funding levels are proposed for subsequent fiscal years, including the appropriation of $200 million for FY 2004 by Public Law (P.L.) 108-90. Pro~ram Vision This 2004 Business Case Plan (Plan) for the State of Colorado serves as the State's "notice of interest" to participate in Flood Map Modernization activities. This Plan was prepared to assist the CWCB with identifying statewide map update goals and objectives and to assist FEMA in the development of regional and national plans for implementing the Multi-hazard Map Modernization Program. This Plan summarizes the role that Colorado intends to play in completing the required mapping activities and the way that these activities will be managed and performed. This Plan also identifies mapping priorities and outlines an approach for addressing these priorities. Pro~ram Plan - Obiectives The CWCB, in conjunction with the Denver metropolitan area's Urban Drainage and Flood Control District (UDFCD) for communities within the UDFCD's jurisdiction, will coordinate Colorado's floodplain mapping program in accordance with the guidelines provided by the FEMA, by implementing the following program management objectives: • Assess floodplain mapping and other hazard needs within Colorado on a yearly basis. • Update the Business Case Plan, the prioritization parameters, and the prioritized list of studies on a yearly basis. • Educate the public on the risk that flood hazards pose as well as proper floodplain management practices and partner with communities to collect accurate base map and flood hazard information. • Perform community outreach activities and conduct pre-scoping meetings and scoping meetings that lead to completion of flood studies and map updates based upon the yearly needs assessment and prioritization, maximizing local ownership of these products. • Provide new and updated digital flood hazard data to Colorado residents through the Internet and other appropriate means, taking full advantage of local digital resources. • Compile the digital data into a statewide base map database for use as a scoping and assessment tool, and to facilitate flood hazard mapping activities in the future. • Evaluate conditions and make recommendations to restudy flood hazards where development occurs, watershed conditions change, maps become outdated, or new information and/or methods become available. Colorado Business Case Plan (Final Draft) ES-1